Minister Dr. Rana reiterates Nepal’s commitments to human rights

Kathmandu, Feb. 26

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in Geneva on Wednesday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 58^th High-Level Session of the UN Human Rights Council, where Dr. Rana is leading the Nepali delegation.

Despite limited resources, Nepal has played an exemplary and pioneering role in the protection and promotion of human rights, Dr. Rana said during the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement.

She emphasised that Nepal remains committed to safeguarding and advancing human rights, with the current constitution enshrining fundamental rights, including civil liberties, as well as political, economic, social and cultural rights.

According to the statement, Dr. Rana reiterated Nepal's full commitment to democratic values, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary.

She also informed the High Commissioner about Nepal's progress in drafting transitional justice laws to address remaining tasks in the peace process, reaffirming the government's commitment to concluding transitional justice promptly.

The meeting was attended by Krishna Prasad Dhakal, Chief of the UN Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ram Prasad Subedi, Nepal's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva; and Rajendra Thapa, Chief of the Human Rights and International Treaties Division at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

On the same day, Minister  Dr. Rana held bilateral talks with Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno. During the meeting, Dr. Rana expressed gratitude to Spain for its assistance during challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the earthquake, and urged for its support in Nepal's transition to a developing country by 2026 and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She also appealed for Spain's backing in Nepal's advocacy for climate justice on international platforms, given the disproportionate impact of climate change on the country.

"Dr. Rana sought Spain's support for Nepal's candidacies for membership in the UN Human Rights Council (2027-2029), the Economic and Social Council (2029-2031), and as a non-permanent member of the Security Council (2037-2038)," read the statement.

She also invited Spain to participate in the upcoming Sagarmatha Dialogue, scheduled for May, which will focus on climate change, the Himalayas, and the future of humanity.

Dr. Rana further requested Spain to consider establishing its embassy in Nepal.

Earlier on Wednesday, Dr. Rana held bilateral talks with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár. The MoFA said that the discussions focused on strengthening Nepal-Slovakia relations, Nepal's candidacies at the UN, and the impact of climate change, a key issue Nepal has been advocating globally.

Dr. Rana also received a courtesy call from Enrique Javier Ochoa Martínez, Mexico's Undersecretary for International Relations and Human Rights. They discussed various aspects of Nepal-Mexico relations and potential areas of cooperation in the future. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 February 2025.  

'Once-only-principle' fundamental in e-Governance Blueprint draft

Kathmandu, Feb. 25

The e-Governance Board of Nepal has published the initial draft of the 'e-Governance Blueprint' with exclusive 'National Data Strategy' and 'once only principle'.

According to the draft of the Blueprint published on Monday evening with a one-week window to seek suggestions, legal and structural arrangements will be made for the implementation of the 'Once-Only Principle' so that personally identifiable data will not be collected repeatedly.

"This principle aims to create an environment where individuals and companies do not have to provide their data again after providing it once to obtain various services from different agencies. This ensures the authenticity of the data source and establishes the basis for inter-agency data exchange," read the draft.

It said that since different agencies are responsible for storing different types of data, various types of personal identification data are not available through a single source, making them more secure from a cybersecurity perspective. For example, health service databases include health-related data such as prescriptions and operations, but not data such as the patient's name, date of birth and address.

This makes it very difficult for cybersecurity-targeted attackers to consolidate the necessary information which increases operational costs for potential cyber-attacks and reduces the likelihood of such attacks, according to the document.

The draft has also proposed formulation of the 'National Data Strategy' to make data storage, exchange, management and use more effective.

The strategy is expected to set common standards, rules and principles.

"This strategy will help to improve the quality and interoperability of data by aligning data sets across public bodies, streamline the development of new digital services and provide a framework for data management and use between the federal, provincial and local levels," read the draft.

According to the Board, there is a need for a national-level strategic document to transform the delivery of public services through digital means has been recognised. So, this Blueprint has been developed to meet the same objective by referencing international frameworks such as the Global Digital Compact, GovStack, Digital Public Infrastructure, and other established reference models.

The draft noted that while Nepal has made significant progress in ICT, with initiatives like the Digital Nepal Framework, challenges remain in fully implementing digital governance.

This Blueprint builds on existing policies such as the ICT Policy, 2072, the Government Enterprise Architecture Directives, 2076, and the Digital Nepal Framework, 2076. It aims to create a cohesive digital ecosystem, ensuring data security, interoperability, and citizen-centric services, said Dipesh Bista, CEO of the Board.

The draft of the Blueprint also mentioned that Nepal has made strides in digital governance, with policies like the ICT Policy, 2072, and the National Cyber Security Policy, 2080. However, challenges such as lack of coordination, insufficient infrastructure, and limited digital literacy persist. This Blueprint aims to address these gaps by establishing a robust digital governance framework.

It claimed that the e-Governance Blueprint provides a comprehensive roadmap for Nepal’s digital transformation. By implementing the strategies outlined in this document, Nepal aims to enhance service delivery, promote transparency and foster innovation in governance.

The draft of the blueprint aims at developing necessary digital infrastructure, establishing policy and institutional frameworks for digital service delivery, building institutional capacity for digital transformation, and promoting innovation, monitoring, and development in digital governance. 

It has covered various areas including digital transformation of government processes, simplification of public and private sector services, establishment of digital government and digital society, coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments, development of digital literacy and skills, and promotion of regional and international cooperation in digital governance. 

Likewise, the Blueprint mentions various strategic pillars of the e-governance development and implementation. They include establishing a high-level institutional framework for digital governance, developing policies and regulations for digital transformation and strengthening coordination among government agencies. 

Likewise, formulating policy and regulatory framework, setting digital enablers and service development, enhancing digital literacy and skills, setting digital standards and guidelines and forging better regional and international coordination, innovation, monitoring, and development are also the strategic pillars of the proposed policy.

It has accorded priority to the development of a national data policy to ensure data security and interoperability, expansion of affordable and accessible internet services, development of a unified digital communication platform, and establishment of a secure data exchange platform. 

Similarly, developing standards for data cataloguing and service indexing, creating guidelines for digital service delivery and cybersecurity, and establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) for digital governance are also highlighted in the draft.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 February 2025.  

FM Rana seeks support for Nepal’s UN bids

Kathmandu, Feb. 25

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has held sideline discussions with her counterparts and ministers from various countries at the 58^th High-Level Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council ongoing in Geneva of Switzerland.

During these meetings, Dr. Rana highlighted Nepal’s candidacy for key UN positions, including membership in the Human Rights Council for the term 2027-2029, the Economic and Social Council for 2029-2031, and as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for 2037-2038.

She urged the international community to support Nepal’s bids for these roles, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

Dr. Rana also shared details about Nepal’s upcoming 'Sagarmatha Sambaad' dialogue, scheduled for May this year, which will focus on climate change, the Himalayas, and the future of humanity. She invited global leaders and ministers to participate in this significant event.

Likewise, she emphasised Nepal’s upcoming transition from a Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026 and sought continued international support for the country’s development during this critical phase.

Earlier, on Monday, Dr. Rana had addressed the 58^th session of the UN Human Rights Council, announcing Nepal’s candidacy for the Human Rights Council membership for 2027-2029. She highlighted Nepal’s commitment to human rights protection and promotion, despite limited resources, and called for support from member states.

Dr. Rana underscored Nepal’s constitutional guarantees for civil liberties, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. She also noted Nepal’s progress in gender equality, with one-third representation of women in federal and provincial parliaments and 40 per cent in local governments, as well as its commitment to protecting minority rights.

According to the MoFA, global leaders and ministers at the session praised Nepal’s role in human rights protection and its exemplary peace process model. Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission, which has maintained in ‘A Grade’ status since its establishment, was also commended by international representatives.

Dr. Rana reiterated Nepal’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding and promoting human rights, emphasising the country’s democratic values, rule of law, and independent judiciary. She also highlighted Nepal’s efforts to address transitional justice and complete the remaining tasks of the peace process.

Similarly, earlier on Monday, Dr. Rana met with Norway’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik. On the occasion, she expressed gratitude for Norway’s support in Nepal’s peace process and socio-economic development. She also sought Norway’s assistance in addressing climate change impacts and advocating for climate justice on international platforms.

Dr. Rana also held talks with Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyz Republic, Edil Baisalov, which focused on shared agenda like climate change and mountain-related issues. She also met with Philippines’ Deputy Foreign Minister, Charles Jose, discussing bilateral relations and mutual interests, particularly in climate change initiatives.  

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 February 2025.  

NICCI commits for enhanced economic ties between Nepal and Italy

 Kathmandu, Feb. 25

The Nepal-Italy Chamber of Commerce and Industries (NICCI) has expressed it commitment to fostering investment, expanding the tourism sector, and strengthening business ties between Nepal and Italy.

Speaking at the 11^th Annual General Meeting of the binational chamber organised on Monday in Kathmandu, Sanjay Agrawal, President of NICCI, said that the two nations have maintained a smooth and growing economic partnership.

He emphasized NICCI’s role in further strengthening economic ties and promoting bilateral trade between the two countries. "Italy has played a crucial role in Nepal’s development, providing substantial support, especially following Nepal’s transition to democracy in 1990. The Italian government and its people extended significant aid to Nepal in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake," NICCI said in a statement.

Through its efforts, NICCI aims to attract Italian investment and increase the influx of Italian tourists to Nepal, reinforcing the strong and friendly relationship between the two nations.

The two nations had established bilateral relations on August 31, 1959.

The event was attended by Rajesh Kazi Shrestha, coordinator of the Binational Chambers in Nepal and former President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce.

Manoj Shrestha Bhadel, General Secretary of NICCI, said, "Italy’s contributions have played a crucial role in preserving Nepal’s heritage, and we believe this partnership will continue as a lasting symbol of friendship between our two nations.”

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 February 2025.  

Execution of e-governance remains poor in Nepal

 Kathmandu, Feb. 23

IT experts have said that Nepal is facing a poor execution of visions in e-governance despite having comparatively good policies.

"E-governance should be seamless and people should feel gratified but our mark on execution of IT-related policies and strategies is zero," said Manohar Bhattarai, IT expert and former vice-chair of High-Level Commission for IT, while speaking at TechGov Nepal 2025 organised by Marching Ants in Kathmandu on Sunday.

According to him, vision, policy and execution are fundamental for the development of IT sector. He suggested learning from Estonia, South Korea, Singapore and India, the countries that went ahead in the path of IT-sector development including e-governance.

Currently, Nepal is working on a new e-governance blueprint to implement innovations in e-governance. Bhattarai suggested that Nepal should adopt the 'once only principle' for citizens' data and information as implemented by Estonia.

He said that e-governance not only promotes transparent and effective government but also helps in inclusivity.

"However, political commitment is the first fundamental for the advancement of e-governance. It applies to all levels of the government," he said.

Dipesh Bista, CEO of e-Governance Board, said that data sharing among the concerned government agencies and other institutions will promote the 'once only principle'.

However, he maintained that to ensure the safety of data, 'decentralised interoperability' will be applied. The e-governance board is working to achieve the same results, he said.

Kedar Bhandari, an engineer at the e-Governance Board, stated that there is a need to reengineer the entire business process by removing hurdles, reducing steps and creating an entirely faceless system.

He emphasised on regional and international cooperation, the development of digital enablers, the promotion of digital literacy, and research and development in the sector.

The programme deliberated on effectively using traditional and digital media to drive awareness and citizen engagement in Nepal’s digital transformation efforts.

It is an effort toward building a sustainable partnership between media and digital governance entities, ensuring that journalists have access to credible information and that government agencies actively engage the media in their awareness campaigns, said the organiser.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 February 2025.  

DPM Paudel resumes office

Kathmandu, Feb. 23

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has resumed his regular duties at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) from Sunday.

He sustained injuries in a balloon explosion during the official launch event of Pokhara Visit Year 2025, organised by Pokhara Metropolitan City on February 15, Mayor of Pokhara, Dhanraj Acharya also sustained injuries.

Both of them were airlifted to Kirtipur for treatment on the same day.

After receiving two days of intensive care at the Burn Hospital in Kirtipur, he was discharged. Since then, he had been handling only essential tasks from his residence, the MoF informed in a statement. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 February 2025.  

Reliance brings 9.2 MW solar plant into operation

Kathmandu, Feb. 22

Reliance Spinning Mills, the largest spinning mill in the country – has brought a 9.2 MW solar plant into operation at its factory in Khanar of Sunsari district.

"Solar plant of 9.2 MW installed capacity developed and brought into operation recently, it is the largest individual solar plant," said the company.

This installment of alternative energy source is expected to support the manufacturing facility that has a need of about 13-14 MW power a day. Despite multiple claims from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) – the energy monopoly in the country, industries are still facing power outage.

The project is developed by Prozeal Green Energy Limited, a joint venture initiative of Golyan Power Limited and Prozeal Green Energy, India. Golyan Power is the subsidiary of Golyan Group which also partners with Reliance Spinning Mills.

According to the company, electricity supply is one of the major challenges to it. Despite receiving approval to consume 14 MW of power from the NEA, the industry was consuming only 2.5 MW daily while the rest of the energy was generated using diesel and furnace oil which sent the production costs up.

Established in 1994, the industry is divided into two blocks: 'A' in Khanar of Itahari Municipality-12 Sunsari and 'B' Duhabi Municipality-4.

The industry employs more than 4,000 workers, of whom 1,550 are women.

Currently, the industry's annual production capacity stands at 48,960 metric tonnes. Of the total production, 20–25 per cent is consumed domestically, while 75–80 per cent is exported to countries including India, Turkey, UAE, and Malaysia. The company is also preparing to export to Bangladesh.

The company exported 25,902 tonnes of yarn worth Rs. 6.74 billion in 2023/24 which is Rs. 242 million up from that of FY 2022/23. Five years ago, the company exported 16,070 tonnes of yarn worth about 4.54 billion.

In 2022/23, export from Reliance had 4.61 per cent share in the total export from Nepal. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 February 2025.