
August 28: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has increased the working capital loan limit for the productive…
August 28: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has increased the working capital loan limit for the productive…
August 28: At a time when the budget and programmes brought by the government are being criticized for being more ambitious than implementation oriented, it has been found that the government has always set ambitious targets for foreign loans as…
August 27: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to prioritize export of Nepali products via Nepali embassies…
August 28: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is all set to operate regular flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from August…
Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives, situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, has successfully exported churpi to the…
The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index has once again dropped below 2,000 points. The dividend season has begun, with mutual funds announcing their profits. Investors, however, seem to have lost confidence in the…
August 27: The continuous rain that has been falling for the last few days will decrease from today.…
August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (RBB) governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has said that the surge in the use of technology has made it necessary to make people aware of financial…
August 27: Air service, which was disrupted due to thick fog in Humla following incessant rainfall, has resumed in the district after five days. …
August 26: Nepal Police has sought help from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the recent gold smuggling…
August 27: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has given approval for investment worth Rs 36.37 billion for four hydropower projects.…
August 27: Coca-Cola Nepal, in partnership with Atelier Platform, successfully completed the Saksham 2.0 “Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship…
August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to issue development bonds worth Rs 10…
In an effort to bolster the Bagmati River conservation campaign, a thrilling rafting and river festival was organized along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu on August…
August 26: Amlan Mukherjee, the managing director (MD) of Unilever Nepal Limited, has pledged to increase investment in Nepal.…
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However, they could avail up to 40 percent loan under special circumstances. In case of a company whose annual transaction was over Rs 20 million, they could avail 25 percent loan. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank had introduced the guidelines on October 18, 2022 to prevent the misuse of loans taken by businessmen under the heading of current capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari had defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the industrialists protested against it, the guidelines were revised in January.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Working capital loan is provided to the firms, organizations and companies to cover their short-term operational needs.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18585', 'image' => '20230828025805_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 14:57:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18855', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Meet Foreign Debt Collection Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: At a time when the budget and programmes brought by the government are being criticized for being more ambitious than implementation oriented, it has been found that the government has always set ambitious targets for foreign loans as well.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 28: At a time when the budget and programmes brought by the government are being criticized for being more ambitious than implementation oriented, it has been found that the government has always set ambitious targets for foreign loans as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Looking at the goals set by the government and the status of achievement in recent years, the goals have been proven to be ambitious. When comparing the foreign loan target taken in the budget of the last five years with the actual realization, it seems that the government has not been able to meet the target even in a single fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Compared to the target set by the budget in the last five fiscal years, only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">51.63</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of foreign loans have been received on an average. In the last fiscal year (FY) </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the government had set a target of taking foreign loans of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">242</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.26 billion. However, the government only received foreign loans of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">0</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.12 billion last year. This is just </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">42.15</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Public Debt Management Office, looking at the situation from FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> to FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, Nepal’s foreign loan target was the lowest in FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2073/74</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. It seems that only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">29.64</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target met in the review year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, in the fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2072/73</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the country received the maximum loan in proportion to the target. In that particular year, Nepal received foreign loans equivalent to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">74.68</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target. The foreign loan target realization was the lowest in FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">after FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2075/76.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It seems that the government is more reliant on bilateral relations while seeking grants while it relies more on multilateral donors (international banks and organizations) for loans.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government did not receive loans as per the target even in the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government has set a target of raising foreign aid equal to Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">262</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion in the current fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2080/81. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government intends to acquire Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">49.94</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion grants and Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">212</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">billion loans from more than two dozen donors. Since such a target was not achieved in the previous years, it is clear that the government will not be able to collect the debt as stated this year too.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The latest report of the Public Debt Management Office has mentioned the underutilization of foreign loans and the inability to objectively determine the targets as the prime reasons for the government’s failure to acquire loans and grants as per the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18584', 'image' => '20230828120821_20230806125143_2308 - editorial_11zon.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 12:07:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CNI Urges Government to Prioritize Economic Diplomacy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to prioritize export of Nepali products via Nepali embassies abroad. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to prioritize export of Nepali products via Nepali embassies abroad. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During a discussion held with Foreign Minister NP Saud on Sunday, the CNI team led by Rajesh Kumar Agrawal requested the minister to prioritize economic diplomacy to promote tourism, export of Nepali products and bring in foreign investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CNI President Agrawal stressed that government needs to create investment friendly atmosphere for attracting foreign direct investment. Policy stability is equally important for it, he underlined. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, expansion of business relations with foreign investors is imperative for drawing foreign direct investment. The CNI also suggested the government that Nepali embassies abroad should facilitate regular visits and interactions with foreign business representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The delegation also demanded the government to give continuity to the cargo railway service presently operative from India to Biratnagar. The CNI also reminded the government to sign a 'motor vehicle agreement' with India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Foreign Minister Saud assured that the government would prioritize the issues raised by CNI. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18583', 'image' => '20230828114446_CNIIII.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 11:43:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Airlines to Operate Regular Flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from GBIA', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is all set to operate regular flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from August 29. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 28: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is all set to operate regular flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from August 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The national flag carrier of Nepal has opened ticket booking for Hong Kong and Delhi from Bhairahawa with transit in Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NAC Spokesperson Ramesh Poudel informed that the NAC is planning to gradually increase the number of flights as per the market demand. He added that the NAC will begin with a weekly flight from Bhairahawa every Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the flight schedule, a plane that takes off from Bhairahawa at 8.15 am would land in Kathmandu at 9.00 am. Then, passengers bound for Hong Kong and New Delhi will board the plane for the respective connecting flights of the NAC. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Arrangements have been made for the passengers to receive boarding pass up to the destination during check-in time and directly get luggage in the destination, the NAC said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Passengers can book and obtain online tickets after logging the website of the NAC, added Poudel. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, Airlines, Corporation, Hong Kong, New Delhi, flight, schedule, Bhairahawa, Kathmandu, transit, connecting, passenger', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18581', 'image' => '20230828104112_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 10:40:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18850', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Churpi Exported to the US from Syangja Cooperative', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives, situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, has successfully exported churpi to the US.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 27: Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives, situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, has successfully exported churpi to the US.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cooperatives' chairperson, Punya Prasad Aryal, confirmed the export of churpi, a form of hardened cheese, which is priced at Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,100 per kilogram.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The dairy operated by this small farmers' cooperative collects approximately 800 to 1,100 liters of milk daily. "We provide farmers with a 50 percent subsidy for agricultural supplies, seeds, and grass plants," stated Lakshmi Pokharel Regmi, the cooperative's manager.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the past fiscal year, in association with the Prime Minister's Agricultural Digitization Project, 50 percent subsidies were granted to 10 farmers through the 'Buffalor Subsidy Program.' </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, 28 farmers benefited from grants as part of the 'Storage Improvement Program.'</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Established in 2075 BS, the cooperative boasts 2,850 shareholders. In the ongoing financial year, the cooperative plans to introduce a Livestock Protection Program, featuring a free animal insurance initiative.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cooperative remains committed to empowering farmers and promoting self-employment, as outlined by Regmi. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18579', 'image' => '20230827062256_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 18:21:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18849', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Index Drops Below 2,000 Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index has once again dropped below 2,000 points. The dividend season has begun, with mutual funds announcing their profits. Investors, however, seem to have lost confidence in the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">August 27: The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index has once again dropped below 2,000 points. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The dividend season has begun, with mutual funds announcing their profits. Investors, however, seem to have lost confidence in the market.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Investors attribute the continuous market decline to policy restrictions and increasing interest rates. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The continuous fall of the market ever since the Nepal Rastra Bank issued the monetary policy for fiscal year 2023/2024 reflects loss of confidence and morale among the investors. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">When the market goes up for a few days, it can't sustain the momentum as traders tend to sell their shares to secure a small profit, which further affects the market negatively. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">In today's trading session, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index lost 20.54 points or 1.02% and closed at 1,993.38 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">During today's trading, a total of 280 scrips exchanged their hands through 38,666 transactions. As many as 3,895,236 shares were traded, amounting to a turnover of Rs. 1.26 billion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Asian Life Insurance Co. Limited (ALICL) recorded the highest turnover of Rs. 7.46 crores and closed at a market price of Rs. 694.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Similarly, Kutheli Bukhari Small Hydropower Limited (KBSH) gained the highest 10%, hitting the upper circuit for the day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Meanwhile, Makar Jitumaya Suri Hydropower Limited (MAKAR) lost the highest 9.63% today.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">In terms of sub-indices, only the Mutual Fund sector closed in the green zone while the remaining sectors landed in the green territory.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The Hydropower Index lost the most for the day with a 1.75% negative change. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The Sensitive Index lost 0.89%, while Float Index and Sensitive Float Index dropped by 1% and 0.93% respectively..</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18578', 'image' => '20230827050219_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 17:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18847', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rainfall to Decrease from Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The continuous rain that has been falling for the last few days will decrease from today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: The continuous rain that has been falling for the last few days will decrease from today. The weather is gradually improving from the western region and there will be improvement in the weather across the country starting from today (August 27), according to Meteorologist Sanjeev Adhikari at the Weather Forecasting Division. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Continuous rain will stop from today, but the possibility of light to moderate rain will remain in some parts of the country," he added. There is a possibility of windstorm in few places of Madhes and Lumbini provinces this afternoon (Sunday). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Last night there was heavy rainfall in one or two places of Koshi, Madhes, Gandaki and Bagmati provinces and now it is raining in a few places of Koshi Province and one or two places in other provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The division said in its weather bulletin that there is a possibility of light to moderate rain in Kathmandu Valley today. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18577', 'image' => '20230827030750_weatherrrr.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 15:06:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18848', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Governor Stresses on Financial Literacy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (RBB) governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has said that the surge in the use of technology has made it necessary to make people aware of financial literacy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (RBB) governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has said that the surge in the use of technology has made it necessary to make people aware of financial literacy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Launching the Financial Literacy Television Programme to be broadcast by the Nepal Television at 7:25 pm each Friday, the NRB governor said the use of digital payment (via computer and mobile) has proliferated in the recent time and in this situation the citizens should be aware of financial literacy for the safe use of such services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the development of technology, banks and financial institutions have launched new digital facilities, said the NRB governor adding that such a programme is a tool to make the mass aware of features of such services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that the NRB has prepared and implemented new guidelines for promoting financial literacy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal also spoke on the need of making citizens aware of financial literacy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Bankers Association chair Sunil KC said the rise in financial literacy would obviously be of help in the development of banks and industrial sector. He said that the banking and financial sector pays revenue of Rs 40 billion to the government each year and they provide jobs to 100,000 people. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18576', 'image' => '20230827031631_NP-KTM-0D3A0772.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 15:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18846', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Air Service Resume at Simikot Airport after Five Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Air service, which was disrupted due to thick fog in Humla following incessant rainfall, has resumed in the district after five days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: Air service, which was disrupted due to thick fog in Humla following incessant rainfall, has resumed in the district after five days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Flights to and from the mountainous districts of Karnali including Humla were disrupted since last Monday due to bad weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Station Manager of Summit Air in Humla, Govinda Lama, said Summit Air made the first flight to Simkot from Nepalgunj on Saturday morning with clear weather in the district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private airline companies were able to conduct flights from 10:00 am on Saturday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the resumption of air service, it has become easier for passengers entering and exiting the district as well as to transport daily essential goods, construction materials, and food stuffs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of Simikot Airport, Mahendra Singh, shared that Summit Air, Sita Air and Tara Air had operated flights at Humla from Nepalgunj. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18575', 'image' => '20230827094827_159764826_3831508696966986_1904441546485166007_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:47:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18845', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Police Seek Interpol Help in Gold Smuggling Case ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 26: Nepal Police has sought help from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the recent gold smuggling case.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 26: Nepal Police has sought help from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the recent gold smuggling case. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, which is currently investigating the case, has written to the Interpol in this regard citing foreign citizens were found involving in the case. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB has written to the Interpol, Hong Kong and India seeking help, Inspector General of Nepal Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar told the state-owned RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On 19 July, 2023, the Department of Revenue Investigation confiscated 60.716 kg gold bars from in front of the customs office at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Following this, the Nepal Police has been investigating the matter and has arrested 23 people in the case so far. A Chinese national and an Indian are also found to have been involved in the case, said the police. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18574', 'image' => '20230827094236_goldee.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:41:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18844', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IBN Approves Investment of Rs 36.37 Billion in Four Hydropower Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has given approval for investment worth Rs 36.37 billion for four hydropower projects. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 27: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has given approval for investment worth Rs 36.37 billion for four hydropower projects. The 55th meeting of the IBN chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday, took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the decision, the board has granted permission to invest in Rolwaling River Hydropower Project (22 MW), Chujung River Hydropower Project (63 MW), Dana River Hydropower Project (49.95 MW) and Sanibheri Hydropower Project (44.52 MW).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Addressing the meeting, PM Dahal urged for coordination among all stakeholders for timely completion of under-construction projects.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He also instructed all stakeholders to expedite the process of approval of investment and implement the projects in a result-oriented way.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The meeting decided to form a negotiation committee under the coordination of the Chief Executive Officer of the IBN to negotiate with the developer regarding the China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park in Damak and prepare the final draft of the Project Development Agreement (PDA).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the meeting decided to issue a permit to Dolma Himalayan Energy to study the prospect of solar energy projects of 245 MW capacity and 20 MW battery capacity in Rajpur Rural Municipality of Dang district. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The IBN has also acknowledged the submission of a detailed feasibility study report by Risen Energy Ltd, the developer of the 250 MW solar energy initiatives in Banke's Kohalpur and Banganga in Kapilvastu.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The IBN has decided to submit a proposal to the Council of Ministers for the execution of the directive issued by the Supreme Court regarding the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In addition, the board meeting approved the draft of MoU with Malaysia-based Rinicola SDN BHD for the study regarding the establishment of Green Calcium Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer Factory.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The meeting also decided to form a high-level committee to review the current progress regarding the implementation of the Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project and submit suggestions for the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sushil Bhatta, the Chief Executive Officer of Investment Board, made a presentation of the activities carried out by the board and the status of implementation of the decisions of the 54th board meeting and the agenda of the 55th board meeting.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18573', 'image' => '20230827093817_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18843', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coca-Cola Nepal Awards Saksham 2.0 Mentorship Program Winners', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Coca-Cola Nepal, in partnership with Atelier Platform, successfully completed the Saksham 2.0 “Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme.”', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">August 27: Coca-Cola Nepal, in partnership with Atelier Platform, successfully completed the Saksham 2.0 “Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Issuing a recent statement, the company said this initiative forms a significant component of Coca-Cola Nepal’s Women Empowerment Programme, Saksham, which aims to offer comprehensive support and guidance to women-led startups and potential ventures in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">According to the company, they received applications from 1000+ women entrepreneurs from Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan district for the programme.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Coca-Cola further said that they selected eight finalists from the pool of applicants, based on their innovative concepts and potential for the idea’s success. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">The selected finalists included Brinda Dewan of Kehikrafts, Menuka Gurung of Duluwa Outdoors, Prakriti Basyal of South and Southeast Project, Rashi Maharjan of Learners Room, Rozina Baral of Searched, Sarala Maharjan of Sakal Naturo – Multi Purpose Cleaner, Shanti Rai of Greenspace Nepal and Yaju Maharjan of Swachha Mahinawari.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Ritu Gurung, founder of Atelier Platform, expressed her contentment with the programme, stating, “Through the Atelier Programme and our collaboration with Coca-Cola for Saksham 2.0, we are paving a path where young female entrepreneurs can cultivate their aspirations into reality, rather than merely dreaming about them. These entrepreneurs are crafting a dynamic canvas of success, fueled by their unwavering determination and enriched by knowledge. Every brushstroke of ambition paints an incredible portrait of empowered women propelling business innovation and transformation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">According to Coca-Cola Nepal, the Saksham Training Programme concluded on August 18 at Maya Manor Boutique Hotel, Hattisar in Kathmandu. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Different innovative concepts and business plans from women entrepreneurs were presented before a jury consisting of accomplished professionals. The panel of judges consisted of Prasanna Basnet, founder of Cotton Mill Nepal; Sneh Rajbhandari, public affairs, communication and sustainability director at Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal; and Trishagni Shakya, executive director of KGH Group. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">After a thorough evaluation by the judges, Menuka Gurung of Duluwa Outdoors, Rashi Maharjan of Learner’s Room and Sarala Maharjan of Sakal Naturo Multi-Purpose Cleaner were declared the winners and received a monetary reward of Rs 100,000 each. The top three winners were granted equal financial support to propel their initiatives forward and bring them closer to their goals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">"The Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme exemplify our commitment to fostering women's entrepreneurship and contributing to sustainable growth in Nepal. Empowering female entrepreneurs is essential for the holistic development of communities and economies and we are immensely grateful for your continuous support that motivates us to keep conducting such progressive projects," the statement quoted Deepak Senthil Nath, managing director of Bottlers Nepal Limited, as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">By investing in women’s economic empowerment, Coca-Cola said the company has created a shared value in hopes of a better shared future - enabling improved livelihoods for women, their families and their communities, while inclusively expanding their business.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">“We are proud</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">of</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">the ripple effects that this partnership with Atelier Platform have had on the</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> lives we have touched</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">and will continue to have over the years to come, propelling Nepal’s entrepreneurial landscape to higher heights,” the statement added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18572', 'image' => '20230827091214_Picture (3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:11:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18842', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Issue Development Bonds worth 10 Billion Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to issue development bonds worth Rs 10 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to issue development bonds worth Rs 10 billion today (August 27). The central bank will issue the six-year development bond 2085 on Sunday to raise domestic credit for the government. <br /> Banks and financial institutions, non-banking financial institutions, insurance companies, organized institutions and even ordinary citizens can purchase the development bonds. The interest rate of this bond will be determined through negotiation, the NRB said. <br /> This bond can be kept as collateral for acquiring loan. The principal payment of this bond, which pays interest bi-annually, will be on August 27, 2029. <br /> For the purchase of this bond, individuals and organizations can only participate as competitive or non-competitive bidders under the bidding process. Commercial banks, development banks and finance companies licensed by the central bank will not be allowed to participate as competitors. The secondary market trading of this bond will be done only through Nepal Stock Exchange Limited.-- RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18571', 'image' => '20230827080813_20230826081355_20230723042338_collage (18).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 08:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18841', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rafting and River Festival Held in Bagmati River', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' In an effort to bolster the Bagmati River conservation campaign, a thrilling rafting and river festival was organized along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu on August 26.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 27: In an effort to bolster the Bagmati River conservation campaign, a thrilling rafting and river festival was organized along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu on August 26. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This event, jointly organized by the Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), the Nepal River Conservation Organization, and the Friends Club of Kupandole, commenced at 7:00 am, stretching from the Bagmati Bridge at Kupandole to Sundarighat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary objective of this initiative, as articulated by NARA Vice-Chairperson Sishir Khanal, was to underline the significance of water tourism and enhance the recognition of the Bagmati River's cultural heritage, while also advocating for its conservation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This year marked the 23rd edition of the rafting and river festival, a collaborative effort by various social organizations. Over the past few years, these organizations have been diligently involved in the Bagmati River clean-up campaign, a critical endeavor in light of the river's transition from a pristine waterway to a polluted sewage channel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To kick off the festival, traditional musical instruments filled the air, setting the tone for the day's activities. These musical performances aimed to aware participants to the current deplorable state of the Bagmati River, emphasizing the urgency of preserving its sanctity.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to rafting adventures, participants also took part in riverbank cleaning efforts, aligning with the organizers' commitment to restoring the river to its former glory.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18570', 'image' => '20230827063432_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 06:32:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18839', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Unilever Nepal Pledges to Invest More in the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 26: Amlan Mukherjee, the managing director (MD) of Unilever Nepal Limited, has pledged to increase investment in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 26: Amlan Mukherjee, the managing director (MD) of Unilever Nepal Limited, has pledged to increase investment in Nepal. He said that the company is committed to invest more in Nepal because the favourable nature of the policies adopted by the government in the current fiscal year (FY 2023/24). Mukherjee added that the multinational company is also interested in investing in Nepal because the consumption and demand of the company's products has also increased.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"There are works that the government must do such as the availability of local raw materials as well as fixing the customs rate between imported goods and raw materials,” he told New Business Age, adding, “The government must also solve the problems caused by the gray market.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">He said that the consumption of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) is much less in Nepal than other South Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">He also insisted on the implementation of the issue of transfer pricing mentioned in the current fiscal year's budget. He said that Unilever has been here for 30 years, recognizing the needs and demands of Nepal's consumers and said that more investment will be expanded and new products will be produced.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Now we will install state-of-the-art technology and machines in the factory. We are preparing to launch a new product (onion shampoo) within 6 months,” he added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Mukherjee said that high-end technology, machines as well as digitization are also given equal importance. Stating that Nepal also faced economic crisis but is managing it well, he said, “Although the purchasing power of consumers has decreased now, I am expecting economic activities to increase during the upcoming festive season”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> He was of the view that the government should increase spending while the banks and the financial sector should also support the government. He emphasized that the government should give priority to local industrialization. Similarly, he said that the company used 70 percent of Nepalese products for the packaging of its products and claimed that 8 out of 10 households use Unilever products on a daily basis.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Unilever says that it will not go to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) promoted by the government as its own land and factory are sufficient. Likewise, the company has prioritized the recycling of plastic used in the industry.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Mukherjee also said that solar energy system has been installed in the factory as there is no guarantee of regular electricity and there are occasional power outages. The company has a factory in Hetauda of Makwanpur.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Unilever Nepal has been producing 28 different branded products such as soap, detergent, shampoo, skin care, toothpaste, packaged foods, etc.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The net profit of this company listed in Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (NEPSE) increased by 16.68 percent in the last fiscal year (FY 2022/23) compared to the previous year. He also informed that in the last FY, the company earned a net profit of Rs 1.83 billion. He mentioned that it was very difficult to do business during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to the closure of the factory for quite some time. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-26', 'modified' => '2023-08-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18568', 'image' => '20230826080704_20230825022620_1692935513.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-26 20:06:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18856', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank Revises Working Capital Loan Guidelines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has increased the working capital loan limit for the productive sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 28: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has increased the working capital loan limit for the productive sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The central bank has amended the Working Capital Loan Guidelines, 2079, allowing banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to extend loans up to Rs 30 million for the manufacturing industries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a notice on Monday, the NRB confirmed that it amended the guidelines and instructed all stakeholders to comply with the new provisions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier, the central bank had fixed a ceiling of Rs 10 million as working capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The central bank had capped the limit on working capital loan to 20 percent in case of a company whose annual transaction was less than Rs 20 million. However, they could avail up to 40 percent loan under special circumstances. In case of a company whose annual transaction was over Rs 20 million, they could avail 25 percent loan. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank had introduced the guidelines on October 18, 2022 to prevent the misuse of loans taken by businessmen under the heading of current capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari had defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the industrialists protested against it, the guidelines were revised in January.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Working capital loan is provided to the firms, organizations and companies to cover their short-term operational needs.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18585', 'image' => '20230828025805_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 14:57:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18855', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Meet Foreign Debt Collection Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: At a time when the budget and programmes brought by the government are being criticized for being more ambitious than implementation oriented, it has been found that the government has always set ambitious targets for foreign loans as well.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 28: At a time when the budget and programmes brought by the government are being criticized for being more ambitious than implementation oriented, it has been found that the government has always set ambitious targets for foreign loans as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Looking at the goals set by the government and the status of achievement in recent years, the goals have been proven to be ambitious. When comparing the foreign loan target taken in the budget of the last five years with the actual realization, it seems that the government has not been able to meet the target even in a single fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Compared to the target set by the budget in the last five fiscal years, only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">51.63</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of foreign loans have been received on an average. In the last fiscal year (FY) </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the government had set a target of taking foreign loans of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">242</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.26 billion. However, the government only received foreign loans of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">0</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.12 billion last year. This is just </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">42.15</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Public Debt Management Office, looking at the situation from FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> to FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, Nepal’s foreign loan target was the lowest in FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2073/74</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. It seems that only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">29.64</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target met in the review year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, in the fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2072/73</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the country received the maximum loan in proportion to the target. In that particular year, Nepal received foreign loans equivalent to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">74.68</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target. The foreign loan target realization was the lowest in FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">after FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2075/76.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It seems that the government is more reliant on bilateral relations while seeking grants while it relies more on multilateral donors (international banks and organizations) for loans.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government did not receive loans as per the target even in the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government has set a target of raising foreign aid equal to Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">262</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion in the current fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2080/81. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government intends to acquire Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">49.94</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion grants and Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">212</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">billion loans from more than two dozen donors. Since such a target was not achieved in the previous years, it is clear that the government will not be able to collect the debt as stated this year too.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The latest report of the Public Debt Management Office has mentioned the underutilization of foreign loans and the inability to objectively determine the targets as the prime reasons for the government’s failure to acquire loans and grants as per the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18584', 'image' => '20230828120821_20230806125143_2308 - editorial_11zon.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 12:07:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CNI Urges Government to Prioritize Economic Diplomacy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to prioritize export of Nepali products via Nepali embassies abroad. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to prioritize export of Nepali products via Nepali embassies abroad. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During a discussion held with Foreign Minister NP Saud on Sunday, the CNI team led by Rajesh Kumar Agrawal requested the minister to prioritize economic diplomacy to promote tourism, export of Nepali products and bring in foreign investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CNI President Agrawal stressed that government needs to create investment friendly atmosphere for attracting foreign direct investment. Policy stability is equally important for it, he underlined. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, expansion of business relations with foreign investors is imperative for drawing foreign direct investment. The CNI also suggested the government that Nepali embassies abroad should facilitate regular visits and interactions with foreign business representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The delegation also demanded the government to give continuity to the cargo railway service presently operative from India to Biratnagar. The CNI also reminded the government to sign a 'motor vehicle agreement' with India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Foreign Minister Saud assured that the government would prioritize the issues raised by CNI. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18583', 'image' => '20230828114446_CNIIII.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 11:43:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Airlines to Operate Regular Flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from GBIA', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is all set to operate regular flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from August 29. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 28: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is all set to operate regular flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from August 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The national flag carrier of Nepal has opened ticket booking for Hong Kong and Delhi from Bhairahawa with transit in Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NAC Spokesperson Ramesh Poudel informed that the NAC is planning to gradually increase the number of flights as per the market demand. He added that the NAC will begin with a weekly flight from Bhairahawa every Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the flight schedule, a plane that takes off from Bhairahawa at 8.15 am would land in Kathmandu at 9.00 am. Then, passengers bound for Hong Kong and New Delhi will board the plane for the respective connecting flights of the NAC. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Arrangements have been made for the passengers to receive boarding pass up to the destination during check-in time and directly get luggage in the destination, the NAC said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Passengers can book and obtain online tickets after logging the website of the NAC, added Poudel. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, Airlines, Corporation, Hong Kong, New Delhi, flight, schedule, Bhairahawa, Kathmandu, transit, connecting, passenger', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18581', 'image' => '20230828104112_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 10:40:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18850', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Churpi Exported to the US from Syangja Cooperative', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives, situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, has successfully exported churpi to the US.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 27: Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives, situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, has successfully exported churpi to the US.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cooperatives' chairperson, Punya Prasad Aryal, confirmed the export of churpi, a form of hardened cheese, which is priced at Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,100 per kilogram.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The dairy operated by this small farmers' cooperative collects approximately 800 to 1,100 liters of milk daily. "We provide farmers with a 50 percent subsidy for agricultural supplies, seeds, and grass plants," stated Lakshmi Pokharel Regmi, the cooperative's manager.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the past fiscal year, in association with the Prime Minister's Agricultural Digitization Project, 50 percent subsidies were granted to 10 farmers through the 'Buffalor Subsidy Program.' </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, 28 farmers benefited from grants as part of the 'Storage Improvement Program.'</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Established in 2075 BS, the cooperative boasts 2,850 shareholders. In the ongoing financial year, the cooperative plans to introduce a Livestock Protection Program, featuring a free animal insurance initiative.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cooperative remains committed to empowering farmers and promoting self-employment, as outlined by Regmi. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18579', 'image' => '20230827062256_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 18:21:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18849', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Index Drops Below 2,000 Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index has once again dropped below 2,000 points. The dividend season has begun, with mutual funds announcing their profits. Investors, however, seem to have lost confidence in the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">August 27: The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index has once again dropped below 2,000 points. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The dividend season has begun, with mutual funds announcing their profits. Investors, however, seem to have lost confidence in the market.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Investors attribute the continuous market decline to policy restrictions and increasing interest rates. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The continuous fall of the market ever since the Nepal Rastra Bank issued the monetary policy for fiscal year 2023/2024 reflects loss of confidence and morale among the investors. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">When the market goes up for a few days, it can't sustain the momentum as traders tend to sell their shares to secure a small profit, which further affects the market negatively. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">In today's trading session, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index lost 20.54 points or 1.02% and closed at 1,993.38 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">During today's trading, a total of 280 scrips exchanged their hands through 38,666 transactions. As many as 3,895,236 shares were traded, amounting to a turnover of Rs. 1.26 billion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Asian Life Insurance Co. Limited (ALICL) recorded the highest turnover of Rs. 7.46 crores and closed at a market price of Rs. 694.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Similarly, Kutheli Bukhari Small Hydropower Limited (KBSH) gained the highest 10%, hitting the upper circuit for the day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Meanwhile, Makar Jitumaya Suri Hydropower Limited (MAKAR) lost the highest 9.63% today.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">In terms of sub-indices, only the Mutual Fund sector closed in the green zone while the remaining sectors landed in the green territory.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The Hydropower Index lost the most for the day with a 1.75% negative change. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The Sensitive Index lost 0.89%, while Float Index and Sensitive Float Index dropped by 1% and 0.93% respectively..</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18578', 'image' => '20230827050219_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 17:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18847', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rainfall to Decrease from Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The continuous rain that has been falling for the last few days will decrease from today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: The continuous rain that has been falling for the last few days will decrease from today. The weather is gradually improving from the western region and there will be improvement in the weather across the country starting from today (August 27), according to Meteorologist Sanjeev Adhikari at the Weather Forecasting Division. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Continuous rain will stop from today, but the possibility of light to moderate rain will remain in some parts of the country," he added. There is a possibility of windstorm in few places of Madhes and Lumbini provinces this afternoon (Sunday). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Last night there was heavy rainfall in one or two places of Koshi, Madhes, Gandaki and Bagmati provinces and now it is raining in a few places of Koshi Province and one or two places in other provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The division said in its weather bulletin that there is a possibility of light to moderate rain in Kathmandu Valley today. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18577', 'image' => '20230827030750_weatherrrr.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 15:06:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18848', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Governor Stresses on Financial Literacy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (RBB) governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has said that the surge in the use of technology has made it necessary to make people aware of financial literacy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (RBB) governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has said that the surge in the use of technology has made it necessary to make people aware of financial literacy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Launching the Financial Literacy Television Programme to be broadcast by the Nepal Television at 7:25 pm each Friday, the NRB governor said the use of digital payment (via computer and mobile) has proliferated in the recent time and in this situation the citizens should be aware of financial literacy for the safe use of such services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the development of technology, banks and financial institutions have launched new digital facilities, said the NRB governor adding that such a programme is a tool to make the mass aware of features of such services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that the NRB has prepared and implemented new guidelines for promoting financial literacy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal also spoke on the need of making citizens aware of financial literacy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Bankers Association chair Sunil KC said the rise in financial literacy would obviously be of help in the development of banks and industrial sector. He said that the banking and financial sector pays revenue of Rs 40 billion to the government each year and they provide jobs to 100,000 people. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18576', 'image' => '20230827031631_NP-KTM-0D3A0772.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 15:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18846', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Air Service Resume at Simikot Airport after Five Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Air service, which was disrupted due to thick fog in Humla following incessant rainfall, has resumed in the district after five days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: Air service, which was disrupted due to thick fog in Humla following incessant rainfall, has resumed in the district after five days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Flights to and from the mountainous districts of Karnali including Humla were disrupted since last Monday due to bad weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Station Manager of Summit Air in Humla, Govinda Lama, said Summit Air made the first flight to Simkot from Nepalgunj on Saturday morning with clear weather in the district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private airline companies were able to conduct flights from 10:00 am on Saturday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the resumption of air service, it has become easier for passengers entering and exiting the district as well as to transport daily essential goods, construction materials, and food stuffs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of Simikot Airport, Mahendra Singh, shared that Summit Air, Sita Air and Tara Air had operated flights at Humla from Nepalgunj. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18575', 'image' => '20230827094827_159764826_3831508696966986_1904441546485166007_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:47:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18845', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Police Seek Interpol Help in Gold Smuggling Case ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 26: Nepal Police has sought help from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the recent gold smuggling case.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 26: Nepal Police has sought help from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the recent gold smuggling case. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, which is currently investigating the case, has written to the Interpol in this regard citing foreign citizens were found involving in the case. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB has written to the Interpol, Hong Kong and India seeking help, Inspector General of Nepal Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar told the state-owned RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On 19 July, 2023, the Department of Revenue Investigation confiscated 60.716 kg gold bars from in front of the customs office at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Following this, the Nepal Police has been investigating the matter and has arrested 23 people in the case so far. A Chinese national and an Indian are also found to have been involved in the case, said the police. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18574', 'image' => '20230827094236_goldee.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:41:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18844', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IBN Approves Investment of Rs 36.37 Billion in Four Hydropower Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has given approval for investment worth Rs 36.37 billion for four hydropower projects. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 27: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has given approval for investment worth Rs 36.37 billion for four hydropower projects. The 55th meeting of the IBN chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday, took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the decision, the board has granted permission to invest in Rolwaling River Hydropower Project (22 MW), Chujung River Hydropower Project (63 MW), Dana River Hydropower Project (49.95 MW) and Sanibheri Hydropower Project (44.52 MW).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Addressing the meeting, PM Dahal urged for coordination among all stakeholders for timely completion of under-construction projects.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He also instructed all stakeholders to expedite the process of approval of investment and implement the projects in a result-oriented way.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The meeting decided to form a negotiation committee under the coordination of the Chief Executive Officer of the IBN to negotiate with the developer regarding the China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park in Damak and prepare the final draft of the Project Development Agreement (PDA).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the meeting decided to issue a permit to Dolma Himalayan Energy to study the prospect of solar energy projects of 245 MW capacity and 20 MW battery capacity in Rajpur Rural Municipality of Dang district. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The IBN has also acknowledged the submission of a detailed feasibility study report by Risen Energy Ltd, the developer of the 250 MW solar energy initiatives in Banke's Kohalpur and Banganga in Kapilvastu.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The IBN has decided to submit a proposal to the Council of Ministers for the execution of the directive issued by the Supreme Court regarding the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In addition, the board meeting approved the draft of MoU with Malaysia-based Rinicola SDN BHD for the study regarding the establishment of Green Calcium Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer Factory.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The meeting also decided to form a high-level committee to review the current progress regarding the implementation of the Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project and submit suggestions for the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sushil Bhatta, the Chief Executive Officer of Investment Board, made a presentation of the activities carried out by the board and the status of implementation of the decisions of the 54th board meeting and the agenda of the 55th board meeting.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18573', 'image' => '20230827093817_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18843', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coca-Cola Nepal Awards Saksham 2.0 Mentorship Program Winners', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Coca-Cola Nepal, in partnership with Atelier Platform, successfully completed the Saksham 2.0 “Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme.”', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">August 27: Coca-Cola Nepal, in partnership with Atelier Platform, successfully completed the Saksham 2.0 “Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Issuing a recent statement, the company said this initiative forms a significant component of Coca-Cola Nepal’s Women Empowerment Programme, Saksham, which aims to offer comprehensive support and guidance to women-led startups and potential ventures in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">According to the company, they received applications from 1000+ women entrepreneurs from Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan district for the programme.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Coca-Cola further said that they selected eight finalists from the pool of applicants, based on their innovative concepts and potential for the idea’s success. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">The selected finalists included Brinda Dewan of Kehikrafts, Menuka Gurung of Duluwa Outdoors, Prakriti Basyal of South and Southeast Project, Rashi Maharjan of Learners Room, Rozina Baral of Searched, Sarala Maharjan of Sakal Naturo – Multi Purpose Cleaner, Shanti Rai of Greenspace Nepal and Yaju Maharjan of Swachha Mahinawari.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Ritu Gurung, founder of Atelier Platform, expressed her contentment with the programme, stating, “Through the Atelier Programme and our collaboration with Coca-Cola for Saksham 2.0, we are paving a path where young female entrepreneurs can cultivate their aspirations into reality, rather than merely dreaming about them. These entrepreneurs are crafting a dynamic canvas of success, fueled by their unwavering determination and enriched by knowledge. Every brushstroke of ambition paints an incredible portrait of empowered women propelling business innovation and transformation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">According to Coca-Cola Nepal, the Saksham Training Programme concluded on August 18 at Maya Manor Boutique Hotel, Hattisar in Kathmandu. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Different innovative concepts and business plans from women entrepreneurs were presented before a jury consisting of accomplished professionals. The panel of judges consisted of Prasanna Basnet, founder of Cotton Mill Nepal; Sneh Rajbhandari, public affairs, communication and sustainability director at Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal; and Trishagni Shakya, executive director of KGH Group. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">After a thorough evaluation by the judges, Menuka Gurung of Duluwa Outdoors, Rashi Maharjan of Learner’s Room and Sarala Maharjan of Sakal Naturo Multi-Purpose Cleaner were declared the winners and received a monetary reward of Rs 100,000 each. The top three winners were granted equal financial support to propel their initiatives forward and bring them closer to their goals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">"The Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme exemplify our commitment to fostering women's entrepreneurship and contributing to sustainable growth in Nepal. Empowering female entrepreneurs is essential for the holistic development of communities and economies and we are immensely grateful for your continuous support that motivates us to keep conducting such progressive projects," the statement quoted Deepak Senthil Nath, managing director of Bottlers Nepal Limited, as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">By investing in women’s economic empowerment, Coca-Cola said the company has created a shared value in hopes of a better shared future - enabling improved livelihoods for women, their families and their communities, while inclusively expanding their business.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">“We are proud</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">of</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">the ripple effects that this partnership with Atelier Platform have had on the</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> lives we have touched</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">and will continue to have over the years to come, propelling Nepal’s entrepreneurial landscape to higher heights,” the statement added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18572', 'image' => '20230827091214_Picture (3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:11:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18842', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Issue Development Bonds worth 10 Billion Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to issue development bonds worth Rs 10 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to issue development bonds worth Rs 10 billion today (August 27). The central bank will issue the six-year development bond 2085 on Sunday to raise domestic credit for the government. <br /> Banks and financial institutions, non-banking financial institutions, insurance companies, organized institutions and even ordinary citizens can purchase the development bonds. The interest rate of this bond will be determined through negotiation, the NRB said. <br /> This bond can be kept as collateral for acquiring loan. The principal payment of this bond, which pays interest bi-annually, will be on August 27, 2029. <br /> For the purchase of this bond, individuals and organizations can only participate as competitive or non-competitive bidders under the bidding process. Commercial banks, development banks and finance companies licensed by the central bank will not be allowed to participate as competitors. The secondary market trading of this bond will be done only through Nepal Stock Exchange Limited.-- RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18571', 'image' => '20230827080813_20230826081355_20230723042338_collage (18).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 08:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18841', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rafting and River Festival Held in Bagmati River', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' In an effort to bolster the Bagmati River conservation campaign, a thrilling rafting and river festival was organized along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu on August 26.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 27: In an effort to bolster the Bagmati River conservation campaign, a thrilling rafting and river festival was organized along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu on August 26. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This event, jointly organized by the Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), the Nepal River Conservation Organization, and the Friends Club of Kupandole, commenced at 7:00 am, stretching from the Bagmati Bridge at Kupandole to Sundarighat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary objective of this initiative, as articulated by NARA Vice-Chairperson Sishir Khanal, was to underline the significance of water tourism and enhance the recognition of the Bagmati River's cultural heritage, while also advocating for its conservation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This year marked the 23rd edition of the rafting and river festival, a collaborative effort by various social organizations. Over the past few years, these organizations have been diligently involved in the Bagmati River clean-up campaign, a critical endeavor in light of the river's transition from a pristine waterway to a polluted sewage channel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To kick off the festival, traditional musical instruments filled the air, setting the tone for the day's activities. These musical performances aimed to aware participants to the current deplorable state of the Bagmati River, emphasizing the urgency of preserving its sanctity.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to rafting adventures, participants also took part in riverbank cleaning efforts, aligning with the organizers' commitment to restoring the river to its former glory.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18570', 'image' => '20230827063432_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 06:32:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18839', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Unilever Nepal Pledges to Invest More in the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 26: Amlan Mukherjee, the managing director (MD) of Unilever Nepal Limited, has pledged to increase investment in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 26: Amlan Mukherjee, the managing director (MD) of Unilever Nepal Limited, has pledged to increase investment in Nepal. He said that the company is committed to invest more in Nepal because the favourable nature of the policies adopted by the government in the current fiscal year (FY 2023/24). Mukherjee added that the multinational company is also interested in investing in Nepal because the consumption and demand of the company's products has also increased.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"There are works that the government must do such as the availability of local raw materials as well as fixing the customs rate between imported goods and raw materials,” he told New Business Age, adding, “The government must also solve the problems caused by the gray market.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">He said that the consumption of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) is much less in Nepal than other South Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">He also insisted on the implementation of the issue of transfer pricing mentioned in the current fiscal year's budget. He said that Unilever has been here for 30 years, recognizing the needs and demands of Nepal's consumers and said that more investment will be expanded and new products will be produced.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Now we will install state-of-the-art technology and machines in the factory. We are preparing to launch a new product (onion shampoo) within 6 months,” he added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Mukherjee said that high-end technology, machines as well as digitization are also given equal importance. Stating that Nepal also faced economic crisis but is managing it well, he said, “Although the purchasing power of consumers has decreased now, I am expecting economic activities to increase during the upcoming festive season”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> He was of the view that the government should increase spending while the banks and the financial sector should also support the government. He emphasized that the government should give priority to local industrialization. Similarly, he said that the company used 70 percent of Nepalese products for the packaging of its products and claimed that 8 out of 10 households use Unilever products on a daily basis.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Unilever says that it will not go to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) promoted by the government as its own land and factory are sufficient. Likewise, the company has prioritized the recycling of plastic used in the industry.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Mukherjee also said that solar energy system has been installed in the factory as there is no guarantee of regular electricity and there are occasional power outages. The company has a factory in Hetauda of Makwanpur.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Unilever Nepal has been producing 28 different branded products such as soap, detergent, shampoo, skin care, toothpaste, packaged foods, etc.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The net profit of this company listed in Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (NEPSE) increased by 16.68 percent in the last fiscal year (FY 2022/23) compared to the previous year. He also informed that in the last FY, the company earned a net profit of Rs 1.83 billion. He mentioned that it was very difficult to do business during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to the closure of the factory for quite some time. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-26', 'modified' => '2023-08-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18568', 'image' => '20230826080704_20230825022620_1692935513.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-26 20:06:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18856', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank Revises Working Capital Loan Guidelines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has increased the working capital loan limit for the productive sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 28: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has increased the working capital loan limit for the productive sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The central bank has amended the Working Capital Loan Guidelines, 2079, allowing banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to extend loans up to Rs 30 million for the manufacturing industries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a notice on Monday, the NRB confirmed that it amended the guidelines and instructed all stakeholders to comply with the new provisions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier, the central bank had fixed a ceiling of Rs 10 million as working capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The central bank had capped the limit on working capital loan to 20 percent in case of a company whose annual transaction was less than Rs 20 million. However, they could avail up to 40 percent loan under special circumstances. In case of a company whose annual transaction was over Rs 20 million, they could avail 25 percent loan. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank had introduced the guidelines on October 18, 2022 to prevent the misuse of loans taken by businessmen under the heading of current capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari had defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the industrialists protested against it, the guidelines were revised in January.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Working capital loan is provided to the firms, organizations and companies to cover their short-term operational needs.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18585', 'image' => '20230828025805_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 14:57:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18855', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Meet Foreign Debt Collection Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: At a time when the budget and programmes brought by the government are being criticized for being more ambitious than implementation oriented, it has been found that the government has always set ambitious targets for foreign loans as well.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 28: At a time when the budget and programmes brought by the government are being criticized for being more ambitious than implementation oriented, it has been found that the government has always set ambitious targets for foreign loans as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Looking at the goals set by the government and the status of achievement in recent years, the goals have been proven to be ambitious. When comparing the foreign loan target taken in the budget of the last five years with the actual realization, it seems that the government has not been able to meet the target even in a single fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Compared to the target set by the budget in the last five fiscal years, only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">51.63</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of foreign loans have been received on an average. In the last fiscal year (FY) </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the government had set a target of taking foreign loans of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">242</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.26 billion. However, the government only received foreign loans of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">0</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.12 billion last year. This is just </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">42.15</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Public Debt Management Office, looking at the situation from FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> to FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, Nepal’s foreign loan target was the lowest in FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2073/74</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. It seems that only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">29.64</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target met in the review year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, in the fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2072/73</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the country received the maximum loan in proportion to the target. In that particular year, Nepal received foreign loans equivalent to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">74.68</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target. The foreign loan target realization was the lowest in FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">after FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2075/76.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It seems that the government is more reliant on bilateral relations while seeking grants while it relies more on multilateral donors (international banks and organizations) for loans.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government did not receive loans as per the target even in the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government has set a target of raising foreign aid equal to Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">262</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion in the current fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2080/81. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government intends to acquire Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">49.94</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion grants and Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">212</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">billion loans from more than two dozen donors. Since such a target was not achieved in the previous years, it is clear that the government will not be able to collect the debt as stated this year too.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The latest report of the Public Debt Management Office has mentioned the underutilization of foreign loans and the inability to objectively determine the targets as the prime reasons for the government’s failure to acquire loans and grants as per the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18584', 'image' => '20230828120821_20230806125143_2308 - editorial_11zon.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 12:07:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CNI Urges Government to Prioritize Economic Diplomacy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to prioritize export of Nepali products via Nepali embassies abroad. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to prioritize export of Nepali products via Nepali embassies abroad. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During a discussion held with Foreign Minister NP Saud on Sunday, the CNI team led by Rajesh Kumar Agrawal requested the minister to prioritize economic diplomacy to promote tourism, export of Nepali products and bring in foreign investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CNI President Agrawal stressed that government needs to create investment friendly atmosphere for attracting foreign direct investment. Policy stability is equally important for it, he underlined. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, expansion of business relations with foreign investors is imperative for drawing foreign direct investment. The CNI also suggested the government that Nepali embassies abroad should facilitate regular visits and interactions with foreign business representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The delegation also demanded the government to give continuity to the cargo railway service presently operative from India to Biratnagar. The CNI also reminded the government to sign a 'motor vehicle agreement' with India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Foreign Minister Saud assured that the government would prioritize the issues raised by CNI. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18583', 'image' => '20230828114446_CNIIII.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 11:43:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Airlines to Operate Regular Flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from GBIA', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is all set to operate regular flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from August 29. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 28: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is all set to operate regular flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from August 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The national flag carrier of Nepal has opened ticket booking for Hong Kong and Delhi from Bhairahawa with transit in Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NAC Spokesperson Ramesh Poudel informed that the NAC is planning to gradually increase the number of flights as per the market demand. He added that the NAC will begin with a weekly flight from Bhairahawa every Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the flight schedule, a plane that takes off from Bhairahawa at 8.15 am would land in Kathmandu at 9.00 am. Then, passengers bound for Hong Kong and New Delhi will board the plane for the respective connecting flights of the NAC. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Arrangements have been made for the passengers to receive boarding pass up to the destination during check-in time and directly get luggage in the destination, the NAC said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Passengers can book and obtain online tickets after logging the website of the NAC, added Poudel. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, Airlines, Corporation, Hong Kong, New Delhi, flight, schedule, Bhairahawa, Kathmandu, transit, connecting, passenger', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18581', 'image' => '20230828104112_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 10:40:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18850', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Churpi Exported to the US from Syangja Cooperative', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives, situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, has successfully exported churpi to the US.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 27: Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives, situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, has successfully exported churpi to the US.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cooperatives' chairperson, Punya Prasad Aryal, confirmed the export of churpi, a form of hardened cheese, which is priced at Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,100 per kilogram.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The dairy operated by this small farmers' cooperative collects approximately 800 to 1,100 liters of milk daily. "We provide farmers with a 50 percent subsidy for agricultural supplies, seeds, and grass plants," stated Lakshmi Pokharel Regmi, the cooperative's manager.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the past fiscal year, in association with the Prime Minister's Agricultural Digitization Project, 50 percent subsidies were granted to 10 farmers through the 'Buffalor Subsidy Program.' </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, 28 farmers benefited from grants as part of the 'Storage Improvement Program.'</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Established in 2075 BS, the cooperative boasts 2,850 shareholders. In the ongoing financial year, the cooperative plans to introduce a Livestock Protection Program, featuring a free animal insurance initiative.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cooperative remains committed to empowering farmers and promoting self-employment, as outlined by Regmi. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18579', 'image' => '20230827062256_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 18:21:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18849', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Index Drops Below 2,000 Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index has once again dropped below 2,000 points. The dividend season has begun, with mutual funds announcing their profits. Investors, however, seem to have lost confidence in the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">August 27: The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index has once again dropped below 2,000 points. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The dividend season has begun, with mutual funds announcing their profits. Investors, however, seem to have lost confidence in the market.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Investors attribute the continuous market decline to policy restrictions and increasing interest rates. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The continuous fall of the market ever since the Nepal Rastra Bank issued the monetary policy for fiscal year 2023/2024 reflects loss of confidence and morale among the investors. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">When the market goes up for a few days, it can't sustain the momentum as traders tend to sell their shares to secure a small profit, which further affects the market negatively. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">In today's trading session, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index lost 20.54 points or 1.02% and closed at 1,993.38 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">During today's trading, a total of 280 scrips exchanged their hands through 38,666 transactions. As many as 3,895,236 shares were traded, amounting to a turnover of Rs. 1.26 billion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Asian Life Insurance Co. Limited (ALICL) recorded the highest turnover of Rs. 7.46 crores and closed at a market price of Rs. 694.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Similarly, Kutheli Bukhari Small Hydropower Limited (KBSH) gained the highest 10%, hitting the upper circuit for the day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Meanwhile, Makar Jitumaya Suri Hydropower Limited (MAKAR) lost the highest 9.63% today.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">In terms of sub-indices, only the Mutual Fund sector closed in the green zone while the remaining sectors landed in the green territory.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The Hydropower Index lost the most for the day with a 1.75% negative change. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The Sensitive Index lost 0.89%, while Float Index and Sensitive Float Index dropped by 1% and 0.93% respectively..</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18578', 'image' => '20230827050219_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 17:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18847', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rainfall to Decrease from Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The continuous rain that has been falling for the last few days will decrease from today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: The continuous rain that has been falling for the last few days will decrease from today. The weather is gradually improving from the western region and there will be improvement in the weather across the country starting from today (August 27), according to Meteorologist Sanjeev Adhikari at the Weather Forecasting Division. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Continuous rain will stop from today, but the possibility of light to moderate rain will remain in some parts of the country," he added. There is a possibility of windstorm in few places of Madhes and Lumbini provinces this afternoon (Sunday). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Last night there was heavy rainfall in one or two places of Koshi, Madhes, Gandaki and Bagmati provinces and now it is raining in a few places of Koshi Province and one or two places in other provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The division said in its weather bulletin that there is a possibility of light to moderate rain in Kathmandu Valley today. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18577', 'image' => '20230827030750_weatherrrr.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 15:06:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18848', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Governor Stresses on Financial Literacy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (RBB) governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has said that the surge in the use of technology has made it necessary to make people aware of financial literacy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (RBB) governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has said that the surge in the use of technology has made it necessary to make people aware of financial literacy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Launching the Financial Literacy Television Programme to be broadcast by the Nepal Television at 7:25 pm each Friday, the NRB governor said the use of digital payment (via computer and mobile) has proliferated in the recent time and in this situation the citizens should be aware of financial literacy for the safe use of such services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the development of technology, banks and financial institutions have launched new digital facilities, said the NRB governor adding that such a programme is a tool to make the mass aware of features of such services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that the NRB has prepared and implemented new guidelines for promoting financial literacy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal also spoke on the need of making citizens aware of financial literacy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Bankers Association chair Sunil KC said the rise in financial literacy would obviously be of help in the development of banks and industrial sector. He said that the banking and financial sector pays revenue of Rs 40 billion to the government each year and they provide jobs to 100,000 people. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18576', 'image' => '20230827031631_NP-KTM-0D3A0772.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 15:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18846', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Air Service Resume at Simikot Airport after Five Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Air service, which was disrupted due to thick fog in Humla following incessant rainfall, has resumed in the district after five days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: Air service, which was disrupted due to thick fog in Humla following incessant rainfall, has resumed in the district after five days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Flights to and from the mountainous districts of Karnali including Humla were disrupted since last Monday due to bad weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Station Manager of Summit Air in Humla, Govinda Lama, said Summit Air made the first flight to Simkot from Nepalgunj on Saturday morning with clear weather in the district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private airline companies were able to conduct flights from 10:00 am on Saturday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the resumption of air service, it has become easier for passengers entering and exiting the district as well as to transport daily essential goods, construction materials, and food stuffs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of Simikot Airport, Mahendra Singh, shared that Summit Air, Sita Air and Tara Air had operated flights at Humla from Nepalgunj. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18575', 'image' => '20230827094827_159764826_3831508696966986_1904441546485166007_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:47:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18845', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Police Seek Interpol Help in Gold Smuggling Case ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 26: Nepal Police has sought help from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the recent gold smuggling case.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 26: Nepal Police has sought help from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the recent gold smuggling case. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, which is currently investigating the case, has written to the Interpol in this regard citing foreign citizens were found involving in the case. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB has written to the Interpol, Hong Kong and India seeking help, Inspector General of Nepal Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar told the state-owned RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On 19 July, 2023, the Department of Revenue Investigation confiscated 60.716 kg gold bars from in front of the customs office at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Following this, the Nepal Police has been investigating the matter and has arrested 23 people in the case so far. A Chinese national and an Indian are also found to have been involved in the case, said the police. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18574', 'image' => '20230827094236_goldee.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:41:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18844', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IBN Approves Investment of Rs 36.37 Billion in Four Hydropower Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has given approval for investment worth Rs 36.37 billion for four hydropower projects. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 27: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has given approval for investment worth Rs 36.37 billion for four hydropower projects. The 55th meeting of the IBN chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday, took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the decision, the board has granted permission to invest in Rolwaling River Hydropower Project (22 MW), Chujung River Hydropower Project (63 MW), Dana River Hydropower Project (49.95 MW) and Sanibheri Hydropower Project (44.52 MW).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Addressing the meeting, PM Dahal urged for coordination among all stakeholders for timely completion of under-construction projects.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He also instructed all stakeholders to expedite the process of approval of investment and implement the projects in a result-oriented way.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The meeting decided to form a negotiation committee under the coordination of the Chief Executive Officer of the IBN to negotiate with the developer regarding the China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park in Damak and prepare the final draft of the Project Development Agreement (PDA).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the meeting decided to issue a permit to Dolma Himalayan Energy to study the prospect of solar energy projects of 245 MW capacity and 20 MW battery capacity in Rajpur Rural Municipality of Dang district. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The IBN has also acknowledged the submission of a detailed feasibility study report by Risen Energy Ltd, the developer of the 250 MW solar energy initiatives in Banke's Kohalpur and Banganga in Kapilvastu.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The IBN has decided to submit a proposal to the Council of Ministers for the execution of the directive issued by the Supreme Court regarding the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In addition, the board meeting approved the draft of MoU with Malaysia-based Rinicola SDN BHD for the study regarding the establishment of Green Calcium Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer Factory.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The meeting also decided to form a high-level committee to review the current progress regarding the implementation of the Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project and submit suggestions for the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sushil Bhatta, the Chief Executive Officer of Investment Board, made a presentation of the activities carried out by the board and the status of implementation of the decisions of the 54th board meeting and the agenda of the 55th board meeting.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18573', 'image' => '20230827093817_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18843', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coca-Cola Nepal Awards Saksham 2.0 Mentorship Program Winners', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Coca-Cola Nepal, in partnership with Atelier Platform, successfully completed the Saksham 2.0 “Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme.”', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">August 27: Coca-Cola Nepal, in partnership with Atelier Platform, successfully completed the Saksham 2.0 “Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Issuing a recent statement, the company said this initiative forms a significant component of Coca-Cola Nepal’s Women Empowerment Programme, Saksham, which aims to offer comprehensive support and guidance to women-led startups and potential ventures in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">According to the company, they received applications from 1000+ women entrepreneurs from Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan district for the programme.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Coca-Cola further said that they selected eight finalists from the pool of applicants, based on their innovative concepts and potential for the idea’s success. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">The selected finalists included Brinda Dewan of Kehikrafts, Menuka Gurung of Duluwa Outdoors, Prakriti Basyal of South and Southeast Project, Rashi Maharjan of Learners Room, Rozina Baral of Searched, Sarala Maharjan of Sakal Naturo – Multi Purpose Cleaner, Shanti Rai of Greenspace Nepal and Yaju Maharjan of Swachha Mahinawari.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Ritu Gurung, founder of Atelier Platform, expressed her contentment with the programme, stating, “Through the Atelier Programme and our collaboration with Coca-Cola for Saksham 2.0, we are paving a path where young female entrepreneurs can cultivate their aspirations into reality, rather than merely dreaming about them. These entrepreneurs are crafting a dynamic canvas of success, fueled by their unwavering determination and enriched by knowledge. Every brushstroke of ambition paints an incredible portrait of empowered women propelling business innovation and transformation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">According to Coca-Cola Nepal, the Saksham Training Programme concluded on August 18 at Maya Manor Boutique Hotel, Hattisar in Kathmandu. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Different innovative concepts and business plans from women entrepreneurs were presented before a jury consisting of accomplished professionals. The panel of judges consisted of Prasanna Basnet, founder of Cotton Mill Nepal; Sneh Rajbhandari, public affairs, communication and sustainability director at Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal; and Trishagni Shakya, executive director of KGH Group. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">After a thorough evaluation by the judges, Menuka Gurung of Duluwa Outdoors, Rashi Maharjan of Learner’s Room and Sarala Maharjan of Sakal Naturo Multi-Purpose Cleaner were declared the winners and received a monetary reward of Rs 100,000 each. The top three winners were granted equal financial support to propel their initiatives forward and bring them closer to their goals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">"The Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme exemplify our commitment to fostering women's entrepreneurship and contributing to sustainable growth in Nepal. Empowering female entrepreneurs is essential for the holistic development of communities and economies and we are immensely grateful for your continuous support that motivates us to keep conducting such progressive projects," the statement quoted Deepak Senthil Nath, managing director of Bottlers Nepal Limited, as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">By investing in women’s economic empowerment, Coca-Cola said the company has created a shared value in hopes of a better shared future - enabling improved livelihoods for women, their families and their communities, while inclusively expanding their business.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">“We are proud</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">of</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">the ripple effects that this partnership with Atelier Platform have had on the</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> lives we have touched</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">and will continue to have over the years to come, propelling Nepal’s entrepreneurial landscape to higher heights,” the statement added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18572', 'image' => '20230827091214_Picture (3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:11:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18842', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Issue Development Bonds worth 10 Billion Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to issue development bonds worth Rs 10 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to issue development bonds worth Rs 10 billion today (August 27). The central bank will issue the six-year development bond 2085 on Sunday to raise domestic credit for the government. <br /> Banks and financial institutions, non-banking financial institutions, insurance companies, organized institutions and even ordinary citizens can purchase the development bonds. The interest rate of this bond will be determined through negotiation, the NRB said. <br /> This bond can be kept as collateral for acquiring loan. The principal payment of this bond, which pays interest bi-annually, will be on August 27, 2029. <br /> For the purchase of this bond, individuals and organizations can only participate as competitive or non-competitive bidders under the bidding process. Commercial banks, development banks and finance companies licensed by the central bank will not be allowed to participate as competitors. The secondary market trading of this bond will be done only through Nepal Stock Exchange Limited.-- RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18571', 'image' => '20230827080813_20230826081355_20230723042338_collage (18).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 08:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18841', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rafting and River Festival Held in Bagmati River', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' In an effort to bolster the Bagmati River conservation campaign, a thrilling rafting and river festival was organized along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu on August 26.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 27: In an effort to bolster the Bagmati River conservation campaign, a thrilling rafting and river festival was organized along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu on August 26. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This event, jointly organized by the Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), the Nepal River Conservation Organization, and the Friends Club of Kupandole, commenced at 7:00 am, stretching from the Bagmati Bridge at Kupandole to Sundarighat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary objective of this initiative, as articulated by NARA Vice-Chairperson Sishir Khanal, was to underline the significance of water tourism and enhance the recognition of the Bagmati River's cultural heritage, while also advocating for its conservation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This year marked the 23rd edition of the rafting and river festival, a collaborative effort by various social organizations. Over the past few years, these organizations have been diligently involved in the Bagmati River clean-up campaign, a critical endeavor in light of the river's transition from a pristine waterway to a polluted sewage channel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To kick off the festival, traditional musical instruments filled the air, setting the tone for the day's activities. These musical performances aimed to aware participants to the current deplorable state of the Bagmati River, emphasizing the urgency of preserving its sanctity.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to rafting adventures, participants also took part in riverbank cleaning efforts, aligning with the organizers' commitment to restoring the river to its former glory.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18570', 'image' => '20230827063432_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 06:32:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18839', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Unilever Nepal Pledges to Invest More in the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 26: Amlan Mukherjee, the managing director (MD) of Unilever Nepal Limited, has pledged to increase investment in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 26: Amlan Mukherjee, the managing director (MD) of Unilever Nepal Limited, has pledged to increase investment in Nepal. He said that the company is committed to invest more in Nepal because the favourable nature of the policies adopted by the government in the current fiscal year (FY 2023/24). Mukherjee added that the multinational company is also interested in investing in Nepal because the consumption and demand of the company's products has also increased.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"There are works that the government must do such as the availability of local raw materials as well as fixing the customs rate between imported goods and raw materials,” he told New Business Age, adding, “The government must also solve the problems caused by the gray market.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">He said that the consumption of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) is much less in Nepal than other South Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">He also insisted on the implementation of the issue of transfer pricing mentioned in the current fiscal year's budget. He said that Unilever has been here for 30 years, recognizing the needs and demands of Nepal's consumers and said that more investment will be expanded and new products will be produced.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Now we will install state-of-the-art technology and machines in the factory. We are preparing to launch a new product (onion shampoo) within 6 months,” he added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Mukherjee said that high-end technology, machines as well as digitization are also given equal importance. Stating that Nepal also faced economic crisis but is managing it well, he said, “Although the purchasing power of consumers has decreased now, I am expecting economic activities to increase during the upcoming festive season”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> He was of the view that the government should increase spending while the banks and the financial sector should also support the government. He emphasized that the government should give priority to local industrialization. Similarly, he said that the company used 70 percent of Nepalese products for the packaging of its products and claimed that 8 out of 10 households use Unilever products on a daily basis.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Unilever says that it will not go to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) promoted by the government as its own land and factory are sufficient. Likewise, the company has prioritized the recycling of plastic used in the industry.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Mukherjee also said that solar energy system has been installed in the factory as there is no guarantee of regular electricity and there are occasional power outages. The company has a factory in Hetauda of Makwanpur.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Unilever Nepal has been producing 28 different branded products such as soap, detergent, shampoo, skin care, toothpaste, packaged foods, etc.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The net profit of this company listed in Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (NEPSE) increased by 16.68 percent in the last fiscal year (FY 2022/23) compared to the previous year. He also informed that in the last FY, the company earned a net profit of Rs 1.83 billion. He mentioned that it was very difficult to do business during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to the closure of the factory for quite some time. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-26', 'modified' => '2023-08-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18568', 'image' => '20230826080704_20230825022620_1692935513.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-26 20:06:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18856', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Rastra Bank Revises Working Capital Loan Guidelines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has increased the working capital loan limit for the productive sector.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">August 28: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has increased the working capital loan limit for the productive sector. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The central bank has amended the Working Capital Loan Guidelines, 2079, allowing banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to extend loans up to Rs 30 million for the manufacturing industries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Issuing a notice on Monday, the NRB confirmed that it amended the guidelines and instructed all stakeholders to comply with the new provisions.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier, the central bank had fixed a ceiling of Rs 10 million as working capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The central bank had capped the limit on working capital loan to 20 percent in case of a company whose annual transaction was less than Rs 20 million. However, they could avail up to 40 percent loan under special circumstances. In case of a company whose annual transaction was over Rs 20 million, they could avail 25 percent loan. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank had introduced the guidelines on October 18, 2022 to prevent the misuse of loans taken by businessmen under the heading of current capital. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari had defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">After the industrialists protested against it, the guidelines were revised in January.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Working capital loan is provided to the firms, organizations and companies to cover their short-term operational needs.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18585', 'image' => '20230828025805_Nepal_Rastra_Bank2 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 14:57:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18855', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government Fails to Meet Foreign Debt Collection Target', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: At a time when the budget and programmes brought by the government are being criticized for being more ambitious than implementation oriented, it has been found that the government has always set ambitious targets for foreign loans as well.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 28: At a time when the budget and programmes brought by the government are being criticized for being more ambitious than implementation oriented, it has been found that the government has always set ambitious targets for foreign loans as well.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Looking at the goals set by the government and the status of achievement in recent years, the goals have been proven to be ambitious. When comparing the foreign loan target taken in the budget of the last five years with the actual realization, it seems that the government has not been able to meet the target even in a single fiscal year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Compared to the target set by the budget in the last five fiscal years, only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">51.63</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of foreign loans have been received on an average. In the last fiscal year (FY) </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the government had set a target of taking foreign loans of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">242</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.26 billion. However, the government only received foreign loans of Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">1</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">0</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.12 billion last year. This is just </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">42.15</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the Public Debt Management Office, looking at the situation from FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2071/72</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> to FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, Nepal’s foreign loan target was the lowest in FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2073/74</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">. It seems that only </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">29.64</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target met in the review year.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, in the fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2072/73</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">, the country received the maximum loan in proportion to the target. In that particular year, Nepal received foreign loans equivalent to </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">74.68</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> percent of the target. The foreign loan target realization was the lowest in FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2079/80</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">after FY </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2075/76.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">It seems that the government is more reliant on bilateral relations while seeking grants while it relies more on multilateral donors (international banks and organizations) for loans.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government did not receive loans as per the target even in the last fiscal year. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, the government has set a target of raising foreign aid equal to Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">262</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion in the current fiscal year </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">2080/81. </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The government intends to acquire Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">49.94</span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> billion grants and Rs </span></span><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">212</span></span> <span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">billion loans from more than two dozen donors. Since such a target was not achieved in the previous years, it is clear that the government will not be able to collect the debt as stated this year too.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The latest report of the Public Debt Management Office has mentioned the underutilization of foreign loans and the inability to objectively determine the targets as the prime reasons for the government’s failure to acquire loans and grants as per the target.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18584', 'image' => '20230828120821_20230806125143_2308 - editorial_11zon.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 12:07:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18854', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'CNI Urges Government to Prioritize Economic Diplomacy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to prioritize export of Nepali products via Nepali embassies abroad. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has urged the government to prioritize export of Nepali products via Nepali embassies abroad. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">During a discussion held with Foreign Minister NP Saud on Sunday, the CNI team led by Rajesh Kumar Agrawal requested the minister to prioritize economic diplomacy to promote tourism, export of Nepali products and bring in foreign investment. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">CNI President Agrawal stressed that government needs to create investment friendly atmosphere for attracting foreign direct investment. Policy stability is equally important for it, he underlined. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to him, expansion of business relations with foreign investors is imperative for drawing foreign direct investment. The CNI also suggested the government that Nepali embassies abroad should facilitate regular visits and interactions with foreign business representatives. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The delegation also demanded the government to give continuity to the cargo railway service presently operative from India to Biratnagar. The CNI also reminded the government to sign a 'motor vehicle agreement' with India. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, Foreign Minister Saud assured that the government would prioritize the issues raised by CNI. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18583', 'image' => '20230828114446_CNIIII.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 11:43:56', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18852', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Airlines to Operate Regular Flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from GBIA', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 28: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is all set to operate regular flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from August 29. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 28: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) is all set to operate regular flights to Hong Kong and New Delhi from the Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport from August 29. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The national flag carrier of Nepal has opened ticket booking for Hong Kong and Delhi from Bhairahawa with transit in Kathmandu. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NAC Spokesperson Ramesh Poudel informed that the NAC is planning to gradually increase the number of flights as per the market demand. He added that the NAC will begin with a weekly flight from Bhairahawa every Tuesday. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the flight schedule, a plane that takes off from Bhairahawa at 8.15 am would land in Kathmandu at 9.00 am. Then, passengers bound for Hong Kong and New Delhi will board the plane for the respective connecting flights of the NAC. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Arrangements have been made for the passengers to receive boarding pass up to the destination during check-in time and directly get luggage in the destination, the NAC said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Passengers can book and obtain online tickets after logging the website of the NAC, added Poudel. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-28', 'modified' => '2023-08-28', 'keywords' => 'Nepal, Airlines, Corporation, Hong Kong, New Delhi, flight, schedule, Bhairahawa, Kathmandu, transit, connecting, passenger', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18581', 'image' => '20230828104112_naccccc.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-28 10:40:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18850', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Churpi Exported to the US from Syangja Cooperative', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives, situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, has successfully exported churpi to the US.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 27: Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives, situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, has successfully exported churpi to the US.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cooperatives' chairperson, Punya Prasad Aryal, confirmed the export of churpi, a form of hardened cheese, which is priced at Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,100 per kilogram.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The dairy operated by this small farmers' cooperative collects approximately 800 to 1,100 liters of milk daily. "We provide farmers with a 50 percent subsidy for agricultural supplies, seeds, and grass plants," stated Lakshmi Pokharel Regmi, the cooperative's manager.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In the past fiscal year, in association with the Prime Minister's Agricultural Digitization Project, 50 percent subsidies were granted to 10 farmers through the 'Buffalor Subsidy Program.' </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Additionally, 28 farmers benefited from grants as part of the 'Storage Improvement Program.'</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Established in 2075 BS, the cooperative boasts 2,850 shareholders. In the ongoing financial year, the cooperative plans to introduce a Livestock Protection Program, featuring a free animal insurance initiative.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The cooperative remains committed to empowering farmers and promoting self-employment, as outlined by Regmi. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18579', 'image' => '20230827062256_collage (10).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 18:21:22', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18849', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NEPSE Index Drops Below 2,000 Points', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index has once again dropped below 2,000 points. The dividend season has begun, with mutual funds announcing their profits. Investors, however, seem to have lost confidence in the market.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">August 27: The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index has once again dropped below 2,000 points. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The dividend season has begun, with mutual funds announcing their profits. Investors, however, seem to have lost confidence in the market.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Investors attribute the continuous market decline to policy restrictions and increasing interest rates. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The continuous fall of the market ever since the Nepal Rastra Bank issued the monetary policy for fiscal year 2023/2024 reflects loss of confidence and morale among the investors. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">When the market goes up for a few days, it can't sustain the momentum as traders tend to sell their shares to secure a small profit, which further affects the market negatively. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">In today's trading session, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index lost 20.54 points or 1.02% and closed at 1,993.38 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">During today's trading, a total of 280 scrips exchanged their hands through 38,666 transactions. As many as 3,895,236 shares were traded, amounting to a turnover of Rs. 1.26 billion. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Asian Life Insurance Co. Limited (ALICL) recorded the highest turnover of Rs. 7.46 crores and closed at a market price of Rs. 694.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Similarly, Kutheli Bukhari Small Hydropower Limited (KBSH) gained the highest 10%, hitting the upper circuit for the day.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">Meanwhile, Makar Jitumaya Suri Hydropower Limited (MAKAR) lost the highest 9.63% today.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">In terms of sub-indices, only the Mutual Fund sector closed in the green zone while the remaining sectors landed in the green territory.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The Hydropower Index lost the most for the day with a 1.75% negative change. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif">The Sensitive Index lost 0.89%, while Float Index and Sensitive Float Index dropped by 1% and 0.93% respectively..</span></span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18578', 'image' => '20230827050219_collage (8).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 17:00:51', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18847', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rainfall to Decrease from Today ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The continuous rain that has been falling for the last few days will decrease from today. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: The continuous rain that has been falling for the last few days will decrease from today. The weather is gradually improving from the western region and there will be improvement in the weather across the country starting from today (August 27), according to Meteorologist Sanjeev Adhikari at the Weather Forecasting Division. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Continuous rain will stop from today, but the possibility of light to moderate rain will remain in some parts of the country," he added. There is a possibility of windstorm in few places of Madhes and Lumbini provinces this afternoon (Sunday). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Last night there was heavy rainfall in one or two places of Koshi, Madhes, Gandaki and Bagmati provinces and now it is raining in a few places of Koshi Province and one or two places in other provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The division said in its weather bulletin that there is a possibility of light to moderate rain in Kathmandu Valley today. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18577', 'image' => '20230827030750_weatherrrr.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 15:06:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18848', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Governor Stresses on Financial Literacy ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (RBB) governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has said that the surge in the use of technology has made it necessary to make people aware of financial literacy. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (RBB) governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has said that the surge in the use of technology has made it necessary to make people aware of financial literacy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Launching the Financial Literacy Television Programme to be broadcast by the Nepal Television at 7:25 pm each Friday, the NRB governor said the use of digital payment (via computer and mobile) has proliferated in the recent time and in this situation the citizens should be aware of financial literacy for the safe use of such services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the development of technology, banks and financial institutions have launched new digital facilities, said the NRB governor adding that such a programme is a tool to make the mass aware of features of such services. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He said that the NRB has prepared and implemented new guidelines for promoting financial literacy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal also spoke on the need of making citizens aware of financial literacy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal Bankers Association chair Sunil KC said the rise in financial literacy would obviously be of help in the development of banks and industrial sector. He said that the banking and financial sector pays revenue of Rs 40 billion to the government each year and they provide jobs to 100,000 people. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18576', 'image' => '20230827031631_NP-KTM-0D3A0772.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 15:15:25', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18846', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Air Service Resume at Simikot Airport after Five Days ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Air service, which was disrupted due to thick fog in Humla following incessant rainfall, has resumed in the district after five days. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 27: Air service, which was disrupted due to thick fog in Humla following incessant rainfall, has resumed in the district after five days. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Flights to and from the mountainous districts of Karnali including Humla were disrupted since last Monday due to bad weather. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Station Manager of Summit Air in Humla, Govinda Lama, said Summit Air made the first flight to Simkot from Nepalgunj on Saturday morning with clear weather in the district. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Private airline companies were able to conduct flights from 10:00 am on Saturday. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">With the resumption of air service, it has become easier for passengers entering and exiting the district as well as to transport daily essential goods, construction materials, and food stuffs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Chief of Simikot Airport, Mahendra Singh, shared that Summit Air, Sita Air and Tara Air had operated flights at Humla from Nepalgunj. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18575', 'image' => '20230827094827_159764826_3831508696966986_1904441546485166007_n.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:47:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18845', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Police Seek Interpol Help in Gold Smuggling Case ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 26: Nepal Police has sought help from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the recent gold smuggling case.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">August 26: Nepal Police has sought help from the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the recent gold smuggling case. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, which is currently investigating the case, has written to the Interpol in this regard citing foreign citizens were found involving in the case. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The CIB has written to the Interpol, Hong Kong and India seeking help, Inspector General of Nepal Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar told the state-owned RSS. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On 19 July, 2023, the Department of Revenue Investigation confiscated 60.716 kg gold bars from in front of the customs office at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Following this, the Nepal Police has been investigating the matter and has arrested 23 people in the case so far. A Chinese national and an Indian are also found to have been involved in the case, said the police. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18574', 'image' => '20230827094236_goldee.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:41:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18844', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'IBN Approves Investment of Rs 36.37 Billion in Four Hydropower Projects', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has given approval for investment worth Rs 36.37 billion for four hydropower projects. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">August 27: The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has given approval for investment worth Rs 36.37 billion for four hydropower projects. The 55th meeting of the IBN chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday, took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">As per the decision, the board has granted permission to invest in Rolwaling River Hydropower Project (22 MW), Chujung River Hydropower Project (63 MW), Dana River Hydropower Project (49.95 MW) and Sanibheri Hydropower Project (44.52 MW).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Addressing the meeting, PM Dahal urged for coordination among all stakeholders for timely completion of under-construction projects.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He also instructed all stakeholders to expedite the process of approval of investment and implement the projects in a result-oriented way.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The meeting decided to form a negotiation committee under the coordination of the Chief Executive Officer of the IBN to negotiate with the developer regarding the China-Nepal Friendship Industrial Park in Damak and prepare the final draft of the Project Development Agreement (PDA).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, the meeting decided to issue a permit to Dolma Himalayan Energy to study the prospect of solar energy projects of 245 MW capacity and 20 MW battery capacity in Rajpur Rural Municipality of Dang district. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The IBN has also acknowledged the submission of a detailed feasibility study report by Risen Energy Ltd, the developer of the 250 MW solar energy initiatives in Banke's Kohalpur and Banganga in Kapilvastu.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The IBN has decided to submit a proposal to the Council of Ministers for the execution of the directive issued by the Supreme Court regarding the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In addition, the board meeting approved the draft of MoU with Malaysia-based Rinicola SDN BHD for the study regarding the establishment of Green Calcium Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer Factory.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The meeting also decided to form a high-level committee to review the current progress regarding the implementation of the Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project and submit suggestions for the project. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sushil Bhatta, the Chief Executive Officer of Investment Board, made a presentation of the activities carried out by the board and the status of implementation of the decisions of the 54th board meeting and the agenda of the 55th board meeting.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18573', 'image' => '20230827093817_hydro.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:37:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18843', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Coca-Cola Nepal Awards Saksham 2.0 Mentorship Program Winners', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Coca-Cola Nepal, in partnership with Atelier Platform, successfully completed the Saksham 2.0 “Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme.”', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">August 27: Coca-Cola Nepal, in partnership with Atelier Platform, successfully completed the Saksham 2.0 “Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Issuing a recent statement, the company said this initiative forms a significant component of Coca-Cola Nepal’s Women Empowerment Programme, Saksham, which aims to offer comprehensive support and guidance to women-led startups and potential ventures in Nepal. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">According to the company, they received applications from 1000+ women entrepreneurs from Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan district for the programme.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Coca-Cola further said that they selected eight finalists from the pool of applicants, based on their innovative concepts and potential for the idea’s success. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">The selected finalists included Brinda Dewan of Kehikrafts, Menuka Gurung of Duluwa Outdoors, Prakriti Basyal of South and Southeast Project, Rashi Maharjan of Learners Room, Rozina Baral of Searched, Sarala Maharjan of Sakal Naturo – Multi Purpose Cleaner, Shanti Rai of Greenspace Nepal and Yaju Maharjan of Swachha Mahinawari.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Ritu Gurung, founder of Atelier Platform, expressed her contentment with the programme, stating, “Through the Atelier Programme and our collaboration with Coca-Cola for Saksham 2.0, we are paving a path where young female entrepreneurs can cultivate their aspirations into reality, rather than merely dreaming about them. These entrepreneurs are crafting a dynamic canvas of success, fueled by their unwavering determination and enriched by knowledge. Every brushstroke of ambition paints an incredible portrait of empowered women propelling business innovation and transformation.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">According to Coca-Cola Nepal, the Saksham Training Programme concluded on August 18 at Maya Manor Boutique Hotel, Hattisar in Kathmandu. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">Different innovative concepts and business plans from women entrepreneurs were presented before a jury consisting of accomplished professionals. The panel of judges consisted of Prasanna Basnet, founder of Cotton Mill Nepal; Sneh Rajbhandari, public affairs, communication and sustainability director at Coca-Cola Beverages Nepal; and Trishagni Shakya, executive director of KGH Group. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">After a thorough evaluation by the judges, Menuka Gurung of Duluwa Outdoors, Rashi Maharjan of Learner’s Room and Sarala Maharjan of Sakal Naturo Multi-Purpose Cleaner were declared the winners and received a monetary reward of Rs 100,000 each. The top three winners were granted equal financial support to propel their initiatives forward and bring them closer to their goals.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">"The Young Women Entrepreneurs Accelerator and Mentorship Programme exemplify our commitment to fostering women's entrepreneurship and contributing to sustainable growth in Nepal. Empowering female entrepreneurs is essential for the holistic development of communities and economies and we are immensely grateful for your continuous support that motivates us to keep conducting such progressive projects," the statement quoted Deepak Senthil Nath, managing director of Bottlers Nepal Limited, as saying.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">By investing in women’s economic empowerment, Coca-Cola said the company has created a shared value in hopes of a better shared future - enabling improved livelihoods for women, their families and their communities, while inclusively expanding their business.</span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">“We are proud</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">of</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">the ripple effects that this partnership with Atelier Platform have had on the</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif""> lives we have touched</span> <span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif"">and will continue to have over the years to come, propelling Nepal’s entrepreneurial landscape to higher heights,” the statement added.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18572', 'image' => '20230827091214_Picture (3).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 09:11:17', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18842', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB to Issue Development Bonds worth 10 Billion Today', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to issue development bonds worth Rs 10 billion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 27: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is preparing to issue development bonds worth Rs 10 billion today (August 27). The central bank will issue the six-year development bond 2085 on Sunday to raise domestic credit for the government. <br /> Banks and financial institutions, non-banking financial institutions, insurance companies, organized institutions and even ordinary citizens can purchase the development bonds. The interest rate of this bond will be determined through negotiation, the NRB said. <br /> This bond can be kept as collateral for acquiring loan. The principal payment of this bond, which pays interest bi-annually, will be on August 27, 2029. <br /> For the purchase of this bond, individuals and organizations can only participate as competitive or non-competitive bidders under the bidding process. Commercial banks, development banks and finance companies licensed by the central bank will not be allowed to participate as competitors. The secondary market trading of this bond will be done only through Nepal Stock Exchange Limited.-- RSS</span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18571', 'image' => '20230827080813_20230826081355_20230723042338_collage (18).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 08:06:29', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18841', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Rafting and River Festival Held in Bagmati River', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => ' In an effort to bolster the Bagmati River conservation campaign, a thrilling rafting and river festival was organized along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu on August 26.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">August 27: In an effort to bolster the Bagmati River conservation campaign, a thrilling rafting and river festival was organized along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu on August 26. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This event, jointly organized by the Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), the Nepal River Conservation Organization, and the Friends Club of Kupandole, commenced at 7:00 am, stretching from the Bagmati Bridge at Kupandole to Sundarighat.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The primary objective of this initiative, as articulated by NARA Vice-Chairperson Sishir Khanal, was to underline the significance of water tourism and enhance the recognition of the Bagmati River's cultural heritage, while also advocating for its conservation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This year marked the 23rd edition of the rafting and river festival, a collaborative effort by various social organizations. Over the past few years, these organizations have been diligently involved in the Bagmati River clean-up campaign, a critical endeavor in light of the river's transition from a pristine waterway to a polluted sewage channel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">To kick off the festival, traditional musical instruments filled the air, setting the tone for the day's activities. These musical performances aimed to aware participants to the current deplorable state of the Bagmati River, emphasizing the urgency of preserving its sanctity.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">In addition to rafting adventures, participants also took part in riverbank cleaning efforts, aligning with the organizers' commitment to restoring the river to its former glory.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-27', 'modified' => '2023-08-27', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18570', 'image' => '20230827063432_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-27 06:32:44', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '18839', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Unilever Nepal Pledges to Invest More in the Country', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'August 26: Amlan Mukherjee, the managing director (MD) of Unilever Nepal Limited, has pledged to increase investment in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px">August 26: Amlan Mukherjee, the managing director (MD) of Unilever Nepal Limited, has pledged to increase investment in Nepal. He said that the company is committed to invest more in Nepal because the favourable nature of the policies adopted by the government in the current fiscal year (FY 2023/24). Mukherjee added that the multinational company is also interested in investing in Nepal because the consumption and demand of the company's products has also increased.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">"There are works that the government must do such as the availability of local raw materials as well as fixing the customs rate between imported goods and raw materials,” he told New Business Age, adding, “The government must also solve the problems caused by the gray market.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">He said that the consumption of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) is much less in Nepal than other South Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">He also insisted on the implementation of the issue of transfer pricing mentioned in the current fiscal year's budget. He said that Unilever has been here for 30 years, recognizing the needs and demands of Nepal's consumers and said that more investment will be expanded and new products will be produced.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">“Now we will install state-of-the-art technology and machines in the factory. We are preparing to launch a new product (onion shampoo) within 6 months,” he added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Mukherjee said that high-end technology, machines as well as digitization are also given equal importance. Stating that Nepal also faced economic crisis but is managing it well, he said, “Although the purchasing power of consumers has decreased now, I am expecting economic activities to increase during the upcoming festive season”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"> He was of the view that the government should increase spending while the banks and the financial sector should also support the government. He emphasized that the government should give priority to local industrialization. Similarly, he said that the company used 70 percent of Nepalese products for the packaging of its products and claimed that 8 out of 10 households use Unilever products on a daily basis.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Unilever says that it will not go to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) promoted by the government as its own land and factory are sufficient. Likewise, the company has prioritized the recycling of plastic used in the industry.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Mukherjee also said that solar energy system has been installed in the factory as there is no guarantee of regular electricity and there are occasional power outages. The company has a factory in Hetauda of Makwanpur.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">Unilever Nepal has been producing 28 different branded products such as soap, detergent, shampoo, skin care, toothpaste, packaged foods, etc.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px">The net profit of this company listed in Nepal Stock Exchange Limited (NEPSE) increased by 16.68 percent in the last fiscal year (FY 2022/23) compared to the previous year. He also informed that in the last FY, the company earned a net profit of Rs 1.83 billion. He mentioned that it was very difficult to do business during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to the closure of the factory for quite some time. </span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-08-26', 'modified' => '2023-08-26', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18568', 'image' => '20230826080704_20230825022620_1692935513.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-08-26 20:06:23', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25