Govt wouldn't make laws to snatch citizen's freedom

 Kathmandu, Feb 21

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has assured that the government would not enact any laws and policies to snatch away the freedom of the citizens under any pretext.

"I would like to assure that the laws that this government enacts will not snatch away the freedom of any citizen of the nation but while exercising that right and freedom, you must not harm others," he said while speaking at a programme organised to launch a book 'Rajesh Kazi Shrestha: Byaktitwo ra Yogdan' (personality and contribution) published by Ishwor Lal Foundation.

He stated that the government would not take any action that violates the right to freedom of expression, as he and his colleagues have fought against restrictions on speech in the past.

PM Oli said that the government must work for and initiate a proper legal environment to protect national interest, freedom of speech and exercise of rights.

However, he maintained that the government and other concerned agencies have the responsibility to discourage and check misinformation, disinformation and publication of harmful content.

He criticised some people who had previously worked with him on drafting policies. He remarked that these individuals were now making loud claims on social media that freedom of expression was under threat because of the proposed social media bill.

“They were the ones who imposed a ban on TikTok in the past. We lifted that ban. Now, the same people are suddenly championing free speech, insisting that everyone should have the right to say anything,” said PM Oli.

According to him, freedom does not mean spreading unrest in the country, disturbing peace and security, or inciting social discord. One should not go to unfamiliar places to provoke unrest or make reckless statements.

PM Oli also said that good governance is the first fundamental to achieve prosperity, but it has long been a challenge in Nepal.

The government is in the process of facilitating business and investment with the reform in policies and laws, and the latest effort to address the legal hurdles in business was the amendment to 'business un-friendly' provisions through ordinances, said PM Oli.

PM Oli appreciated the initiative to shed light on the contributions of the businessperson Shrestha and said that such an initiative should be followed by others. "I urge one and all to take this initiative as a symbol and take up many more to honour other people who made their contributions to various sectors of society," he said.

Stating that Shrestha has made extraordinary contributions to the business and economic development of the country, PM Oli said that as a business leader, Shrestha had helped the government with pragmatic suggestions and solutions.

Shrestha had served as the president of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) for three terms, and president of the Nepal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a binational chamber. He runs various businesses including hospitality, automobile, trading and travel and tours. Major companies of his involvement are Arksh Group, Constant Business Group, International Business, Ajima Trade Syndicate, Hotel Rara, Hotel Peace and Destination Management Travel and Tour.

Born in 1961 in Kathmandu, Shrestha was elected the working committee member of the NCC in 1989 and elected president of the organisation in 1999. He was reelected to the post  in 2014. He is also the coordinator of the Binational Chamber Alliance.

He also served briefly as the assistant minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies in 2004. Shrestha is heading International Chamber of Commerce, Nepal and Nepal Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and is serving as the honorary advisor to various binational chambers and business associations.

Shrestha was honoured with a Honorary PhD in international diplomacy by the Foreign Policy Research Institute of India in 2010. He is the Honorary Consul of Vietnam to Nepal. Likewise, he was decorated with Sukritimaya Rashtradeep (third class) medal, Suprabal Janasewa Shri medal, Bikhyat Trishakti Patta (third), Suprabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu (third) and Prakhyat Trishakti Patta and Prabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 February 2025.  

FM Dr. Rana leaving for Geneva today

Kathmandu, Feb. 21

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba is leaving for Geneva on Saturday, February 22, to participate in the High-Level Segment of the 58^th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The High-level session will be held from February 24 to 26. FM Dr. Rana is scheduled to address the High-Level Segment on February 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement on Friday.  

During her visit, she will hold meetings with her counterparts from various countries as well as with the heads of UN agencies, international organisations and other dignitaries on the margins of the session.

Likewise, FM Dr. Rana will also solicit support from the Member States of the United Nations on Nepal’s candidature to the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2027-2029.

She is leading a Nepali delegation comprising senior officials from the MoFA, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, and the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in Geneva.

She will return home on February 28.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 February 2025.  

Dr. Rana terms her Oman visit successful

 Kathmandu, Feb. 20

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has said that her visit to Oman to participate in the 8^th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) remained fruitful.

She said she held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from the countries of the region and explored the possibilities of early release of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali youth kept hostage by Hamas.

Talking to journalists at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) upon her arrival in Nepal on Thursday, she said that issues of bilateral cooperation including development such as rebuilding the BP Highway and initiating direct flights to the Gautam Buddha International Airport from various cities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sri Lanka and Oman were discussed with the ministers of the respective countries.

The IOC held in Muscat of Oman, which focused on exploring new horizons in maritime partnerships, saw the participation of foreign ministers from 40 countries in the Indian Ocean region.

Dr. Rana was invited to the event by Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi. She left for Oman on February 14.

The Foreign Minister stated that the conference aimed to strengthen global cooperation in maritime affairs and that she delivered a speech representing Nepal. During the event, she also addressed a session focused on amplifying the voice of the Global South.

During her visit, she held bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart, Dr. Jaishankar and met with Omani FM Al Busaidi, as well as Oman’s Minister for Energy and Minerals, and the Minister of Heritage and Tourism.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), she also held sideline meetings with foreign ministers from Iran, the UAE and Sri Lanka, and Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs.

During her meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, FM Dr. Rana urged efforts to secure the release of Nepali student Bipin Joshi kept hostage by the Hamas, she informed.

She also requested Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Fujii Hisayuki for assistance in rebuilding the BP Highway, which was severely damaged by floods in Nepal in September last year.

 Furthermore, she urged the UAE, Sri Lanka, and Oman to initiate direct flights to the GBIA in Bhairahawa.

During the visit, Nepal and Oman signed two separate agreements focusing on diplomatic cooperation and tourism.

Justice to Prakriti

FM Dr. Rana informed that the Nepali government had taken the death of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Odisha, India, seriously and initiated efforts to resolve it through diplomatic channels.

On Wednesday, she spoke to Odisha’s Higher Education Minister, Suryabanshi Suraj and urged a fair investigation into Lamsal’s death, legal action against those responsible, and a safe academic environment for Nepali students at the university.

“We immediately initiated diplomatic efforts after the incident. While justice for the deceased and action against the culprits remain priorities, we also coordinated with relevant authorities to ensure a safe learning environment for Nepali students," she said.

The university has since apologised and allowed students to return to their hostels, while staff involved in misconduct have been disciplined.

Likewise, the Odisha government has already formed a high-level committee to investigate the student’s death, and Nepal has called for a fair probe and legal action against those responsible. The MoFA of Nepal and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi are in close contact with the Odisha government and university administration to ensure proper coordination, she said.

Meanwhile, FM Dr. Rana highlighted the challenges in tracking Nepali students abroad due to the lack of comprehensive data. She emphasised the need for a system to maintain records of Nepali citizens overseas to facilitate their assistance during emergencies.

“The Foreign Ministry is often unaware of where Nepali citizens are or their conditions until a problem arises. By then, it becomes difficult to provide immediate assistance due to limited manpower and resources. This is a significant challenge,” she said.

'Make Foreign Employment Dignified'

During her visit to Oman, Minister Dr. Rana directed Nepal's diplomatic missions abroad to work to make foreign employment safer, dignified, reliable and predictable.

Speaking at a virtual meeting participate by the Nepali ambassadors, consul generals, deputy chiefs of mission, labour counsellors/attaches and other official from mission across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, she had stressed the need for all stakeholders to proactively identify and address the challenges faced by Nepali migrant workers.

FM Dr. Rana also underscored the importance of ensuring long-term solutions to make the foreign employment sector more attractive. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 February 2025.  

FM Dr. Rana directs missions to help make foreign employment dignified

 Kathmandu, Feb. 18

Reaffirming the government's commitment to making foreign employment safer, dignified, reliable and predictable, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has directed Nepal's diplomatic missions abroad to work to achieve this objective.

Speaking at a virtual meeting organised by the Embassy of Nepal in Oman on Wednesday, she highlighted the crucial role of Nepal's diplomatic missions in meeting that commitment and directed them to perform their duties with diligence, the Embassy informed in a statement.

The meeting was attended by Nepali ambassadors, acting consuls general, deputy chiefs of mission, labour counsellors, labour attachés, and other diplomatic officials from missions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

FM Dr. Rana is currently in Oman to participate in the 8^th Indian Ocean Conference and bilateral meetings.

According to the statement, she stressed the need for all stakeholders to proactively identify and address the challenges faced by Nepali migrant workers. She also underscored the importance of ensuring long-term solutions to make the foreign employment sector more attractive.

"She instructed the missions to streamline their services, including demand letter verification, in line with the government's policy on digital governance, ensuring efficiency, transparency, cost-effectiveness and technological integration," read the statement.

FM Dr. Rana also emphasised the role of economic diplomacy in Nepal’s overall development, urging missions to actively promote trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges. She assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stood ready to address any obstacles that might arise in this regard.

The meeting included in-depth discussions on various issues, including the rescue and repatriation of Nepali domestic and migrant workers, insurance and compensation, shelter management, repatriation of deceased workers, challenges in service delivery and possible solutions.

Following the meeting, FM Dr. Rana interacted with representatives of Nepali community organisations in Oman, embassy volunteers, and community leaders. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to protect and promote the rights, welfare, and benefits of Nepali migrant workers.

Minister Dr. Rana is scheduled to return to Nepal on Thursday. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 February 2025.  

FM Dr. Rana talks to Odisha's HE Minister Suraj on Prakriti case

 Kathmandu, Feb. 18

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba on Wednesday held a telephone conversation with Odisha’s Higher Education Minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, regarding the death of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) hostel and the subsequent developments.

During the conversation, FM Dr. Rana urged Minister Suraj to ensure a fair investigation into Lamsal’s death, take legal action against those responsible and guarantee a safe learning environment for Nepali students at the university, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement.

In response, Minister Suraj informed Dr. Rana that the Odisha state government was taking the incident seriously and had formed a high-level investigation committee to ensure justice for Prakriti and take action against the culprits.

Likewise, he stated that a dedicated hotline had been set up to provide necessary counselling for Nepali students and their parents. Minister Suraj also confirmed that arrangements had been made for Nepali students who had returned home to safely return to their hostels and resume their studies.

The MoFA stated that Odisha’s Minister Suraj assured that university staff found guilty of mistreating Nepali students had been dismissed and legal proceedings had been initiated. He also reiterated that security measures had been strengthened to ensure Nepali students could continue their studies in a safe environment.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi have been coordinating closely with university authorities and Indian security officials to address the situation, according to the statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, officials from the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi visited the university to assess the security situation for Nepali students while Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Dr. Shankar Sharma, engaged in discussions with the university administration.

Likewise, a team of Nepal Police led by an SSP has also reached Odissa to assess the situation.

The university publicly apologised to Nepali students, urged them to return to their hostels, and dismissed the staff involved in mistreating them, taking appropriate legal action.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 February 2025.  

BII, Sanima Bank sign trade loan agreement

Kathmandu, Feb. 19

British International Investment plc (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, and Sanima Bank Ltd. have entered into a trade loan agreement of US$ 15 million (Rs. 2.2 billion).

The credit line will strengthen Sanima Bank’s trade finance offering, funding the import of capital goods for renewable energy projects with a focus on hydropower, as well as manufacturing, food and agriculture goods, the bank said in a statement.

The agreement was signed at the UK-Nepal Business Forum organised by the UK's Department for Business and Trade in collaboration with the British Embassy in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

According to the bank, the facility from BII will contribute to the government’s goal to boost the clean energy supply in Nepal and increase the export of surplus energy to neighbouring countries in South Asia, including India and Bangladesh.

It will provide finance to support the construction of renewable energy plants, import of hydromechanical and electro-mechanical equipment and solar energy equipment along with procurement of raw materials for manufacturing process and agriculture goods, among others.

British Ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn, said that the facility from the BII underscored the UK’s commitment to sustainable economic development in Nepal which would benefit households and businesses throughout the region.

“This facility will help to improve access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy for businesses and households in Nepal,” said Habib Yousuf, BII's Regional Director for South Asia.

Pawan Kumar Acharya, Deputy CEO of Sanima Bank, said that Sanima Bank envisions to promote low-carbon energy projects that foster economic growth and create long-term positive impacts for local communities.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 February 2025.  

Dialogue held on care economy

Kathmandu, Feb. 19

To highlight the 'vital yet undervalued and invisible' role of care work, the Embassy of Canada to Nepal and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Nepal organised a dialogue on 'Advancing Decent Work and the Care Economy' in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

According to them, a strong care economy leads to a healthier workforce, job creation, and increased productivity. However, care workers, especially women, often face low wages, poor working conditions, and lack social protections.

Numan Özcan, Director of the ILO Country Office Nepal, said that care work is the silent force that many often don’t realise, but it keeps societies and economies running. It is a shared responsibility for all governments, employers, and workers to promote international labour standards, invest in research, expand care services, and close financing gaps.

"We stand ready to support Nepal’s journey in building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable care economy,” he said.

In June 2024, the International Labour Conference (ILC) adopted a resolution concerning decent work and the care economy, further refining the definition of care work. An action plan for implementing the resolution’s conclusions is currently being discussed globally.

A joint study on 'Public Investments in Nepal’s Care Economy' commissioned by the ILO, UN Women, and the National Planning Commission (NPC) of Nepal, revealed that investing Rs. 272,232 million (approximately US$ 1,957,348,080) to address Nepal’s care coverage gaps in education and health would generate a total of 1,386,000 jobs (directly and indirectly), with at least 60 per cent of them filled by women.

Likewise, the 16^th National Development Plan of Nepal prioritizes the promotion of decent work and the care economy under productive employment, decent work, and sustainable social security, healthy, educated, and skilled human resource capital, and gender equality, social justice and an inclusive society.

Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha, a member of the NPC, said that Nepal as a pathfinder country of Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions has care as one of the priority sectors. 

Ian Trites, First Secretary, Embassy of Canada to Nepal, said that Canada remains committed to supporting Nepal in advancing decent work and gender equality within the care economy.

Likewise, Patricia Fernandez-Pacheco, Country Representative of the UN Women Nepal, stated that promoting decent work in the care economy is a key pathway to advancing women’s economic empowerment and achieving gender equality.

Speaking on the occasion, representatives of workers’ organisations highlighted issues such as low wages, lack of social protection, and difficulties in unionisation. Meanwhile, representatives of employers’ organisations pointed out key challenges, including low skill levels among care workers, lack of policies for protecting and financing the care sector, and regulatory gaps. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 February 2025.