Nepal expects French investment: Gyawali

Kathmandu, Apr. 20: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Saturday said that Nepal expected cooperation in investment, technology and tourism from France.

“Nepal expects French cooperation in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), technology transfer and development and tourism. We also want to enhance the current collaborations happening in development as well as cultural and educational spheres,” said Gyawali while addressing a programme organised on the occasion of the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Nepal and France.

France was the fourth country to establish bilateral diplomatic relations with Nepal. They established the relations in 1949.

France is the fourth import and eighth export partner of Nepal.

According to him, at a time when Nepal has prioritised the socio-economic development of the country on the backdrop of political achievements, it looks up to France for a stronger bilateral collaboration and cooperation. “In particular, our priority is to enhance economic partnership in the areas of foreign direct investment, trade expansion, tourism linkages and technology transfer,” he said.

The Foreign Minister appreciated the French support in socio-economic development in Nepal and said that Nepal needs French investment, epecially in large infrastructure projects here.

“Both the countries have continued to be nurtured by goodwill, trust and mutual respect on both sides. Over the decades France has extended support and cooperation towards Nepal’s socio-economic development efforts,” said Gyawali.

He also said that the formation of Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Groups in the parliaments of Nepal and France would be instrumental in expanding and deepening friendly ties between the two countries.

According to him, the two friendly states have a crucial role to play in global issues such as peace and security, climate change, peace keeping and multilateralism.

He said that the 70^th anniversary might be the right occasion for high-level political contacts.

“High-level political contacts are extremely important in strengthening any diplomatic relationship. It has been quite long time since we had an exchange of high-level visits at the political level. The 70^th anniversary may be the right occasion for this,” he said.

Likewise, substantive economic component is very much critical for enhancing a bilateral partnership, and further economic engagements in the mutually beneficial areas will be in the interests of both countries, he said.

He also said that cultural contacts and people-to-people relations constitute another aspect of bilateral relations. “This is nurtured by mutual love and goodwill prevalent at the grassroots level of our societies. Our partnership can prosper only when the public, including the diaspora communities, get engaged,” he said.

French Ambassador to Nepal Francois-Xavier Leger stressed on economic partnership between the two countries.

He said that France was exploring avenues on how French aid could be mobilised in Nepal.

According to him, France-Nepal cooperation in mountaineering began as early as 1980s.

“Nepal is an attractive destination for French tourists. Every year more than 32,000 French people come here. There is also a long lasting cooperation in mountaineering," said Leger.

He pointed towards the need for increasing people to people contact and said that there would be some high level political exchanges and business cooperation this year.

The programme was jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and French Embassy in Kathmandu.

A musical programme followed the event in the evening where Cellist Franck Bernede presented solo performances, and in the later part Bidur Rajkarnikar and Santosh Bhakta Shrestha joined him in esraj and table respectively.

Miss Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada, who is also the goodwill ambassador for the 70^th year commoration of the Nepal-France relationship, said that both the countries had similarity in environmental sustainability.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 April 2019. 

Pashmina market size reaches Rs. 6 billion

Lalitpur, Apr. 19

 Nepali pashmina market has reached the size of Rs. 6 billion.

“The country exported pashmina worth Rs. 3 billion in 2018 while tourists visiting Nepal have taken pashmina products worth 2.5 billion. Combined with the domestic market, it has reached the size of about Rs. 6 billion,” said Durga Bikram Thapa, President of Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) while speaking at the 18^th Annual General Meeting of the organisation.

He said that the product had a potential to grow at a rapid speed if the government and the private sector joined hands to promote the Nepali pashmina products in the international markets.

“We need to launch a publicity campaign in the major destination markets about the quality of Nepali pashmina and its trademark,” he said.

Nepali pashmina entrepreneurs are sending their products in the international markets with a collective brand name ‘Chyangra Pashmina’. The trademark is registered in 47 countries and the NPIA has started process for its renewal in some of them.

Thapa demanded early implementation of the agreement with the CIMCMT/OBOR of China to export 500,000 pieces of Chyangra Pasmina there.  It will create additional opportunities to Nepali entrepreneurs, he said.

Nepal and China, during the visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in June last year, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to export Nepali pashmina products to China.

In order to maintain desired standards in pashmina products, the Department of Standards and Metrology Nepal has recently started to assign ‘Nepal Standard (NS)’ mark to them.

But the entrepreneurs have said that the product is facing hard times due to the fake label products in the market.

“There are duplicate pashmina products such as shawl and scarf made with viscose and polyester yarn which carry label saying 100 per cent pashmina, made in Nepal. Customers are being cheated from such products and at the same time, image of quality product has also been deteriorating,” said Thapa.

Change your mindset: Yadav

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply Matrika Prasad Yadav urged both the business community and bureaucracy to change their mindset and support each other in the business and process.

“Until and unless we change our mindset and become more open towards each other, there will not be any visible change. If you don’t change your mindset, change in the political system and Constitution wouldn’t work at all,” he said.

He criticised the private sector that it was ever complaining and demanding and less solution seeking.

“The government wants to forge a long-term and sustained partnership with you. Let's create new and strategic relations that will support both of us. The government needs a reliable partner in development and the private sector is the best alternative,” he said.

Minister Yadav expressed government’s commitment to support pashmina entrepreneurs in producing raw materials in the country and said that it was the time to give priority to product enhancement.

He also urged the businessmen to consider their workers as partners in business development and prosperity.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 April 2019. 

DMG to start iron exploration, mining model soon

Kathmandu, April 19:

The Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) is planning to give special focus to iron mining in the next decade.

“In the past decade, limestone got special attention which helped make the country self-reliant in cement, and we, soon, will have cement surplus. The next product will be iron which equally has the potential to have significant impact in the country’s economy,” said Director General of the DMG Dr. Somnath Sapkota.

He said that policy would be created to rope in the private sector companies and entrepreneurs in iron mining and processing, new technology would be transferred, and the areas where mapping conducted earlier would be revisited.

According to him, the primary need of the country is the latest mining technology.

Dr. Sapkota also said that the model iron exploration and excavation would soon be developed.

“Public-Private-Partnership, Built-Own-Operate-Transfer, government or any other suitable model would be adopted after consulting with the stakeholders in order to find the sustainable development of iron mining in the country,” he said.

He also said that single mine might not be feasible in Nepal as the minerals were scattered in multiple deposits across the country, so collective license should be given to the mining companies.

Meanwhile, the DMG is set to conclude the feasibility study of iron ore deposits in Dhaubadi of Nawalparasi district in Gandaki State within a year.

Dr. Sapkota said that the site was estimated to have more than 100 million geological reserves of iron ore.

The DMG is conducting chemical testing at Dhaubadi in order to get the exact potential of the site.

The country has iron deposits in Phulchoki in Lalitpur, Those of Ramechhap, Purchaundi of Baitadi, Dhuwakot of Parbat, Jirbang of Chitwan, Labdikhola of Tanahun, Dahabagar, Kachali and Ekghar in Bajhang district.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 April 2019. 

Suvayatra to reward Rs. 50 for completing course on migration

Kathmandu, Apr. 19:

The Shuvayatra App has unveiled a new rewards feature in its course platform catered to Nepali labour migrants.

Currently, the platform offers more than a dozen short courses covering foreign languages, financial literacy and other employment and migration related topics. The app has partnered with Khalti, a digital wallet and online payment service in Nepal, to allow the users to earn rewards worth Rs 50 or more for completing these courses.

If a user passes the final quiz, they receive a certificate and monetary coupons that they can redeem through the Khalti app. This can be spent on a range of services like mobile top-ups, utility bills, Tootle rides and others. The balance can also be sent to other users or spent at select shops without requiring a bank account or credit card.

When a person completes a course that has a reward on offer, he or she can redeem the reward by entering a valid Nepali mobile phone number. Those who are overseas can enter the phone number of a friend or relative in Nepal.

The app consists of features to help migrants make informed decisions before, during and after their migration cycle. Along with text and multimedia content, the Shuvayatra app has a mobile course section called ‘Sunaulo Kakshya’ that provides interactive modules for self-study.

The courses can be availed by downloading the free Shuvayatra Android app from the Google Play Store.

Shuvayatra is a mobile app and an online platform managed by The Asia Foundation and seven partners and supported by DFID and the ILO under the Sunaulo Mauka Program and the MetLife Foundation under the Wise Money Program.

It is implemented by The Asia Foundation with AMKAS Nepal, Bikas Udhyami, Hamro Patro, Khalti, North-South Initiative, PNCC, and Sharecast Initiative Nepal.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 April 2019. 

Mahalaxmi launches Jal pipes

Kathmandu, Apr. 19: Mahalaxmi Wires and Cables has launched its new product Jal Pipes and Fittings in the market.

Brand Ambassador of the product Actress Manisha Koirala, Managing Director of Arihant Group Girish Jain, former cricketer Paras Lunia and Japanese guest Sekisui jointly unveiled the pipes and fittings the other evening in the Capital.

The company said that the Jal pipes and fittings were manufactured with the technology from Austria, Germany and Japan. It has partnered with Sekisui Japanese compound for the production.

Sekisui said that Jal Pipes & Fittings stands for quality and trust and the company aimed at providing customers with high quality products.

Jain said that Arihant had many ventures and they were looking to branch out in the sector of pipes and fittings.

“We got that opportunity through Jal Pipes & Fittings. Through this, we aim to please our customers and hope they trust and buy Jal Pipes as much as they have for our other products,” he said.

Arihant Group encompasses more than 22 business units in the country in various operating segments that oversee a wide range of products and services.  Some of its subsidiaries are: Arihant holidays, Mahalaxmi Cables, Arihant autocorrugation, Arihant Iron & Steel Industries and Arihant Chemicals.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 April 2019. 

Nepal-China edu fair from Sunday

Kathmandu, Apr. 19:

Second Belt and Road Nepal China Education Fair 2019 will be organized on Sunday and Monday, April 21-22 in the Capital.

The event will be inaugurated by Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara at the United World Trade Centre, Tripureshwor. It will feature 25 stalls of various universities from China and consultants from Nepal.

“During the event, interaction among the entrepreneurs, guardians and students of both the countries will be organized,” said Secretary of Chinese Language Teachers Association Nepal Ram Chandra Karki.

He said that it would be a platform for the exchange of knowledge on education systems in both the countries, opportunities and experiences.

The fair is being organised at the cost of Rs. 1 million.

The organisers have hoped that about 10,000 visitors would reach the fair in two days.

Published in The Rising Nepal Daily on 20 Apr 2019. 

Gemstones' export still a dream

Kathmandu, Apr. 17: There has been zero progress in creating facilities for the value addition of gemstones in Nepal even five years after the government banned the export of the precious and semi-precious stones. 


In the past half-decade , the country neither transferred any new technology for mining or processing nor made any initiatives for the development of the sector. 


The private sector industries also remained the same as they were then although their products decreased and they are supplying it to the domestic market in a small scale. 


The government had put an embargo on gemstone export through a Cabinet decision on raw gemstone export in 2014 with an intention of discouraging the transfer of precious stones at a negligible price, said Director General of the Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) Dr. Somnath Sapkota. 


One and a half dozen private sector companies have obtained license to mine raw-gemstones in various parts of the country – they include nine for Tourmaline, six for Kyanite and three quartz while some companies are working in aquamarine and ruby mining as well.


The DMG has also issued 14 licenses for the exploration of stones. 


“We are facing hard times to sustain in the industry due to the ban on exports of precious and semi-precious stones,” said Sushil Rawal, a Gemologist who runs Tony Hagen Gems  Industry in Jajarkot.

According to him, processing of raw-materials produces only about 15 per cent of gems and the private entrepreneurs have no idea about the industrial use of the remaining materials. 


The country needs more gemologists and latest technology to increase value addition in the gemstone. Gemologists possess the knowledge to identify the gemstones and idea about cutting.

The DMG has urged the government to open the export of gemstones, open a processing centre in Surkhet, capital city of Karnali, and create at least 15 new gemologists. 


However, Dr. Sapkota said that it would take some time to bring the situation back to normal.

“In the past, the country was exporting the raw materials in kilos and importing the finished gems in piece. We are working to increase the value of gemstones through proper processing and refining,” he said.  


A gem entrepreneur said that the ban on export has resulted in higher smuggling of raw-gemstones and finished gems. 


Trade and Export Promotion Centre also said that though rough stone needed cutting, craving and polishing before it was embedded with ornaments and jewelleries, there was no organised provision for training for such works in Nepal. However, some mine owners and businessmen are doing the works in a small scale. 


Nepal is touted as a rich country in precious and semi-precious stones with Jajarkot, Dhading, Rasuwa, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha and Manag districts having major deposits. 


It is estimated that the higher Himalaya belt has high quantity of gemstones like aquamarine, tourmaline, quartz, amethyst, hamber gite, topaz, sapphire, garnet and amazonite. Mid-hill districts like Dhading have ruby, sapphire, spinel quartz, rutile and amethyst.


Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 18 April 2019.