April 29: Nepal has exported tea worth Rs 2 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year while the country has imported tea worth Rs 80 million during the review…
April 29: Nepal has exported tea worth Rs 2 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year while the country has imported tea worth Rs 80 million during the review…
April 28: The government has restricted imports of 10 goods three weeks after banks stopped issuing letters of credit (LCs) for importing vehicles and luxury…
April 25: The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) on Saturday organized the Young Entrepreneurs Summit Women (YESW) with the aim of promoting women…
April 25: Nepal witnessed an increase in export by 69.44 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22) as compared to the corresponding period of the last year (FY…
April 19: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) have decided to collaborate with each other for the exports of handicraft items.…
April 15: The government has made arrangements to provide loans for exports to women entrepreneurs who have not been able to get loans from banks and financial institutions for their…
April 14: Trucks and containers with goods stopped at the border by Indian customs have started entering Nepal through Biratnagar customs from Tuesday…
April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj…
April 13: Rice and oil industrialists have urged the government to encourage domestic products by tightening the import of food grains from foreign countries.…
April 10: Mahalakshmi Shrestha, who started producing honey for the domestic market of Nepal about 27 years ago, is now exporting the product to…
April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts.…
April 7: The government has adopted a policy of importing vegetables, fruits and other agricultural commodities from India into Nepal only after measuring the residue of…
April 6: Imports of flowers have skyrocketed in recent years despite the country being declared 90 percent self-reliant on flower…
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During the same period, 9,017 metric tons of tea worth Rs 2.36 billion was exported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As Nepal's tea is considered to be of high quality, its demand is high in various countries like India, China, Sri Lanka, the USA, Australia and Europe. Therefore, the graph of tea export is higher than other commodities, said Dr Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, executive director of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even in the previous year, export of tea was better than imports. Nepal imported 218 metric tons of tea worth Rs 77.3 million in FY 2076/77 and exported 11,185 tons of tea worth Rs 2.78 billion. In FY 2077/78, 346 metric tons of tea worth Rs 151.31 million were imported and 11,920 metric tons of tea worth Rs 3.79 billion were exported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bhattarai says that the export of tea can make a significant contribution to reduce the growing trade deficit if stakeholders focus on the quality of tea.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the board, tea was cultivated in 16,917 hectares of land in Nepal in the fiscal year 2077/78. A total of 23,745 metric tons of tea was produced during the period. Although the current year's figures are not yet ready, the board estimates that production will increase by about 10 percent. More than 16,000 farmers and more than 60,000 workers are involved in tea farming in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali tea is in high demand in the world market and is being sold at a high price. However, more than 90 percent of exports go to India. Tea producers say that they are forced to sell tea at lower prices in India. Due to this, tea farming business has not been profitable in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Binay Sharma, project coordinator of Nepal Increase Sustainable Tea Export Project, said that the variety of Nepali tea and technology could not be developed due to lack of research work on production and processing technology. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-29', 'modified' => '2022-04-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14932', 'image' => '20220429014709_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-29 13:46:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15185', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Government Bans Import of 10 Items including Automobile till mid-July', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 28: The government has restricted imports of 10 goods three weeks after banks stopped issuing letters of credit (LCs) for importing vehicles and luxury goods.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 28: The government has restricted imports of 10 goods three weeks after banks stopped issuing letters of credit (LCs) for importing vehicles and luxury goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies published a notice in the Nepal Gazette on Tuesday banning the import of 10 different items. The ban will remain in place until mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government's decision to ban imports indicates that the pressure on foreign exchange reserves has not abated. To discourage the import of luxury goods, the government has been adopting measures such as keeping 50 to 100 percent cash margin for opening LCs to import dozens of goods while the central bank has directed commercial banks to not opening LCs for luxury goods. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the diplomatic mission will be able to bring imported goods, said Commerce Secretary Ganesh Prasad Pandey.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the diplomatic missions would be allowed to import those items for their own purposes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has said that the ban on liquor import will have a negative impact on the hotel business. HAN's acting president, Binayak Shah, said that the government should reconsider its decision. He said that the tourism sector would be affected if the government did not correct its decision.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had given a 16-point suggestion to the Ministry of Finance on April 3, saying that even the import of essential goods would not be possible if the import of luxury goods was not stopped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the Finance Minister ignored the suggestion, the NRB summoned the chief executive officers of all commercial banks on April 6 and verbally instructed them not to open letters of credit for the import of luxury goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the foreign exchange reserves have decreased to only US$ 9.5 billion. This is enough to support the import of goods and services for six and a half months. The ban on imports is likely to affect revenue collection. In April, the finance ministry had set a target of raising Rs 46 billion from customs duty but was able to collect only Rs 40 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the government has banned the import of vehicles run on petrol and diesel, electric vehicles can be imported without restrictions. Similarly, import of motorcycles of less than 250 cc has not been stopped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepal Gazette mentions that no ban will be imposed on the goods which have already been processed for import through banking medium before April 27.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhruva Thapa, president of NADA Auto Mobiles Association of Nepal, said that it would be difficult to get vehicles in the market after two and a half months if the ban on import of vehicles is not lifted.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that customers will not be able to get the vehicle they want in June, July and August if the LC is not opened by mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-28', 'modified' => '2022-04-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14927', 'image' => '20220428025847_nepal-major-imports-update.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-28 14:57:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15163', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Women Entrepreneurs Summit Concludes', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) on Saturday organized the Young Entrepreneurs Summit Women (YESW) with the aim of promoting women entrepreneurship.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 25: The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) on Saturday organized the Young Entrepreneurs Summit Women (YESW) with the aim of promoting women entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The forum has been organizing this summit since 2013. The summit was inaugurated by Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal and attended by young entrepreneurs involved in agriculture, construction, cottage and small business, physical exercise, consulting firms and research. The students who aspire to become entrepreneurs also attended the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The slogan of this year's summit was 'Beyond Barriers'. The conference was sponsored by the International Labor Organization (ILO), Rastriya Banijya Bank and United Insurance. The conference was attended by more than 150 entrepreneurs, experts, new entrepreneurs and students.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs including Sangita Pandey from Aama Ko Achar, President of Federation of Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nepal Niru Rayamajhi Khatri, and Vidushi Rana from Kiran Shoes Manufacturer Pvt. Ltd. (Goldstar) attended the summit. Companies led by women and young entrepreneurs and new startups including Bihe-Nepal, Educase, Makkuse, Suiro also participated in the summit. The programme was coordinated by Sahara Joshi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-25', 'modified' => '2022-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14905', 'image' => '20220425023845_1650844188.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-25 14:37:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15161', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Nepal's Export Increases 69.44 Percent in Nine Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal witnessed an increase in export by 69.44 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22) as compared to the corresponding period of the last year (FY 2020/21). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: Nepal witnessed an increase in export by 69.44 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22) as compared to the corresponding period of the last year (FY 2020/21). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the data unveiled by the Department of Customs, the export of domestic products since mid-July, 2021 to mid-April was recorded at over Rs 160.57 billion against Rs 94.76 billion during the same period last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, import has also increased by 31.97 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to last year. The imports during the review period this year stood at more than Rs 1466.66 billion against Rs 1,111.39 billion recorded during the same period of last fiscal year. </span><br /> Nepal's <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">trade deficit went up by 28.47 per cent to over Rs 1450 billion during the first nine months of the current fiscal year against Rs 1016.62 billion during the same period of last fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the trade data of the first nine months of the current fiscal unveiled by the Department, Nepal imported petroleum products including diesel, petrol and cooking gas worth Rs 200 billion. The country imported diesel worth Rs 105 billion followed by petrol worth Rs 47.23 billion. LPG (cooking gas) worth over Rs 45.34 billion was imported during the review period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, soybean oil worth Rs 45.58 billion, palm oil worth over Rs 32.4 billion, vaccines worth over Rs 31.85 billion and gold worth over Rs 28.54 billion were imported during the nine months. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the data, goods worth over Rs 1,466 billion were imported from 162 countries during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal imported goods of highest amount worth Rs 917 billion from India while it exported goods worth Rs 127 billion during the nine months to the southern neighbour. Nepal's trade deficit with India during this period stood at Rs 773 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China is the second largest trade partner of Nepal. The country imported goods worth over Rs 211 billion from China whereas it exported goods worth Rs 628 million during the first nine months. Nepal has trade deficit amounting to Rs 210 billion with China. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-25', 'modified' => '2022-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14903', 'image' => '20220425102326_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-25 08:20:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15129', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'NCC to Collaborate with FHAN to Export Handicraft Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 19: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) have decided to collaborate with each other for the exports of handicraft items. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 19: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) have decided to collaborate with each other for the exports of handicraft items. NCC and FHAN signed an agreement in this regard on Monday. The two parties decided to collaborate with each other in a bid to reduce the country’s trade deficit by promoting export of handicraft items.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NCC and FHAN decided to cooperate with each other to promote exports stating that handicraft materials have played an important role in reducing trade deficit and also established Nepal's identity in the international market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NCC Chairman Rajendra Malla said that they would work hand in hand with the FHAN to facilitate the export of handicraft items and to remove the problems in customs clearance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a program organized at the NCC building at Jamal, Kathmandu to welcome the officials of the federation, Chairman Malla said that he will do his best ensure the entry of Nepali handicraft products in international exhibitions</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Malla said, “Export promotion of handicrafts is the strongest option right now to reduce the huge trade deficit.” He said that the handicraft industry has been creating employment opportunities on a large scale and has been helping in the preservation and promotion of culture through skills and arts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The handicraft industry has not only promoted and protected indigenous skills but also helped establish cultural identity,” he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NCC, Nepali handicrafts are exported to the United States, European countries, Japan, China, India, Korea and other Asian countries. Malla said that high financial benefits can be reaped if the state provides support with concessions. He said that he would take initiative to facilitate customs clearance for the export of handicraft items, provide relief to businessmen and other policy reforms.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">President of FHAN, Prachanda Shakya said that there are various policy issues including customs clearance for the export of handicrafts produced by them. He complained that even though the government provided relief to the exporting businessmen, the genuine businessmen are still having a hard time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shakya requested the NCC to facilitate exports. In response, Malla said that he would do his best to promote handicraft exports. An agreement was reached between the NCC and the FHAN to take initiative with the government for policy reforms before the next budget.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-19', 'modified' => '2022-04-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14871', 'image' => '20220419033958_handicraft.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-19 15:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15111', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Women Entrepreneurs to get Loan Facility for Export ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: The government has made arrangements to provide loans for exports to women entrepreneurs who have not been able to get loans from banks and financial institutions for their business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 15: The government has made arrangements to provide loans for exports to women entrepreneurs who have not been able to get loans from banks and financial institutions for their business. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By amending the Industrial Enterprises Act 2076, a provision has been made for women entrepreneurs to get a minimum of Rs 500,000 to maximum of Rs 5 million loan depending on the type of industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government published the revised Industrial Enterprise Act in the Nepal Gazette on April 4, 2022 by including the new provision. This has opened the door for women entrepreneurs to get loans for export. Although the previous arrangement also had provision for such loans, the limit of loan amount was not fixed depending on the nature of the industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the amended regulations published in the Nepal Gazette, women entrepreneurs will get export credit on the basis of the financial condition of the business. The amended act states that in order to get a loan for export, at least 30 percent of the total production of the last fiscal year has to be exported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The amended regulations have set a credit limit for women entrepreneurs for additional facilities. According to the new regulations, small entrepreneurs will get export loans of Rs 500,000, cottage industry Rs 1.5 million, small entrepreneurs Rs 2 million, medium entrepreneurs Rs 3 million and large entrepreneurs Rs 5 million. The loan will be provided through the banking system. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sarada Rijal, a woman entrepreneur, said that the revised system would encourage women entrepreneurs to venture out, especially in export-oriented industries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the government has also invested in the industrial villages targeting women she said that this policy would further encourage women entrepreneurs. According to her, a women’s industrial village is also being made in Panchkhal of Kavre. The process of setting up the village started after the government announced the plan to open an industrial village in all seven provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs say that the industrial village to develop women entrepreneurship and the current export credit policy will help women entrepreneurs. They stressed on the need to make the process of getting loans simple and easy for women entrepreneurs, who are still finding it difficult to get access to business loans. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-15', 'modified' => '2022-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14853', 'image' => '20220415021513_women.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-15 14:14:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15101', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Cargo Trucks Stopped at India Border Start Arriving in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: Trucks and containers with goods stopped at the border by Indian customs have started entering Nepal through Biratnagar customs from Tuesday evening.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 14: Trucks and containers with goods stopped at the border by Indian customs have started entering Nepal through Biratnagar customs from Tuesday evening.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hundreds of cargo vehicles were stopped across the Biratnagar border after the Central Customs Department of India imposed new rules on goods supplied to Nepal from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">More than 300 cargo vehicles were stopped at the Jogbani area on the Indian side of the border across Biratnagar after Indian customs suspected that the goods being supplied to Nepal from India for industrial and commercial purposes could be used to make weapons or explosives.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devaki Sharma, president of the Biratnagar Customs Agents Association, said, "Many cargo vehicles were stopped towards the Indian side. Those cargo have started coming since Tuesday.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vehicles carrying various chemicals, vitamins and herbs, medical powders, medical chemicals, vaccines, insulin, and animal vaccines were stopped by India. Likewise, the Indian side banned adhesive gum and turpentine class items, PVC sets, plastic materials, glass and glassware, zinc, nickel, sulfur, and iron window doors.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, industrial machinery, electrical goods, motor parts, and medical equipment were also stopped. The customs agents' association said that the company, industry, or firm supplying goods to Nepal should now onwards fill a form stating the purpose for which the goods are being exported. The goods are then subject to approval by the Indian customs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to chairperson Sharma, after the imposition of the new rules by India, the agents of Biratnagar Customs approached the Assistant Commissioner of Jogbani Customs, Ashok Das, to facilitate export. As per a circular issued by the Central Customs Department of India, the export of goods has been tightened. Chief of the Biratnagar Customs, Tara Prasad Sapkota, said that the team facilitated the import after receiving information that the goods coming to Nepal were stopped in India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-14', 'modified' => '2022-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14843', 'image' => '20220414125654_ICP Biratnagar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-14 12:55:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15095', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Birgunj Customs Records Zero Import of Vehicles ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj customs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj customs. Birgunj customs has not recorded a single import of vehicle since the past one week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 1,000 new vehicles are parked at the customs’ yard and Raxaul. However, no importer has obtained vehicle clearance pass in a week, informed Harihar Poudel, chief customs officer of the Birgunj customs office.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Birgunj is the main entry point of vehicles. Customs officials said that the customs clearance of vehicles has been stopped due to the tight provision imposed by Nepal Rastra Bank in importing luxury items amid liquidity crisis in the banking system.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even the vehicles that have arrived at the customs yard aren't inspected. Banks have stopped giving loans for cars. The importers have parked their imported vehicles in the customs yard and the warehouse of Raxaul, a border town of India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has tightened imports of luxury goods as remittances have declined while imports were rising. Stating that there is pressure on foreign exchange reserves, the government has adopted a policy to reduce imports.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks have stopped issuing LCs even for other items. Entrepreneur Rajesh Kyal says this has created confusion in conducting business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Customs Officer Poudel informed that the import of non-luxury items from Birgunj has also decreased significantly. Along with the decline in imports, the revenue of Birgunj customs has also been affected. Poudel said that the revenue target for the current fiscal year 2078/79 will not be met.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-13', 'modified' => '2022-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14837', 'image' => '20220413025019_Birgunj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-13 14:49:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15093', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Rice Industrialists Call for Encouraging Domestic Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: Rice and oil industrialists have urged the government to encourage domestic products by tightening the import of food grains from foreign countries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 13: Rice and oil industrialists have urged the government to encourage domestic products by tightening the import of food grains from foreign countries. A delegation including office bearers of the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry recently met and drew the attention of the Director General of the Department of Customs Kamal Prasad Bhattarai regarding the issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The delegation led by the association’s Chairperson Dr Subodh Kumar Gupta demanded that rice industries within the country be saved by discouraging the import of rice from foreign countries. He suggested an increment in customs fees so as to discourage the import. He urged the Director General Bhattarai to impose one percent customs duty on the import of paddy grains and 15 percent on rice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They have also demanded an increment in custom duty on the import of pulses. They suggested 20 percent custom fees on the import of ready-made pulses. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-13', 'modified' => '2022-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14835', 'image' => '20220413115345_ricee.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-13 11:53:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15077', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'A Tale of Success: Nepali Beekeeper Exporting Honey to Japan and China', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: Mahalakshmi Shrestha, who started producing honey for the domestic market of Nepal about 27 years ago, is now exporting the product to Japan.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prashant Khadka</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 10: Mahalakshmi Shrestha, who started producing honey for the domestic market of Nepal about 27 years ago, is now exporting the product to Japan. Her products 'TBS Pure Honey' and 'KASTI Himalayan Honey' are now exported to Japan, China and other countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 10 percent of the 12 tons of honey Shrestha produces annually at her company named ‘Beekeeping Shop’ is exported to Japan and China. Nepali honey is in good demand even in European countries as the product is considered better in quality as compared to foreign products. However, she says that the European Union (EU) did not include Nepal in the list of third countries for importing honey, because of its flaw in implementing the National Residue Monitoring Plan (NRMP). That is the reason Shrestha says she could not export her honey to European countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha’s company is producing honey by rearing bees in 80 hives in Chitwan and Dang. Besides, the company is working with beekeepers of Kailali, Pyuthan, Dang, Bardiya and other districts to check the quality and send it to the market with branding. Honey is sold in Nepal from her own Beekeeping Shop, online shop Daraz and Salesberry department store. Shrestha said that her Beekeeping Shop itself is looking after the foreign exports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha said that organic honey in her company is made by bees that suck the flowers of plants like Indian butter tree, mustard, lychee and buckwheat. The price of honey of both the brands ranges from Rs 900 to Rs 1,200 per kg depending on the quality. Shrestha said, “I started my business with a small investment of around Rs 100,000. I continued to work hard even though the income was not good. But gradually, customers started frequenting after tasting the honey and the market size increased along with the profit as well.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha expressed that the practice of eating honey in urban areas of Nepal was not developed when she planned to open the Beekeeping Shop. She said, “My research shows that few people used to buy and eat foreign brands of honey.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A student of botany, she was conducting research on the quality of Nepali honey and modern beekeeping in the SNV project run with the help of the Dutch government at that time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that she started working about 27 years ago after seeing good potential of commercial beekeeping in Nepal following the same research. At present, 35 people including 30 beekeepers and 5 workers are employed in the business. She estimated that only 10 to 15 percent of the total beekeeping potential has been achieved in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha recalled, “When I started the Beekeeping Shop at Man Bhawan in Lalitpur, my family, friends and relatives tried to discourage me saying that it didn’t suit me doing such work, being a bachelor's degree holder in botany. But I did not give up. I didn't start this job because I couldn't get a job. I chose to do this work of my free will and continued to work hard in the same direction, while ensuring the quality of the product, and it made me a successful woman entrepreneur today.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-10', 'modified' => '2022-04-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14819', 'image' => '20220410070241_tbs-kasti-2_orig.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-10 19:01:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15063', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'House Panel Instructs Government to Halt Import of Betel Nuts', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts. A meeting of the Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) has directed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to stop issuing permits to import betel nuts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The meeting held discussion on Wednesday and concluded that the import of betel nuts was not necessary at a time when the country’s economy was reeling under crisis and the foreign exchange reserves were declining, informed the committee chair Bimal Prasad Shreevastav. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We have instructed the government not to issue permits to import betel nuts,” said Shreevastav, adding, “The committee has decided to monitor the situation of import and usage of betel nuts through a field visit.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that the committee will visit the industries that are involved in importing betel nuts for a study and then hold further discussions. The committee said it had no objection to the import of peas and black pepper.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepali Congress lawmaker Prakash Rasaili insists that the government has been presenting fake data about the import of betel nuts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We had sought the government’s explanation regarding the demand of betel nuts. But the government officials lied to us by hiding the details,” said Rasaili.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He says that the committee decided to halt the import of betel nuts after the government employees presented fake data. Other lawmakers were also in favour of banning the import of betel nuts which are primarily used to make tobacco-related products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided to allow the imports of betel nuts, peas and black pepper about two months ago. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has already published a notice in the Nepal Gazette stating that the ban on import of these items has been lifted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although these items are imported for industrial purpose, it is believed that the products are smuggled to India. A large amount of foreign currency is spent in importing these items. The government has been accused of lifting the ban on import of betel nuts in collusion with businessmen for the sake of money. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-07', 'modified' => '2022-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14805', 'image' => '20220407065951_supari.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-07 18:59:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15062', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Import of Pesticides-Laden Vegetables Continues Unabated', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has adopted a policy of importing vegetables, fruits and other agricultural commodities from India into Nepal only after measuring the residue of pesticides.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 7: The government has adopted a policy of importing vegetables, fruits and other agricultural commodities from India into Nepal only after measuring the residue of pesticides. However, such perishable items are entering the country every day without checking pesticide, against the government’s policy.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 45 percent of vegetables and 75 percent of fruits consumed in the Kathmandu Valley are imported from India. However, due to the weakness of the concerned authorities, there is a risk of consumption of poisonous vegetables and fruits. Statistics show that traders tried to import 12 trucks of pesticide-laden items including vegetables, fruits and nuts from Bhairahawa checkpoint alone into the country in the last three months.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Bhairahawa Customs Office, 1600 trucks entered the area from last January to the second week of April. Twelve of them were sent back after finding pesticides in high amounts in the imported vegetables and fruits. According to Tirtha Raj Paswan, Information Officer at Bhairahawa Customs Office, toxic residues were found in amounts higher than acceptable standards in tangerine, orange, grape, melon, potato, onion, mushroom, banana among other items during routine check and they were sent back to India.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vegetables and fruits are considered edible if the inhibition rate is less than 35 percent. If the inhibition rate is 35 to 45 percent, such vegetables are considered edible only after the inhibition rate drops to 35 percent during retest after quarantining for at least 5 days. Officials say that if the inhibition rate does not reach the specified limit within that period, it is sent back.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, which is responsible for testing the amount of toxins present in the food entering through the checkpoint, complains that it has not been able to work effectively due to inadequate staffing.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Senior Food Research Officer of the department Bimal Kumar Dahal said that the work is not effective as there is not enough staff at the office. “Our office in Bhairahawa has a total of 11 employees. The 11 employees are responsible for testing the quality of food produced in the domestic market as well as testing pesticides on commodities imported from India,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He added that the higher workload on both fronts due to the small number of employees has reduced the effectiveness of checking. He said, “There is a risk of poisonous vegetables entering the country if the results are not obtained in time. So far, no applicants have applied for the vacancies.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Government of Nepal is setting up a separate pesticide laboratory at the checkpoints to test toxins on imported goods. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has given the responsibility to the department since last October. Hundreds of samples are brought to the food offices in Butwal, Bhairahawa, Kapilbastu and Birgunj every day for testing. However, due to lack of staff, the quality of work is constantly compromised.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Doctors say that eating poisonous vegetables and fruits has adverse effects on human health. Dr Arjun Budhathoki, cardiologist at Bir Hospital says that the toxins used in vegetables and fruits affect all parts of the human body and should be avoided at all costs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is no part in our body that is not affected by toxins. Consumption of highly toxic vegetables mainly causes heart, skin, nerve related diseases, menstrual and reproductive problems in women and also plays a role in all types of cancers,” said Dr Budhathoki. Therefore, to avoid this, vegetables should be washed at least 5 times with clean or salt water or water mixed with potassium.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-07', 'modified' => '2022-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14804', 'image' => '20220407045825_p02-120209-78.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-07 16:57:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15055', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Flower Import up as Export Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Imports of flowers have skyrocketed in recent years despite the country being declared 90 percent self-reliant on flower production.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 6: Imports of flowers have skyrocketed in recent years despite the country being declared 90 percent self-reliant on flower production. On the other hand, data show that the export of flowers is declining continuously.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Floriculture Association of Nepal, the country imported flowers worth Rs 385.3 million in the fiscal year 2077/78 alone. Meanwhile, export was limited to Rs 4.8 million. Businessmen say that exports have declined due to the decline in investment in flower business due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2073/74, flower import amounted to Rs 113.6 million and export amounted to Rs 36.5 million. Since then, imports have been steadily rising while exports have been shrinking. Looking at the data for the first eight months of the current fiscal year (July-March), it can be seen that flowers and flower products worth Rs 178.46 million have been imported into the country. Exports amounted to Rs 33.78 million during the period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Min Bahadur Tamang, president of the association, considers the reason for decline in exports last year to the failure of florists to produce exportable flowers due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that about a decade ago, Nepal exported flowers worth up to Rs 190 million annually to European countries as well as the United States and Australia. He said that international demand for flowers could not be met due to insufficient investment in the flower business last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, until a few years ago, the demand for rose produced in Nepal used to be huge in the world market. Tamang said that export has declined due to the inability to supply quality flowers as per the demand and impact of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He added that the state should take responsibility to create an environment for large investment in flower business to increase exports. Tamang said, “NRB has adopted a policy that allows loans up to Rs 50 million for floriculture. However, this investment is too small to produce exportable flowers. Therefore, it is important for the state to pay attention to such things.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Prakash Kumar Sanjel also agrees with Tamang. He said that the concessional loan announced by NRB is insufficient to produce exportable flowers by investing in agriculture. He informed that a work procedure for the increment for the loan from Rs 50 million to Rs 500 million, depending on the nature of the business, has already been sent to the NRB and the Ministry of Finance. Sanjel says that the government should set up a separate body to look after the flower business to increase exports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr Gunakar Bhatt, the spokesperson of NRB, says that procedures should be amended in order to implement the recommendation of the ministry. He said that NRB alone cannot do anything if the government does not amends the working procedure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 700 people including entrepreneurs, businessmen and farmers were involved in the flower business with an investment of over Rs 6 billion in 43 districts before the pandemic. According to the association, the number of farmers and entrepreneurs has decreased by about 10 percent after the onset of the pandemic. Similarly, the association is also aware that more than 30,000 square kilometers of land used for floriculture is barren and other lands have not been able to produce at full capacity.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-06', 'modified' => '2022-04-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14797', 'image' => '20220406021821_flower.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-06 14:17:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$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] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15190', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Tea worth Rs 2 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 29: Nepal has exported tea worth Rs 2 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year while the country has imported tea worth Rs 80 million during the review period.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 29: Nepal has exported tea worth Rs 2 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year while the country has imported tea worth Rs 80 million during the review period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal, where other goods are imported in large quantities, has made good progress in exporting tea. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 183 metric tonnes of tea worth Rs 79.3 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. During the same period, 9,017 metric tons of tea worth Rs 2.36 billion was exported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As Nepal's tea is considered to be of high quality, its demand is high in various countries like India, China, Sri Lanka, the USA, Australia and Europe. Therefore, the graph of tea export is higher than other commodities, said Dr Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, executive director of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even in the previous year, export of tea was better than imports. Nepal imported 218 metric tons of tea worth Rs 77.3 million in FY 2076/77 and exported 11,185 tons of tea worth Rs 2.78 billion. In FY 2077/78, 346 metric tons of tea worth Rs 151.31 million were imported and 11,920 metric tons of tea worth Rs 3.79 billion were exported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bhattarai says that the export of tea can make a significant contribution to reduce the growing trade deficit if stakeholders focus on the quality of tea.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the board, tea was cultivated in 16,917 hectares of land in Nepal in the fiscal year 2077/78. A total of 23,745 metric tons of tea was produced during the period. Although the current year's figures are not yet ready, the board estimates that production will increase by about 10 percent. More than 16,000 farmers and more than 60,000 workers are involved in tea farming in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali tea is in high demand in the world market and is being sold at a high price. However, more than 90 percent of exports go to India. Tea producers say that they are forced to sell tea at lower prices in India. Due to this, tea farming business has not been profitable in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Binay Sharma, project coordinator of Nepal Increase Sustainable Tea Export Project, said that the variety of Nepali tea and technology could not be developed due to lack of research work on production and processing technology. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-29', 'modified' => '2022-04-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14932', 'image' => '20220429014709_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-29 13:46:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15185', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Government Bans Import of 10 Items including Automobile till mid-July', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 28: The government has restricted imports of 10 goods three weeks after banks stopped issuing letters of credit (LCs) for importing vehicles and luxury goods.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 28: The government has restricted imports of 10 goods three weeks after banks stopped issuing letters of credit (LCs) for importing vehicles and luxury goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies published a notice in the Nepal Gazette on Tuesday banning the import of 10 different items. The ban will remain in place until mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government's decision to ban imports indicates that the pressure on foreign exchange reserves has not abated. To discourage the import of luxury goods, the government has been adopting measures such as keeping 50 to 100 percent cash margin for opening LCs to import dozens of goods while the central bank has directed commercial banks to not opening LCs for luxury goods. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the diplomatic mission will be able to bring imported goods, said Commerce Secretary Ganesh Prasad Pandey.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the diplomatic missions would be allowed to import those items for their own purposes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has said that the ban on liquor import will have a negative impact on the hotel business. HAN's acting president, Binayak Shah, said that the government should reconsider its decision. He said that the tourism sector would be affected if the government did not correct its decision.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had given a 16-point suggestion to the Ministry of Finance on April 3, saying that even the import of essential goods would not be possible if the import of luxury goods was not stopped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the Finance Minister ignored the suggestion, the NRB summoned the chief executive officers of all commercial banks on April 6 and verbally instructed them not to open letters of credit for the import of luxury goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the foreign exchange reserves have decreased to only US$ 9.5 billion. This is enough to support the import of goods and services for six and a half months. The ban on imports is likely to affect revenue collection. In April, the finance ministry had set a target of raising Rs 46 billion from customs duty but was able to collect only Rs 40 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the government has banned the import of vehicles run on petrol and diesel, electric vehicles can be imported without restrictions. Similarly, import of motorcycles of less than 250 cc has not been stopped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepal Gazette mentions that no ban will be imposed on the goods which have already been processed for import through banking medium before April 27.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhruva Thapa, president of NADA Auto Mobiles Association of Nepal, said that it would be difficult to get vehicles in the market after two and a half months if the ban on import of vehicles is not lifted.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that customers will not be able to get the vehicle they want in June, July and August if the LC is not opened by mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-28', 'modified' => '2022-04-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14927', 'image' => '20220428025847_nepal-major-imports-update.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-28 14:57:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15163', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Women Entrepreneurs Summit Concludes', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) on Saturday organized the Young Entrepreneurs Summit Women (YESW) with the aim of promoting women entrepreneurship.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 25: The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) on Saturday organized the Young Entrepreneurs Summit Women (YESW) with the aim of promoting women entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The forum has been organizing this summit since 2013. The summit was inaugurated by Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal and attended by young entrepreneurs involved in agriculture, construction, cottage and small business, physical exercise, consulting firms and research. The students who aspire to become entrepreneurs also attended the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The slogan of this year's summit was 'Beyond Barriers'. The conference was sponsored by the International Labor Organization (ILO), Rastriya Banijya Bank and United Insurance. The conference was attended by more than 150 entrepreneurs, experts, new entrepreneurs and students.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs including Sangita Pandey from Aama Ko Achar, President of Federation of Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nepal Niru Rayamajhi Khatri, and Vidushi Rana from Kiran Shoes Manufacturer Pvt. Ltd. (Goldstar) attended the summit. Companies led by women and young entrepreneurs and new startups including Bihe-Nepal, Educase, Makkuse, Suiro also participated in the summit. The programme was coordinated by Sahara Joshi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-25', 'modified' => '2022-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14905', 'image' => '20220425023845_1650844188.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-25 14:37:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15161', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Nepal's Export Increases 69.44 Percent in Nine Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal witnessed an increase in export by 69.44 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22) as compared to the corresponding period of the last year (FY 2020/21). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: Nepal witnessed an increase in export by 69.44 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22) as compared to the corresponding period of the last year (FY 2020/21). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the data unveiled by the Department of Customs, the export of domestic products since mid-July, 2021 to mid-April was recorded at over Rs 160.57 billion against Rs 94.76 billion during the same period last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, import has also increased by 31.97 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to last year. The imports during the review period this year stood at more than Rs 1466.66 billion against Rs 1,111.39 billion recorded during the same period of last fiscal year. </span><br /> Nepal's <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">trade deficit went up by 28.47 per cent to over Rs 1450 billion during the first nine months of the current fiscal year against Rs 1016.62 billion during the same period of last fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the trade data of the first nine months of the current fiscal unveiled by the Department, Nepal imported petroleum products including diesel, petrol and cooking gas worth Rs 200 billion. The country imported diesel worth Rs 105 billion followed by petrol worth Rs 47.23 billion. LPG (cooking gas) worth over Rs 45.34 billion was imported during the review period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, soybean oil worth Rs 45.58 billion, palm oil worth over Rs 32.4 billion, vaccines worth over Rs 31.85 billion and gold worth over Rs 28.54 billion were imported during the nine months. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the data, goods worth over Rs 1,466 billion were imported from 162 countries during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal imported goods of highest amount worth Rs 917 billion from India while it exported goods worth Rs 127 billion during the nine months to the southern neighbour. Nepal's trade deficit with India during this period stood at Rs 773 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China is the second largest trade partner of Nepal. The country imported goods worth over Rs 211 billion from China whereas it exported goods worth Rs 628 million during the first nine months. Nepal has trade deficit amounting to Rs 210 billion with China. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-25', 'modified' => '2022-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14903', 'image' => '20220425102326_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-25 08:20:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15129', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'NCC to Collaborate with FHAN to Export Handicraft Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 19: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) have decided to collaborate with each other for the exports of handicraft items. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 19: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) have decided to collaborate with each other for the exports of handicraft items. NCC and FHAN signed an agreement in this regard on Monday. The two parties decided to collaborate with each other in a bid to reduce the country’s trade deficit by promoting export of handicraft items.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NCC and FHAN decided to cooperate with each other to promote exports stating that handicraft materials have played an important role in reducing trade deficit and also established Nepal's identity in the international market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NCC Chairman Rajendra Malla said that they would work hand in hand with the FHAN to facilitate the export of handicraft items and to remove the problems in customs clearance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a program organized at the NCC building at Jamal, Kathmandu to welcome the officials of the federation, Chairman Malla said that he will do his best ensure the entry of Nepali handicraft products in international exhibitions</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Malla said, “Export promotion of handicrafts is the strongest option right now to reduce the huge trade deficit.” He said that the handicraft industry has been creating employment opportunities on a large scale and has been helping in the preservation and promotion of culture through skills and arts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The handicraft industry has not only promoted and protected indigenous skills but also helped establish cultural identity,” he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NCC, Nepali handicrafts are exported to the United States, European countries, Japan, China, India, Korea and other Asian countries. Malla said that high financial benefits can be reaped if the state provides support with concessions. He said that he would take initiative to facilitate customs clearance for the export of handicraft items, provide relief to businessmen and other policy reforms.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">President of FHAN, Prachanda Shakya said that there are various policy issues including customs clearance for the export of handicrafts produced by them. He complained that even though the government provided relief to the exporting businessmen, the genuine businessmen are still having a hard time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shakya requested the NCC to facilitate exports. In response, Malla said that he would do his best to promote handicraft exports. An agreement was reached between the NCC and the FHAN to take initiative with the government for policy reforms before the next budget.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-19', 'modified' => '2022-04-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14871', 'image' => '20220419033958_handicraft.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-19 15:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15111', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Women Entrepreneurs to get Loan Facility for Export ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: The government has made arrangements to provide loans for exports to women entrepreneurs who have not been able to get loans from banks and financial institutions for their business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 15: The government has made arrangements to provide loans for exports to women entrepreneurs who have not been able to get loans from banks and financial institutions for their business. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By amending the Industrial Enterprises Act 2076, a provision has been made for women entrepreneurs to get a minimum of Rs 500,000 to maximum of Rs 5 million loan depending on the type of industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government published the revised Industrial Enterprise Act in the Nepal Gazette on April 4, 2022 by including the new provision. This has opened the door for women entrepreneurs to get loans for export. Although the previous arrangement also had provision for such loans, the limit of loan amount was not fixed depending on the nature of the industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the amended regulations published in the Nepal Gazette, women entrepreneurs will get export credit on the basis of the financial condition of the business. The amended act states that in order to get a loan for export, at least 30 percent of the total production of the last fiscal year has to be exported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The amended regulations have set a credit limit for women entrepreneurs for additional facilities. According to the new regulations, small entrepreneurs will get export loans of Rs 500,000, cottage industry Rs 1.5 million, small entrepreneurs Rs 2 million, medium entrepreneurs Rs 3 million and large entrepreneurs Rs 5 million. The loan will be provided through the banking system. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sarada Rijal, a woman entrepreneur, said that the revised system would encourage women entrepreneurs to venture out, especially in export-oriented industries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the government has also invested in the industrial villages targeting women she said that this policy would further encourage women entrepreneurs. According to her, a women’s industrial village is also being made in Panchkhal of Kavre. The process of setting up the village started after the government announced the plan to open an industrial village in all seven provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs say that the industrial village to develop women entrepreneurship and the current export credit policy will help women entrepreneurs. They stressed on the need to make the process of getting loans simple and easy for women entrepreneurs, who are still finding it difficult to get access to business loans. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-15', 'modified' => '2022-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14853', 'image' => '20220415021513_women.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-15 14:14:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15101', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Cargo Trucks Stopped at India Border Start Arriving in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: Trucks and containers with goods stopped at the border by Indian customs have started entering Nepal through Biratnagar customs from Tuesday evening.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 14: Trucks and containers with goods stopped at the border by Indian customs have started entering Nepal through Biratnagar customs from Tuesday evening.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hundreds of cargo vehicles were stopped across the Biratnagar border after the Central Customs Department of India imposed new rules on goods supplied to Nepal from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">More than 300 cargo vehicles were stopped at the Jogbani area on the Indian side of the border across Biratnagar after Indian customs suspected that the goods being supplied to Nepal from India for industrial and commercial purposes could be used to make weapons or explosives.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devaki Sharma, president of the Biratnagar Customs Agents Association, said, "Many cargo vehicles were stopped towards the Indian side. Those cargo have started coming since Tuesday.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vehicles carrying various chemicals, vitamins and herbs, medical powders, medical chemicals, vaccines, insulin, and animal vaccines were stopped by India. Likewise, the Indian side banned adhesive gum and turpentine class items, PVC sets, plastic materials, glass and glassware, zinc, nickel, sulfur, and iron window doors.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, industrial machinery, electrical goods, motor parts, and medical equipment were also stopped. The customs agents' association said that the company, industry, or firm supplying goods to Nepal should now onwards fill a form stating the purpose for which the goods are being exported. The goods are then subject to approval by the Indian customs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to chairperson Sharma, after the imposition of the new rules by India, the agents of Biratnagar Customs approached the Assistant Commissioner of Jogbani Customs, Ashok Das, to facilitate export. As per a circular issued by the Central Customs Department of India, the export of goods has been tightened. Chief of the Biratnagar Customs, Tara Prasad Sapkota, said that the team facilitated the import after receiving information that the goods coming to Nepal were stopped in India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-14', 'modified' => '2022-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14843', 'image' => '20220414125654_ICP Biratnagar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-14 12:55:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15095', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Birgunj Customs Records Zero Import of Vehicles ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj customs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj customs. Birgunj customs has not recorded a single import of vehicle since the past one week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 1,000 new vehicles are parked at the customs’ yard and Raxaul. However, no importer has obtained vehicle clearance pass in a week, informed Harihar Poudel, chief customs officer of the Birgunj customs office.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Birgunj is the main entry point of vehicles. Customs officials said that the customs clearance of vehicles has been stopped due to the tight provision imposed by Nepal Rastra Bank in importing luxury items amid liquidity crisis in the banking system.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even the vehicles that have arrived at the customs yard aren't inspected. Banks have stopped giving loans for cars. The importers have parked their imported vehicles in the customs yard and the warehouse of Raxaul, a border town of India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has tightened imports of luxury goods as remittances have declined while imports were rising. Stating that there is pressure on foreign exchange reserves, the government has adopted a policy to reduce imports.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks have stopped issuing LCs even for other items. Entrepreneur Rajesh Kyal says this has created confusion in conducting business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Customs Officer Poudel informed that the import of non-luxury items from Birgunj has also decreased significantly. Along with the decline in imports, the revenue of Birgunj customs has also been affected. Poudel said that the revenue target for the current fiscal year 2078/79 will not be met.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-13', 'modified' => '2022-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14837', 'image' => '20220413025019_Birgunj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-13 14:49:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15093', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Rice Industrialists Call for Encouraging Domestic Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: Rice and oil industrialists have urged the government to encourage domestic products by tightening the import of food grains from foreign countries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 13: Rice and oil industrialists have urged the government to encourage domestic products by tightening the import of food grains from foreign countries. A delegation including office bearers of the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry recently met and drew the attention of the Director General of the Department of Customs Kamal Prasad Bhattarai regarding the issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The delegation led by the association’s Chairperson Dr Subodh Kumar Gupta demanded that rice industries within the country be saved by discouraging the import of rice from foreign countries. He suggested an increment in customs fees so as to discourage the import. He urged the Director General Bhattarai to impose one percent customs duty on the import of paddy grains and 15 percent on rice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They have also demanded an increment in custom duty on the import of pulses. They suggested 20 percent custom fees on the import of ready-made pulses. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-13', 'modified' => '2022-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14835', 'image' => '20220413115345_ricee.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-13 11:53:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15077', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'A Tale of Success: Nepali Beekeeper Exporting Honey to Japan and China', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: Mahalakshmi Shrestha, who started producing honey for the domestic market of Nepal about 27 years ago, is now exporting the product to Japan.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prashant Khadka</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 10: Mahalakshmi Shrestha, who started producing honey for the domestic market of Nepal about 27 years ago, is now exporting the product to Japan. Her products 'TBS Pure Honey' and 'KASTI Himalayan Honey' are now exported to Japan, China and other countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 10 percent of the 12 tons of honey Shrestha produces annually at her company named ‘Beekeeping Shop’ is exported to Japan and China. Nepali honey is in good demand even in European countries as the product is considered better in quality as compared to foreign products. However, she says that the European Union (EU) did not include Nepal in the list of third countries for importing honey, because of its flaw in implementing the National Residue Monitoring Plan (NRMP). That is the reason Shrestha says she could not export her honey to European countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha’s company is producing honey by rearing bees in 80 hives in Chitwan and Dang. Besides, the company is working with beekeepers of Kailali, Pyuthan, Dang, Bardiya and other districts to check the quality and send it to the market with branding. Honey is sold in Nepal from her own Beekeeping Shop, online shop Daraz and Salesberry department store. Shrestha said that her Beekeeping Shop itself is looking after the foreign exports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha said that organic honey in her company is made by bees that suck the flowers of plants like Indian butter tree, mustard, lychee and buckwheat. The price of honey of both the brands ranges from Rs 900 to Rs 1,200 per kg depending on the quality. Shrestha said, “I started my business with a small investment of around Rs 100,000. I continued to work hard even though the income was not good. But gradually, customers started frequenting after tasting the honey and the market size increased along with the profit as well.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha expressed that the practice of eating honey in urban areas of Nepal was not developed when she planned to open the Beekeeping Shop. She said, “My research shows that few people used to buy and eat foreign brands of honey.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A student of botany, she was conducting research on the quality of Nepali honey and modern beekeeping in the SNV project run with the help of the Dutch government at that time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that she started working about 27 years ago after seeing good potential of commercial beekeeping in Nepal following the same research. At present, 35 people including 30 beekeepers and 5 workers are employed in the business. She estimated that only 10 to 15 percent of the total beekeeping potential has been achieved in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha recalled, “When I started the Beekeeping Shop at Man Bhawan in Lalitpur, my family, friends and relatives tried to discourage me saying that it didn’t suit me doing such work, being a bachelor's degree holder in botany. But I did not give up. I didn't start this job because I couldn't get a job. I chose to do this work of my free will and continued to work hard in the same direction, while ensuring the quality of the product, and it made me a successful woman entrepreneur today.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-10', 'modified' => '2022-04-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14819', 'image' => '20220410070241_tbs-kasti-2_orig.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-10 19:01:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15063', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'House Panel Instructs Government to Halt Import of Betel Nuts', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts. A meeting of the Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) has directed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to stop issuing permits to import betel nuts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The meeting held discussion on Wednesday and concluded that the import of betel nuts was not necessary at a time when the country’s economy was reeling under crisis and the foreign exchange reserves were declining, informed the committee chair Bimal Prasad Shreevastav. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We have instructed the government not to issue permits to import betel nuts,” said Shreevastav, adding, “The committee has decided to monitor the situation of import and usage of betel nuts through a field visit.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that the committee will visit the industries that are involved in importing betel nuts for a study and then hold further discussions. The committee said it had no objection to the import of peas and black pepper.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepali Congress lawmaker Prakash Rasaili insists that the government has been presenting fake data about the import of betel nuts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We had sought the government’s explanation regarding the demand of betel nuts. But the government officials lied to us by hiding the details,” said Rasaili.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He says that the committee decided to halt the import of betel nuts after the government employees presented fake data. Other lawmakers were also in favour of banning the import of betel nuts which are primarily used to make tobacco-related products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided to allow the imports of betel nuts, peas and black pepper about two months ago. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has already published a notice in the Nepal Gazette stating that the ban on import of these items has been lifted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although these items are imported for industrial purpose, it is believed that the products are smuggled to India. A large amount of foreign currency is spent in importing these items. The government has been accused of lifting the ban on import of betel nuts in collusion with businessmen for the sake of money. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-07', 'modified' => '2022-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14805', 'image' => '20220407065951_supari.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-07 18:59:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15062', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Import of Pesticides-Laden Vegetables Continues Unabated', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has adopted a policy of importing vegetables, fruits and other agricultural commodities from India into Nepal only after measuring the residue of pesticides.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 7: The government has adopted a policy of importing vegetables, fruits and other agricultural commodities from India into Nepal only after measuring the residue of pesticides. However, such perishable items are entering the country every day without checking pesticide, against the government’s policy.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 45 percent of vegetables and 75 percent of fruits consumed in the Kathmandu Valley are imported from India. However, due to the weakness of the concerned authorities, there is a risk of consumption of poisonous vegetables and fruits. Statistics show that traders tried to import 12 trucks of pesticide-laden items including vegetables, fruits and nuts from Bhairahawa checkpoint alone into the country in the last three months.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Bhairahawa Customs Office, 1600 trucks entered the area from last January to the second week of April. Twelve of them were sent back after finding pesticides in high amounts in the imported vegetables and fruits. According to Tirtha Raj Paswan, Information Officer at Bhairahawa Customs Office, toxic residues were found in amounts higher than acceptable standards in tangerine, orange, grape, melon, potato, onion, mushroom, banana among other items during routine check and they were sent back to India.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vegetables and fruits are considered edible if the inhibition rate is less than 35 percent. If the inhibition rate is 35 to 45 percent, such vegetables are considered edible only after the inhibition rate drops to 35 percent during retest after quarantining for at least 5 days. Officials say that if the inhibition rate does not reach the specified limit within that period, it is sent back.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, which is responsible for testing the amount of toxins present in the food entering through the checkpoint, complains that it has not been able to work effectively due to inadequate staffing.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Senior Food Research Officer of the department Bimal Kumar Dahal said that the work is not effective as there is not enough staff at the office. “Our office in Bhairahawa has a total of 11 employees. The 11 employees are responsible for testing the quality of food produced in the domestic market as well as testing pesticides on commodities imported from India,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He added that the higher workload on both fronts due to the small number of employees has reduced the effectiveness of checking. He said, “There is a risk of poisonous vegetables entering the country if the results are not obtained in time. So far, no applicants have applied for the vacancies.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Government of Nepal is setting up a separate pesticide laboratory at the checkpoints to test toxins on imported goods. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has given the responsibility to the department since last October. Hundreds of samples are brought to the food offices in Butwal, Bhairahawa, Kapilbastu and Birgunj every day for testing. However, due to lack of staff, the quality of work is constantly compromised.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Doctors say that eating poisonous vegetables and fruits has adverse effects on human health. Dr Arjun Budhathoki, cardiologist at Bir Hospital says that the toxins used in vegetables and fruits affect all parts of the human body and should be avoided at all costs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is no part in our body that is not affected by toxins. Consumption of highly toxic vegetables mainly causes heart, skin, nerve related diseases, menstrual and reproductive problems in women and also plays a role in all types of cancers,” said Dr Budhathoki. Therefore, to avoid this, vegetables should be washed at least 5 times with clean or salt water or water mixed with potassium.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-07', 'modified' => '2022-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14804', 'image' => '20220407045825_p02-120209-78.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-07 16:57:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15055', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Flower Import up as Export Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Imports of flowers have skyrocketed in recent years despite the country being declared 90 percent self-reliant on flower production.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 6: Imports of flowers have skyrocketed in recent years despite the country being declared 90 percent self-reliant on flower production. On the other hand, data show that the export of flowers is declining continuously.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Floriculture Association of Nepal, the country imported flowers worth Rs 385.3 million in the fiscal year 2077/78 alone. Meanwhile, export was limited to Rs 4.8 million. Businessmen say that exports have declined due to the decline in investment in flower business due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2073/74, flower import amounted to Rs 113.6 million and export amounted to Rs 36.5 million. Since then, imports have been steadily rising while exports have been shrinking. Looking at the data for the first eight months of the current fiscal year (July-March), it can be seen that flowers and flower products worth Rs 178.46 million have been imported into the country. Exports amounted to Rs 33.78 million during the period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Min Bahadur Tamang, president of the association, considers the reason for decline in exports last year to the failure of florists to produce exportable flowers due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that about a decade ago, Nepal exported flowers worth up to Rs 190 million annually to European countries as well as the United States and Australia. He said that international demand for flowers could not be met due to insufficient investment in the flower business last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, until a few years ago, the demand for rose produced in Nepal used to be huge in the world market. Tamang said that export has declined due to the inability to supply quality flowers as per the demand and impact of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He added that the state should take responsibility to create an environment for large investment in flower business to increase exports. Tamang said, “NRB has adopted a policy that allows loans up to Rs 50 million for floriculture. However, this investment is too small to produce exportable flowers. Therefore, it is important for the state to pay attention to such things.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Prakash Kumar Sanjel also agrees with Tamang. He said that the concessional loan announced by NRB is insufficient to produce exportable flowers by investing in agriculture. He informed that a work procedure for the increment for the loan from Rs 50 million to Rs 500 million, depending on the nature of the business, has already been sent to the NRB and the Ministry of Finance. Sanjel says that the government should set up a separate body to look after the flower business to increase exports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr Gunakar Bhatt, the spokesperson of NRB, says that procedures should be amended in order to implement the recommendation of the ministry. He said that NRB alone cannot do anything if the government does not amends the working procedure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 700 people including entrepreneurs, businessmen and farmers were involved in the flower business with an investment of over Rs 6 billion in 43 districts before the pandemic. According to the association, the number of farmers and entrepreneurs has decreased by about 10 percent after the onset of the pandemic. Similarly, the association is also aware that more than 30,000 square kilometers of land used for floriculture is barren and other lands have not been able to produce at full capacity.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-06', 'modified' => '2022-04-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14797', 'image' => '20220406021821_flower.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-06 14:17:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$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] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15190', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Tea worth Rs 2 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 29: Nepal has exported tea worth Rs 2 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year while the country has imported tea worth Rs 80 million during the review period.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 29: Nepal has exported tea worth Rs 2 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year while the country has imported tea worth Rs 80 million during the review period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal, where other goods are imported in large quantities, has made good progress in exporting tea. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 183 metric tonnes of tea worth Rs 79.3 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. During the same period, 9,017 metric tons of tea worth Rs 2.36 billion was exported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As Nepal's tea is considered to be of high quality, its demand is high in various countries like India, China, Sri Lanka, the USA, Australia and Europe. Therefore, the graph of tea export is higher than other commodities, said Dr Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, executive director of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even in the previous year, export of tea was better than imports. Nepal imported 218 metric tons of tea worth Rs 77.3 million in FY 2076/77 and exported 11,185 tons of tea worth Rs 2.78 billion. In FY 2077/78, 346 metric tons of tea worth Rs 151.31 million were imported and 11,920 metric tons of tea worth Rs 3.79 billion were exported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bhattarai says that the export of tea can make a significant contribution to reduce the growing trade deficit if stakeholders focus on the quality of tea.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the board, tea was cultivated in 16,917 hectares of land in Nepal in the fiscal year 2077/78. A total of 23,745 metric tons of tea was produced during the period. Although the current year's figures are not yet ready, the board estimates that production will increase by about 10 percent. More than 16,000 farmers and more than 60,000 workers are involved in tea farming in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali tea is in high demand in the world market and is being sold at a high price. However, more than 90 percent of exports go to India. Tea producers say that they are forced to sell tea at lower prices in India. Due to this, tea farming business has not been profitable in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Binay Sharma, project coordinator of Nepal Increase Sustainable Tea Export Project, said that the variety of Nepali tea and technology could not be developed due to lack of research work on production and processing technology. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-29', 'modified' => '2022-04-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14932', 'image' => '20220429014709_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-29 13:46:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15185', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Government Bans Import of 10 Items including Automobile till mid-July', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 28: The government has restricted imports of 10 goods three weeks after banks stopped issuing letters of credit (LCs) for importing vehicles and luxury goods.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 28: The government has restricted imports of 10 goods three weeks after banks stopped issuing letters of credit (LCs) for importing vehicles and luxury goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies published a notice in the Nepal Gazette on Tuesday banning the import of 10 different items. The ban will remain in place until mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government's decision to ban imports indicates that the pressure on foreign exchange reserves has not abated. To discourage the import of luxury goods, the government has been adopting measures such as keeping 50 to 100 percent cash margin for opening LCs to import dozens of goods while the central bank has directed commercial banks to not opening LCs for luxury goods. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the diplomatic mission will be able to bring imported goods, said Commerce Secretary Ganesh Prasad Pandey.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the diplomatic missions would be allowed to import those items for their own purposes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has said that the ban on liquor import will have a negative impact on the hotel business. HAN's acting president, Binayak Shah, said that the government should reconsider its decision. He said that the tourism sector would be affected if the government did not correct its decision.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had given a 16-point suggestion to the Ministry of Finance on April 3, saying that even the import of essential goods would not be possible if the import of luxury goods was not stopped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the Finance Minister ignored the suggestion, the NRB summoned the chief executive officers of all commercial banks on April 6 and verbally instructed them not to open letters of credit for the import of luxury goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the foreign exchange reserves have decreased to only US$ 9.5 billion. This is enough to support the import of goods and services for six and a half months. The ban on imports is likely to affect revenue collection. In April, the finance ministry had set a target of raising Rs 46 billion from customs duty but was able to collect only Rs 40 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the government has banned the import of vehicles run on petrol and diesel, electric vehicles can be imported without restrictions. Similarly, import of motorcycles of less than 250 cc has not been stopped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepal Gazette mentions that no ban will be imposed on the goods which have already been processed for import through banking medium before April 27.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhruva Thapa, president of NADA Auto Mobiles Association of Nepal, said that it would be difficult to get vehicles in the market after two and a half months if the ban on import of vehicles is not lifted.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that customers will not be able to get the vehicle they want in June, July and August if the LC is not opened by mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-28', 'modified' => '2022-04-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14927', 'image' => '20220428025847_nepal-major-imports-update.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-28 14:57:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15163', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Women Entrepreneurs Summit Concludes', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) on Saturday organized the Young Entrepreneurs Summit Women (YESW) with the aim of promoting women entrepreneurship.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 25: The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) on Saturday organized the Young Entrepreneurs Summit Women (YESW) with the aim of promoting women entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The forum has been organizing this summit since 2013. The summit was inaugurated by Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal and attended by young entrepreneurs involved in agriculture, construction, cottage and small business, physical exercise, consulting firms and research. The students who aspire to become entrepreneurs also attended the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The slogan of this year's summit was 'Beyond Barriers'. The conference was sponsored by the International Labor Organization (ILO), Rastriya Banijya Bank and United Insurance. The conference was attended by more than 150 entrepreneurs, experts, new entrepreneurs and students.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs including Sangita Pandey from Aama Ko Achar, President of Federation of Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nepal Niru Rayamajhi Khatri, and Vidushi Rana from Kiran Shoes Manufacturer Pvt. Ltd. (Goldstar) attended the summit. Companies led by women and young entrepreneurs and new startups including Bihe-Nepal, Educase, Makkuse, Suiro also participated in the summit. The programme was coordinated by Sahara Joshi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-25', 'modified' => '2022-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14905', 'image' => '20220425023845_1650844188.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-25 14:37:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15161', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Nepal's Export Increases 69.44 Percent in Nine Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal witnessed an increase in export by 69.44 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22) as compared to the corresponding period of the last year (FY 2020/21). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: Nepal witnessed an increase in export by 69.44 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22) as compared to the corresponding period of the last year (FY 2020/21). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the data unveiled by the Department of Customs, the export of domestic products since mid-July, 2021 to mid-April was recorded at over Rs 160.57 billion against Rs 94.76 billion during the same period last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, import has also increased by 31.97 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to last year. The imports during the review period this year stood at more than Rs 1466.66 billion against Rs 1,111.39 billion recorded during the same period of last fiscal year. </span><br /> Nepal's <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">trade deficit went up by 28.47 per cent to over Rs 1450 billion during the first nine months of the current fiscal year against Rs 1016.62 billion during the same period of last fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the trade data of the first nine months of the current fiscal unveiled by the Department, Nepal imported petroleum products including diesel, petrol and cooking gas worth Rs 200 billion. The country imported diesel worth Rs 105 billion followed by petrol worth Rs 47.23 billion. LPG (cooking gas) worth over Rs 45.34 billion was imported during the review period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, soybean oil worth Rs 45.58 billion, palm oil worth over Rs 32.4 billion, vaccines worth over Rs 31.85 billion and gold worth over Rs 28.54 billion were imported during the nine months. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the data, goods worth over Rs 1,466 billion were imported from 162 countries during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal imported goods of highest amount worth Rs 917 billion from India while it exported goods worth Rs 127 billion during the nine months to the southern neighbour. Nepal's trade deficit with India during this period stood at Rs 773 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China is the second largest trade partner of Nepal. The country imported goods worth over Rs 211 billion from China whereas it exported goods worth Rs 628 million during the first nine months. Nepal has trade deficit amounting to Rs 210 billion with China. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-25', 'modified' => '2022-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14903', 'image' => '20220425102326_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-25 08:20:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15129', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'NCC to Collaborate with FHAN to Export Handicraft Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 19: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) have decided to collaborate with each other for the exports of handicraft items. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 19: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) have decided to collaborate with each other for the exports of handicraft items. NCC and FHAN signed an agreement in this regard on Monday. The two parties decided to collaborate with each other in a bid to reduce the country’s trade deficit by promoting export of handicraft items.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NCC and FHAN decided to cooperate with each other to promote exports stating that handicraft materials have played an important role in reducing trade deficit and also established Nepal's identity in the international market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NCC Chairman Rajendra Malla said that they would work hand in hand with the FHAN to facilitate the export of handicraft items and to remove the problems in customs clearance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a program organized at the NCC building at Jamal, Kathmandu to welcome the officials of the federation, Chairman Malla said that he will do his best ensure the entry of Nepali handicraft products in international exhibitions</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Malla said, “Export promotion of handicrafts is the strongest option right now to reduce the huge trade deficit.” He said that the handicraft industry has been creating employment opportunities on a large scale and has been helping in the preservation and promotion of culture through skills and arts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The handicraft industry has not only promoted and protected indigenous skills but also helped establish cultural identity,” he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NCC, Nepali handicrafts are exported to the United States, European countries, Japan, China, India, Korea and other Asian countries. Malla said that high financial benefits can be reaped if the state provides support with concessions. He said that he would take initiative to facilitate customs clearance for the export of handicraft items, provide relief to businessmen and other policy reforms.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">President of FHAN, Prachanda Shakya said that there are various policy issues including customs clearance for the export of handicrafts produced by them. He complained that even though the government provided relief to the exporting businessmen, the genuine businessmen are still having a hard time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shakya requested the NCC to facilitate exports. In response, Malla said that he would do his best to promote handicraft exports. An agreement was reached between the NCC and the FHAN to take initiative with the government for policy reforms before the next budget.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-19', 'modified' => '2022-04-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14871', 'image' => '20220419033958_handicraft.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-19 15:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15111', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Women Entrepreneurs to get Loan Facility for Export ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: The government has made arrangements to provide loans for exports to women entrepreneurs who have not been able to get loans from banks and financial institutions for their business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 15: The government has made arrangements to provide loans for exports to women entrepreneurs who have not been able to get loans from banks and financial institutions for their business. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By amending the Industrial Enterprises Act 2076, a provision has been made for women entrepreneurs to get a minimum of Rs 500,000 to maximum of Rs 5 million loan depending on the type of industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government published the revised Industrial Enterprise Act in the Nepal Gazette on April 4, 2022 by including the new provision. This has opened the door for women entrepreneurs to get loans for export. Although the previous arrangement also had provision for such loans, the limit of loan amount was not fixed depending on the nature of the industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the amended regulations published in the Nepal Gazette, women entrepreneurs will get export credit on the basis of the financial condition of the business. The amended act states that in order to get a loan for export, at least 30 percent of the total production of the last fiscal year has to be exported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The amended regulations have set a credit limit for women entrepreneurs for additional facilities. According to the new regulations, small entrepreneurs will get export loans of Rs 500,000, cottage industry Rs 1.5 million, small entrepreneurs Rs 2 million, medium entrepreneurs Rs 3 million and large entrepreneurs Rs 5 million. The loan will be provided through the banking system. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sarada Rijal, a woman entrepreneur, said that the revised system would encourage women entrepreneurs to venture out, especially in export-oriented industries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the government has also invested in the industrial villages targeting women she said that this policy would further encourage women entrepreneurs. According to her, a women’s industrial village is also being made in Panchkhal of Kavre. The process of setting up the village started after the government announced the plan to open an industrial village in all seven provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs say that the industrial village to develop women entrepreneurship and the current export credit policy will help women entrepreneurs. They stressed on the need to make the process of getting loans simple and easy for women entrepreneurs, who are still finding it difficult to get access to business loans. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-15', 'modified' => '2022-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14853', 'image' => '20220415021513_women.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-15 14:14:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15101', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Cargo Trucks Stopped at India Border Start Arriving in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: Trucks and containers with goods stopped at the border by Indian customs have started entering Nepal through Biratnagar customs from Tuesday evening.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 14: Trucks and containers with goods stopped at the border by Indian customs have started entering Nepal through Biratnagar customs from Tuesday evening.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hundreds of cargo vehicles were stopped across the Biratnagar border after the Central Customs Department of India imposed new rules on goods supplied to Nepal from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">More than 300 cargo vehicles were stopped at the Jogbani area on the Indian side of the border across Biratnagar after Indian customs suspected that the goods being supplied to Nepal from India for industrial and commercial purposes could be used to make weapons or explosives.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devaki Sharma, president of the Biratnagar Customs Agents Association, said, "Many cargo vehicles were stopped towards the Indian side. Those cargo have started coming since Tuesday.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vehicles carrying various chemicals, vitamins and herbs, medical powders, medical chemicals, vaccines, insulin, and animal vaccines were stopped by India. Likewise, the Indian side banned adhesive gum and turpentine class items, PVC sets, plastic materials, glass and glassware, zinc, nickel, sulfur, and iron window doors.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, industrial machinery, electrical goods, motor parts, and medical equipment were also stopped. The customs agents' association said that the company, industry, or firm supplying goods to Nepal should now onwards fill a form stating the purpose for which the goods are being exported. The goods are then subject to approval by the Indian customs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to chairperson Sharma, after the imposition of the new rules by India, the agents of Biratnagar Customs approached the Assistant Commissioner of Jogbani Customs, Ashok Das, to facilitate export. As per a circular issued by the Central Customs Department of India, the export of goods has been tightened. Chief of the Biratnagar Customs, Tara Prasad Sapkota, said that the team facilitated the import after receiving information that the goods coming to Nepal were stopped in India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-14', 'modified' => '2022-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14843', 'image' => '20220414125654_ICP Biratnagar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-14 12:55:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15095', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Birgunj Customs Records Zero Import of Vehicles ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj customs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj customs. Birgunj customs has not recorded a single import of vehicle since the past one week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 1,000 new vehicles are parked at the customs’ yard and Raxaul. However, no importer has obtained vehicle clearance pass in a week, informed Harihar Poudel, chief customs officer of the Birgunj customs office.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Birgunj is the main entry point of vehicles. Customs officials said that the customs clearance of vehicles has been stopped due to the tight provision imposed by Nepal Rastra Bank in importing luxury items amid liquidity crisis in the banking system.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even the vehicles that have arrived at the customs yard aren't inspected. Banks have stopped giving loans for cars. The importers have parked their imported vehicles in the customs yard and the warehouse of Raxaul, a border town of India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has tightened imports of luxury goods as remittances have declined while imports were rising. Stating that there is pressure on foreign exchange reserves, the government has adopted a policy to reduce imports.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks have stopped issuing LCs even for other items. Entrepreneur Rajesh Kyal says this has created confusion in conducting business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Customs Officer Poudel informed that the import of non-luxury items from Birgunj has also decreased significantly. Along with the decline in imports, the revenue of Birgunj customs has also been affected. Poudel said that the revenue target for the current fiscal year 2078/79 will not be met.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-13', 'modified' => '2022-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14837', 'image' => '20220413025019_Birgunj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-13 14:49:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15093', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Rice Industrialists Call for Encouraging Domestic Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: Rice and oil industrialists have urged the government to encourage domestic products by tightening the import of food grains from foreign countries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 13: Rice and oil industrialists have urged the government to encourage domestic products by tightening the import of food grains from foreign countries. A delegation including office bearers of the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry recently met and drew the attention of the Director General of the Department of Customs Kamal Prasad Bhattarai regarding the issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The delegation led by the association’s Chairperson Dr Subodh Kumar Gupta demanded that rice industries within the country be saved by discouraging the import of rice from foreign countries. He suggested an increment in customs fees so as to discourage the import. He urged the Director General Bhattarai to impose one percent customs duty on the import of paddy grains and 15 percent on rice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They have also demanded an increment in custom duty on the import of pulses. They suggested 20 percent custom fees on the import of ready-made pulses. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-13', 'modified' => '2022-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14835', 'image' => '20220413115345_ricee.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-13 11:53:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15077', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'A Tale of Success: Nepali Beekeeper Exporting Honey to Japan and China', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: Mahalakshmi Shrestha, who started producing honey for the domestic market of Nepal about 27 years ago, is now exporting the product to Japan.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prashant Khadka</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 10: Mahalakshmi Shrestha, who started producing honey for the domestic market of Nepal about 27 years ago, is now exporting the product to Japan. Her products 'TBS Pure Honey' and 'KASTI Himalayan Honey' are now exported to Japan, China and other countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 10 percent of the 12 tons of honey Shrestha produces annually at her company named ‘Beekeeping Shop’ is exported to Japan and China. Nepali honey is in good demand even in European countries as the product is considered better in quality as compared to foreign products. However, she says that the European Union (EU) did not include Nepal in the list of third countries for importing honey, because of its flaw in implementing the National Residue Monitoring Plan (NRMP). That is the reason Shrestha says she could not export her honey to European countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha’s company is producing honey by rearing bees in 80 hives in Chitwan and Dang. Besides, the company is working with beekeepers of Kailali, Pyuthan, Dang, Bardiya and other districts to check the quality and send it to the market with branding. Honey is sold in Nepal from her own Beekeeping Shop, online shop Daraz and Salesberry department store. Shrestha said that her Beekeeping Shop itself is looking after the foreign exports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha said that organic honey in her company is made by bees that suck the flowers of plants like Indian butter tree, mustard, lychee and buckwheat. The price of honey of both the brands ranges from Rs 900 to Rs 1,200 per kg depending on the quality. Shrestha said, “I started my business with a small investment of around Rs 100,000. I continued to work hard even though the income was not good. But gradually, customers started frequenting after tasting the honey and the market size increased along with the profit as well.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha expressed that the practice of eating honey in urban areas of Nepal was not developed when she planned to open the Beekeeping Shop. She said, “My research shows that few people used to buy and eat foreign brands of honey.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A student of botany, she was conducting research on the quality of Nepali honey and modern beekeeping in the SNV project run with the help of the Dutch government at that time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that she started working about 27 years ago after seeing good potential of commercial beekeeping in Nepal following the same research. At present, 35 people including 30 beekeepers and 5 workers are employed in the business. She estimated that only 10 to 15 percent of the total beekeeping potential has been achieved in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha recalled, “When I started the Beekeeping Shop at Man Bhawan in Lalitpur, my family, friends and relatives tried to discourage me saying that it didn’t suit me doing such work, being a bachelor's degree holder in botany. But I did not give up. I didn't start this job because I couldn't get a job. I chose to do this work of my free will and continued to work hard in the same direction, while ensuring the quality of the product, and it made me a successful woman entrepreneur today.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-10', 'modified' => '2022-04-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14819', 'image' => '20220410070241_tbs-kasti-2_orig.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-10 19:01:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15063', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'House Panel Instructs Government to Halt Import of Betel Nuts', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts. A meeting of the Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) has directed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to stop issuing permits to import betel nuts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The meeting held discussion on Wednesday and concluded that the import of betel nuts was not necessary at a time when the country’s economy was reeling under crisis and the foreign exchange reserves were declining, informed the committee chair Bimal Prasad Shreevastav. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We have instructed the government not to issue permits to import betel nuts,” said Shreevastav, adding, “The committee has decided to monitor the situation of import and usage of betel nuts through a field visit.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that the committee will visit the industries that are involved in importing betel nuts for a study and then hold further discussions. The committee said it had no objection to the import of peas and black pepper.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepali Congress lawmaker Prakash Rasaili insists that the government has been presenting fake data about the import of betel nuts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We had sought the government’s explanation regarding the demand of betel nuts. But the government officials lied to us by hiding the details,” said Rasaili.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He says that the committee decided to halt the import of betel nuts after the government employees presented fake data. Other lawmakers were also in favour of banning the import of betel nuts which are primarily used to make tobacco-related products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided to allow the imports of betel nuts, peas and black pepper about two months ago. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has already published a notice in the Nepal Gazette stating that the ban on import of these items has been lifted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although these items are imported for industrial purpose, it is believed that the products are smuggled to India. A large amount of foreign currency is spent in importing these items. The government has been accused of lifting the ban on import of betel nuts in collusion with businessmen for the sake of money. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-07', 'modified' => '2022-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14805', 'image' => '20220407065951_supari.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-07 18:59:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15062', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Import of Pesticides-Laden Vegetables Continues Unabated', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has adopted a policy of importing vegetables, fruits and other agricultural commodities from India into Nepal only after measuring the residue of pesticides.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 7: The government has adopted a policy of importing vegetables, fruits and other agricultural commodities from India into Nepal only after measuring the residue of pesticides. However, such perishable items are entering the country every day without checking pesticide, against the government’s policy.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 45 percent of vegetables and 75 percent of fruits consumed in the Kathmandu Valley are imported from India. However, due to the weakness of the concerned authorities, there is a risk of consumption of poisonous vegetables and fruits. Statistics show that traders tried to import 12 trucks of pesticide-laden items including vegetables, fruits and nuts from Bhairahawa checkpoint alone into the country in the last three months.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Bhairahawa Customs Office, 1600 trucks entered the area from last January to the second week of April. Twelve of them were sent back after finding pesticides in high amounts in the imported vegetables and fruits. According to Tirtha Raj Paswan, Information Officer at Bhairahawa Customs Office, toxic residues were found in amounts higher than acceptable standards in tangerine, orange, grape, melon, potato, onion, mushroom, banana among other items during routine check and they were sent back to India.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vegetables and fruits are considered edible if the inhibition rate is less than 35 percent. If the inhibition rate is 35 to 45 percent, such vegetables are considered edible only after the inhibition rate drops to 35 percent during retest after quarantining for at least 5 days. Officials say that if the inhibition rate does not reach the specified limit within that period, it is sent back.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, which is responsible for testing the amount of toxins present in the food entering through the checkpoint, complains that it has not been able to work effectively due to inadequate staffing.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Senior Food Research Officer of the department Bimal Kumar Dahal said that the work is not effective as there is not enough staff at the office. “Our office in Bhairahawa has a total of 11 employees. The 11 employees are responsible for testing the quality of food produced in the domestic market as well as testing pesticides on commodities imported from India,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He added that the higher workload on both fronts due to the small number of employees has reduced the effectiveness of checking. He said, “There is a risk of poisonous vegetables entering the country if the results are not obtained in time. So far, no applicants have applied for the vacancies.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Government of Nepal is setting up a separate pesticide laboratory at the checkpoints to test toxins on imported goods. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has given the responsibility to the department since last October. Hundreds of samples are brought to the food offices in Butwal, Bhairahawa, Kapilbastu and Birgunj every day for testing. However, due to lack of staff, the quality of work is constantly compromised.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Doctors say that eating poisonous vegetables and fruits has adverse effects on human health. Dr Arjun Budhathoki, cardiologist at Bir Hospital says that the toxins used in vegetables and fruits affect all parts of the human body and should be avoided at all costs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is no part in our body that is not affected by toxins. Consumption of highly toxic vegetables mainly causes heart, skin, nerve related diseases, menstrual and reproductive problems in women and also plays a role in all types of cancers,” said Dr Budhathoki. Therefore, to avoid this, vegetables should be washed at least 5 times with clean or salt water or water mixed with potassium.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-07', 'modified' => '2022-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14804', 'image' => '20220407045825_p02-120209-78.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-07 16:57:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15055', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Flower Import up as Export Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Imports of flowers have skyrocketed in recent years despite the country being declared 90 percent self-reliant on flower production.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 6: Imports of flowers have skyrocketed in recent years despite the country being declared 90 percent self-reliant on flower production. On the other hand, data show that the export of flowers is declining continuously.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Floriculture Association of Nepal, the country imported flowers worth Rs 385.3 million in the fiscal year 2077/78 alone. Meanwhile, export was limited to Rs 4.8 million. Businessmen say that exports have declined due to the decline in investment in flower business due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2073/74, flower import amounted to Rs 113.6 million and export amounted to Rs 36.5 million. Since then, imports have been steadily rising while exports have been shrinking. Looking at the data for the first eight months of the current fiscal year (July-March), it can be seen that flowers and flower products worth Rs 178.46 million have been imported into the country. Exports amounted to Rs 33.78 million during the period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Min Bahadur Tamang, president of the association, considers the reason for decline in exports last year to the failure of florists to produce exportable flowers due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that about a decade ago, Nepal exported flowers worth up to Rs 190 million annually to European countries as well as the United States and Australia. He said that international demand for flowers could not be met due to insufficient investment in the flower business last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, until a few years ago, the demand for rose produced in Nepal used to be huge in the world market. Tamang said that export has declined due to the inability to supply quality flowers as per the demand and impact of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He added that the state should take responsibility to create an environment for large investment in flower business to increase exports. Tamang said, “NRB has adopted a policy that allows loans up to Rs 50 million for floriculture. However, this investment is too small to produce exportable flowers. Therefore, it is important for the state to pay attention to such things.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Prakash Kumar Sanjel also agrees with Tamang. He said that the concessional loan announced by NRB is insufficient to produce exportable flowers by investing in agriculture. He informed that a work procedure for the increment for the loan from Rs 50 million to Rs 500 million, depending on the nature of the business, has already been sent to the NRB and the Ministry of Finance. Sanjel says that the government should set up a separate body to look after the flower business to increase exports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr Gunakar Bhatt, the spokesperson of NRB, says that procedures should be amended in order to implement the recommendation of the ministry. He said that NRB alone cannot do anything if the government does not amends the working procedure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 700 people including entrepreneurs, businessmen and farmers were involved in the flower business with an investment of over Rs 6 billion in 43 districts before the pandemic. According to the association, the number of farmers and entrepreneurs has decreased by about 10 percent after the onset of the pandemic. Similarly, the association is also aware that more than 30,000 square kilometers of land used for floriculture is barren and other lands have not been able to produce at full capacity.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-06', 'modified' => '2022-04-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14797', 'image' => '20220406021821_flower.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-06 14:17:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$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] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15190', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Nepal Exports Tea worth Rs 2 Billion', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 29: Nepal has exported tea worth Rs 2 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year while the country has imported tea worth Rs 80 million during the review period.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 29: Nepal has exported tea worth Rs 2 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year while the country has imported tea worth Rs 80 million during the review period.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal, where other goods are imported in large quantities, has made good progress in exporting tea. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the Department of Customs, Nepal has imported 183 metric tonnes of tea worth Rs 79.3 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. During the same period, 9,017 metric tons of tea worth Rs 2.36 billion was exported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As Nepal's tea is considered to be of high quality, its demand is high in various countries like India, China, Sri Lanka, the USA, Australia and Europe. Therefore, the graph of tea export is higher than other commodities, said Dr Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, executive director of the National Tea and Coffee Development Board. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even in the previous year, export of tea was better than imports. Nepal imported 218 metric tons of tea worth Rs 77.3 million in FY 2076/77 and exported 11,185 tons of tea worth Rs 2.78 billion. In FY 2077/78, 346 metric tons of tea worth Rs 151.31 million were imported and 11,920 metric tons of tea worth Rs 3.79 billion were exported. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Bhattarai says that the export of tea can make a significant contribution to reduce the growing trade deficit if stakeholders focus on the quality of tea.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the board, tea was cultivated in 16,917 hectares of land in Nepal in the fiscal year 2077/78. A total of 23,745 metric tons of tea was produced during the period. Although the current year's figures are not yet ready, the board estimates that production will increase by about 10 percent. More than 16,000 farmers and more than 60,000 workers are involved in tea farming in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepali tea is in high demand in the world market and is being sold at a high price. However, more than 90 percent of exports go to India. Tea producers say that they are forced to sell tea at lower prices in India. Due to this, tea farming business has not been profitable in Nepal. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Binay Sharma, project coordinator of Nepal Increase Sustainable Tea Export Project, said that the variety of Nepali tea and technology could not be developed due to lack of research work on production and processing technology. </span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-29', 'modified' => '2022-04-29', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14932', 'image' => '20220429014709_Tea.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-29 13:46:21', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15185', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Government Bans Import of 10 Items including Automobile till mid-July', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 28: The government has restricted imports of 10 goods three weeks after banks stopped issuing letters of credit (LCs) for importing vehicles and luxury goods.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 28: The government has restricted imports of 10 goods three weeks after banks stopped issuing letters of credit (LCs) for importing vehicles and luxury goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies published a notice in the Nepal Gazette on Tuesday banning the import of 10 different items. The ban will remain in place until mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government's decision to ban imports indicates that the pressure on foreign exchange reserves has not abated. To discourage the import of luxury goods, the government has been adopting measures such as keeping 50 to 100 percent cash margin for opening LCs to import dozens of goods while the central bank has directed commercial banks to not opening LCs for luxury goods. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">However, the diplomatic mission will be able to bring imported goods, said Commerce Secretary Ganesh Prasad Pandey.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that the diplomatic missions would be allowed to import those items for their own purposes.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has said that the ban on liquor import will have a negative impact on the hotel business. HAN's acting president, Binayak Shah, said that the government should reconsider its decision. He said that the tourism sector would be affected if the government did not correct its decision.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had given a 16-point suggestion to the Ministry of Finance on April 3, saying that even the import of essential goods would not be possible if the import of luxury goods was not stopped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">After the Finance Minister ignored the suggestion, the NRB summoned the chief executive officers of all commercial banks on April 6 and verbally instructed them not to open letters of credit for the import of luxury goods.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the foreign exchange reserves have decreased to only US$ 9.5 billion. This is enough to support the import of goods and services for six and a half months. The ban on imports is likely to affect revenue collection. In April, the finance ministry had set a target of raising Rs 46 billion from customs duty but was able to collect only Rs 40 billion.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although the government has banned the import of vehicles run on petrol and diesel, electric vehicles can be imported without restrictions. Similarly, import of motorcycles of less than 250 cc has not been stopped.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Nepal Gazette mentions that no ban will be imposed on the goods which have already been processed for import through banking medium before April 27.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhruva Thapa, president of NADA Auto Mobiles Association of Nepal, said that it would be difficult to get vehicles in the market after two and a half months if the ban on import of vehicles is not lifted.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that customers will not be able to get the vehicle they want in June, July and August if the LC is not opened by mid-July.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-28', 'modified' => '2022-04-28', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14927', 'image' => '20220428025847_nepal-major-imports-update.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-28 14:57:26', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15163', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Women Entrepreneurs Summit Concludes', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) on Saturday organized the Young Entrepreneurs Summit Women (YESW) with the aim of promoting women entrepreneurship.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 25: The Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) on Saturday organized the Young Entrepreneurs Summit Women (YESW) with the aim of promoting women entrepreneurship.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The forum has been organizing this summit since 2013. The summit was inaugurated by Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal and attended by young entrepreneurs involved in agriculture, construction, cottage and small business, physical exercise, consulting firms and research. The students who aspire to become entrepreneurs also attended the programme.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The slogan of this year's summit was 'Beyond Barriers'. The conference was sponsored by the International Labor Organization (ILO), Rastriya Banijya Bank and United Insurance. The conference was attended by more than 150 entrepreneurs, experts, new entrepreneurs and students.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs including Sangita Pandey from Aama Ko Achar, President of Federation of Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nepal Niru Rayamajhi Khatri, and Vidushi Rana from Kiran Shoes Manufacturer Pvt. Ltd. (Goldstar) attended the summit. Companies led by women and young entrepreneurs and new startups including Bihe-Nepal, Educase, Makkuse, Suiro also participated in the summit. The programme was coordinated by Sahara Joshi.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-25', 'modified' => '2022-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14905', 'image' => '20220425023845_1650844188.Clipboard10.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-25 14:37:50', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15161', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Nepal's Export Increases 69.44 Percent in Nine Months ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 25: Nepal witnessed an increase in export by 69.44 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22) as compared to the corresponding period of the last year (FY 2020/21). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 25: Nepal witnessed an increase in export by 69.44 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22) as compared to the corresponding period of the last year (FY 2020/21). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the data unveiled by the Department of Customs, the export of domestic products since mid-July, 2021 to mid-April was recorded at over Rs 160.57 billion against Rs 94.76 billion during the same period last year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, import has also increased by 31.97 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to last year. The imports during the review period this year stood at more than Rs 1466.66 billion against Rs 1,111.39 billion recorded during the same period of last fiscal year. </span><br /> Nepal's <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">trade deficit went up by 28.47 per cent to over Rs 1450 billion during the first nine months of the current fiscal year against Rs 1016.62 billion during the same period of last fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">According to the trade data of the first nine months of the current fiscal unveiled by the Department, Nepal imported petroleum products including diesel, petrol and cooking gas worth Rs 200 billion. The country imported diesel worth Rs 105 billion followed by petrol worth Rs 47.23 billion. LPG (cooking gas) worth over Rs 45.34 billion was imported during the review period. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, soybean oil worth Rs 45.58 billion, palm oil worth over Rs 32.4 billion, vaccines worth over Rs 31.85 billion and gold worth over Rs 28.54 billion were imported during the nine months. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the data, goods worth over Rs 1,466 billion were imported from 162 countries during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal imported goods of highest amount worth Rs 917 billion from India while it exported goods worth Rs 127 billion during the nine months to the southern neighbour. Nepal's trade deficit with India during this period stood at Rs 773 billion. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">China is the second largest trade partner of Nepal. The country imported goods worth over Rs 211 billion from China whereas it exported goods worth Rs 628 million during the first nine months. Nepal has trade deficit amounting to Rs 210 billion with China. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-25', 'modified' => '2022-04-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14903', 'image' => '20220425102326_Trade.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-25 08:20:55', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15129', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'NCC to Collaborate with FHAN to Export Handicraft Products', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 19: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) have decided to collaborate with each other for the exports of handicraft items. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 19: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) have decided to collaborate with each other for the exports of handicraft items. NCC and FHAN signed an agreement in this regard on Monday. The two parties decided to collaborate with each other in a bid to reduce the country’s trade deficit by promoting export of handicraft items.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NCC and FHAN decided to cooperate with each other to promote exports stating that handicraft materials have played an important role in reducing trade deficit and also established Nepal's identity in the international market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">NCC Chairman Rajendra Malla said that they would work hand in hand with the FHAN to facilitate the export of handicraft items and to remove the problems in customs clearance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Speaking at a program organized at the NCC building at Jamal, Kathmandu to welcome the officials of the federation, Chairman Malla said that he will do his best ensure the entry of Nepali handicraft products in international exhibitions</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Malla said, “Export promotion of handicrafts is the strongest option right now to reduce the huge trade deficit.” He said that the handicraft industry has been creating employment opportunities on a large scale and has been helping in the preservation and promotion of culture through skills and arts. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The handicraft industry has not only promoted and protected indigenous skills but also helped establish cultural identity,” he added. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the NCC, Nepali handicrafts are exported to the United States, European countries, Japan, China, India, Korea and other Asian countries. Malla said that high financial benefits can be reaped if the state provides support with concessions. He said that he would take initiative to facilitate customs clearance for the export of handicraft items, provide relief to businessmen and other policy reforms.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">President of FHAN, Prachanda Shakya said that there are various policy issues including customs clearance for the export of handicrafts produced by them. He complained that even though the government provided relief to the exporting businessmen, the genuine businessmen are still having a hard time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shakya requested the NCC to facilitate exports. In response, Malla said that he would do his best to promote handicraft exports. An agreement was reached between the NCC and the FHAN to take initiative with the government for policy reforms before the next budget.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-19', 'modified' => '2022-04-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14871', 'image' => '20220419033958_handicraft.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-19 15:39:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15111', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Women Entrepreneurs to get Loan Facility for Export ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 15: The government has made arrangements to provide loans for exports to women entrepreneurs who have not been able to get loans from banks and financial institutions for their business. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 15: The government has made arrangements to provide loans for exports to women entrepreneurs who have not been able to get loans from banks and financial institutions for their business. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">By amending the Industrial Enterprises Act 2076, a provision has been made for women entrepreneurs to get a minimum of Rs 500,000 to maximum of Rs 5 million loan depending on the type of industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government published the revised Industrial Enterprise Act in the Nepal Gazette on April 4, 2022 by including the new provision. This has opened the door for women entrepreneurs to get loans for export. Although the previous arrangement also had provision for such loans, the limit of loan amount was not fixed depending on the nature of the industry. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the amended regulations published in the Nepal Gazette, women entrepreneurs will get export credit on the basis of the financial condition of the business. The amended act states that in order to get a loan for export, at least 30 percent of the total production of the last fiscal year has to be exported. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The amended regulations have set a credit limit for women entrepreneurs for additional facilities. According to the new regulations, small entrepreneurs will get export loans of Rs 500,000, cottage industry Rs 1.5 million, small entrepreneurs Rs 2 million, medium entrepreneurs Rs 3 million and large entrepreneurs Rs 5 million. The loan will be provided through the banking system. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Sarada Rijal, a woman entrepreneur, said that the revised system would encourage women entrepreneurs to venture out, especially in export-oriented industries. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Stating that the government has also invested in the industrial villages targeting women she said that this policy would further encourage women entrepreneurs. According to her, a women’s industrial village is also being made in Panchkhal of Kavre. The process of setting up the village started after the government announced the plan to open an industrial village in all seven provinces.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Entrepreneurs say that the industrial village to develop women entrepreneurship and the current export credit policy will help women entrepreneurs. They stressed on the need to make the process of getting loans simple and easy for women entrepreneurs, who are still finding it difficult to get access to business loans. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-15', 'modified' => '2022-04-15', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14853', 'image' => '20220415021513_women.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-15 14:14:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15101', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Cargo Trucks Stopped at India Border Start Arriving in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 14: Trucks and containers with goods stopped at the border by Indian customs have started entering Nepal through Biratnagar customs from Tuesday evening.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 14: Trucks and containers with goods stopped at the border by Indian customs have started entering Nepal through Biratnagar customs from Tuesday evening.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hundreds of cargo vehicles were stopped across the Biratnagar border after the Central Customs Department of India imposed new rules on goods supplied to Nepal from India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">More than 300 cargo vehicles were stopped at the Jogbani area on the Indian side of the border across Biratnagar after Indian customs suspected that the goods being supplied to Nepal from India for industrial and commercial purposes could be used to make weapons or explosives.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Devaki Sharma, president of the Biratnagar Customs Agents Association, said, "Many cargo vehicles were stopped towards the Indian side. Those cargo have started coming since Tuesday.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vehicles carrying various chemicals, vitamins and herbs, medical powders, medical chemicals, vaccines, insulin, and animal vaccines were stopped by India. Likewise, the Indian side banned adhesive gum and turpentine class items, PVC sets, plastic materials, glass and glassware, zinc, nickel, sulfur, and iron window doors.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the customs office, industrial machinery, electrical goods, motor parts, and medical equipment were also stopped. The customs agents' association said that the company, industry, or firm supplying goods to Nepal should now onwards fill a form stating the purpose for which the goods are being exported. The goods are then subject to approval by the Indian customs.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to chairperson Sharma, after the imposition of the new rules by India, the agents of Biratnagar Customs approached the Assistant Commissioner of Jogbani Customs, Ashok Das, to facilitate export. As per a circular issued by the Central Customs Department of India, the export of goods has been tightened. Chief of the Biratnagar Customs, Tara Prasad Sapkota, said that the team facilitated the import after receiving information that the goods coming to Nepal were stopped in India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""> </span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-14', 'modified' => '2022-04-14', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14843', 'image' => '20220414125654_ICP Biratnagar.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-14 12:55:57', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15095', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Birgunj Customs Records Zero Import of Vehicles ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj customs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj customs. Birgunj customs has not recorded a single import of vehicle since the past one week.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 1,000 new vehicles are parked at the customs’ yard and Raxaul. However, no importer has obtained vehicle clearance pass in a week, informed Harihar Poudel, chief customs officer of the Birgunj customs office.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Birgunj is the main entry point of vehicles. Customs officials said that the customs clearance of vehicles has been stopped due to the tight provision imposed by Nepal Rastra Bank in importing luxury items amid liquidity crisis in the banking system.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Even the vehicles that have arrived at the customs yard aren't inspected. Banks have stopped giving loans for cars. The importers have parked their imported vehicles in the customs yard and the warehouse of Raxaul, a border town of India.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The government has tightened imports of luxury goods as remittances have declined while imports were rising. Stating that there is pressure on foreign exchange reserves, the government has adopted a policy to reduce imports.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Banks have stopped issuing LCs even for other items. Entrepreneur Rajesh Kyal says this has created confusion in conducting business.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Chief Customs Officer Poudel informed that the import of non-luxury items from Birgunj has also decreased significantly. Along with the decline in imports, the revenue of Birgunj customs has also been affected. Poudel said that the revenue target for the current fiscal year 2078/79 will not be met.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-13', 'modified' => '2022-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14837', 'image' => '20220413025019_Birgunj.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-13 14:49:18', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15093', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Rice Industrialists Call for Encouraging Domestic Products ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 13: Rice and oil industrialists have urged the government to encourage domestic products by tightening the import of food grains from foreign countries. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">April 13: Rice and oil industrialists have urged the government to encourage domestic products by tightening the import of food grains from foreign countries. A delegation including office bearers of the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industry recently met and drew the attention of the Director General of the Department of Customs Kamal Prasad Bhattarai regarding the issue. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The delegation led by the association’s Chairperson Dr Subodh Kumar Gupta demanded that rice industries within the country be saved by discouraging the import of rice from foreign countries. He suggested an increment in customs fees so as to discourage the import. He urged the Director General Bhattarai to impose one percent customs duty on the import of paddy grains and 15 percent on rice. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">They have also demanded an increment in custom duty on the import of pulses. They suggested 20 percent custom fees on the import of ready-made pulses. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-13', 'modified' => '2022-04-13', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14835', 'image' => '20220413115345_ricee.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-13 11:53:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15077', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'A Tale of Success: Nepali Beekeeper Exporting Honey to Japan and China', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 10: Mahalakshmi Shrestha, who started producing honey for the domestic market of Nepal about 27 years ago, is now exporting the product to Japan.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Prashant Khadka</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 10: Mahalakshmi Shrestha, who started producing honey for the domestic market of Nepal about 27 years ago, is now exporting the product to Japan. Her products 'TBS Pure Honey' and 'KASTI Himalayan Honey' are now exported to Japan, China and other countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 10 percent of the 12 tons of honey Shrestha produces annually at her company named ‘Beekeeping Shop’ is exported to Japan and China. Nepali honey is in good demand even in European countries as the product is considered better in quality as compared to foreign products. However, she says that the European Union (EU) did not include Nepal in the list of third countries for importing honey, because of its flaw in implementing the National Residue Monitoring Plan (NRMP). That is the reason Shrestha says she could not export her honey to European countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha’s company is producing honey by rearing bees in 80 hives in Chitwan and Dang. Besides, the company is working with beekeepers of Kailali, Pyuthan, Dang, Bardiya and other districts to check the quality and send it to the market with branding. Honey is sold in Nepal from her own Beekeeping Shop, online shop Daraz and Salesberry department store. Shrestha said that her Beekeeping Shop itself is looking after the foreign exports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha said that organic honey in her company is made by bees that suck the flowers of plants like Indian butter tree, mustard, lychee and buckwheat. The price of honey of both the brands ranges from Rs 900 to Rs 1,200 per kg depending on the quality. Shrestha said, “I started my business with a small investment of around Rs 100,000. I continued to work hard even though the income was not good. But gradually, customers started frequenting after tasting the honey and the market size increased along with the profit as well.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha expressed that the practice of eating honey in urban areas of Nepal was not developed when she planned to open the Beekeeping Shop. She said, “My research shows that few people used to buy and eat foreign brands of honey.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A student of botany, she was conducting research on the quality of Nepali honey and modern beekeeping in the SNV project run with the help of the Dutch government at that time.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">She said that she started working about 27 years ago after seeing good potential of commercial beekeeping in Nepal following the same research. At present, 35 people including 30 beekeepers and 5 workers are employed in the business. She estimated that only 10 to 15 percent of the total beekeeping potential has been achieved in Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Shrestha recalled, “When I started the Beekeeping Shop at Man Bhawan in Lalitpur, my family, friends and relatives tried to discourage me saying that it didn’t suit me doing such work, being a bachelor's degree holder in botany. But I did not give up. I didn't start this job because I couldn't get a job. I chose to do this work of my free will and continued to work hard in the same direction, while ensuring the quality of the product, and it made me a successful woman entrepreneur today.”</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-10', 'modified' => '2022-04-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14819', 'image' => '20220410070241_tbs-kasti-2_orig.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-10 19:01:54', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15063', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'House Panel Instructs Government to Halt Import of Betel Nuts', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">April 7: A parliamentary committee has stood against the government’s decision to lift the ban on import of betel nuts. A meeting of the Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) has directed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to stop issuing permits to import betel nuts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The meeting held discussion on Wednesday and concluded that the import of betel nuts was not necessary at a time when the country’s economy was reeling under crisis and the foreign exchange reserves were declining, informed the committee chair Bimal Prasad Shreevastav. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We have instructed the government not to issue permits to import betel nuts,” said Shreevastav, adding, “The committee has decided to monitor the situation of import and usage of betel nuts through a field visit.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that the committee will visit the industries that are involved in importing betel nuts for a study and then hold further discussions. The committee said it had no objection to the import of peas and black pepper.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Nepali Congress lawmaker Prakash Rasaili insists that the government has been presenting fake data about the import of betel nuts.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We had sought the government’s explanation regarding the demand of betel nuts. But the government officials lied to us by hiding the details,” said Rasaili.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He says that the committee decided to halt the import of betel nuts after the government employees presented fake data. Other lawmakers were also in favour of banning the import of betel nuts which are primarily used to make tobacco-related products.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A meeting of the Council of Ministers had decided to allow the imports of betel nuts, peas and black pepper about two months ago. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has already published a notice in the Nepal Gazette stating that the ban on import of these items has been lifted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Although these items are imported for industrial purpose, it is believed that the products are smuggled to India. A large amount of foreign currency is spent in importing these items. The government has been accused of lifting the ban on import of betel nuts in collusion with businessmen for the sake of money. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-07', 'modified' => '2022-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14805', 'image' => '20220407065951_supari.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-07 18:59:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15062', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Import of Pesticides-Laden Vegetables Continues Unabated', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 7: The government has adopted a policy of importing vegetables, fruits and other agricultural commodities from India into Nepal only after measuring the residue of pesticides.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 7: The government has adopted a policy of importing vegetables, fruits and other agricultural commodities from India into Nepal only after measuring the residue of pesticides. However, such perishable items are entering the country every day without checking pesticide, against the government’s policy.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 45 percent of vegetables and 75 percent of fruits consumed in the Kathmandu Valley are imported from India. However, due to the weakness of the concerned authorities, there is a risk of consumption of poisonous vegetables and fruits. Statistics show that traders tried to import 12 trucks of pesticide-laden items including vegetables, fruits and nuts from Bhairahawa checkpoint alone into the country in the last three months.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data provided by the Bhairahawa Customs Office, 1600 trucks entered the area from last January to the second week of April. Twelve of them were sent back after finding pesticides in high amounts in the imported vegetables and fruits. According to Tirtha Raj Paswan, Information Officer at Bhairahawa Customs Office, toxic residues were found in amounts higher than acceptable standards in tangerine, orange, grape, melon, potato, onion, mushroom, banana among other items during routine check and they were sent back to India.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Vegetables and fruits are considered edible if the inhibition rate is less than 35 percent. If the inhibition rate is 35 to 45 percent, such vegetables are considered edible only after the inhibition rate drops to 35 percent during retest after quarantining for at least 5 days. Officials say that if the inhibition rate does not reach the specified limit within that period, it is sent back.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, which is responsible for testing the amount of toxins present in the food entering through the checkpoint, complains that it has not been able to work effectively due to inadequate staffing.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Senior Food Research Officer of the department Bimal Kumar Dahal said that the work is not effective as there is not enough staff at the office. “Our office in Bhairahawa has a total of 11 employees. The 11 employees are responsible for testing the quality of food produced in the domestic market as well as testing pesticides on commodities imported from India,” he said. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He added that the higher workload on both fronts due to the small number of employees has reduced the effectiveness of checking. He said, “There is a risk of poisonous vegetables entering the country if the results are not obtained in time. So far, no applicants have applied for the vacancies.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Government of Nepal is setting up a separate pesticide laboratory at the checkpoints to test toxins on imported goods. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has given the responsibility to the department since last October. Hundreds of samples are brought to the food offices in Butwal, Bhairahawa, Kapilbastu and Birgunj every day for testing. However, due to lack of staff, the quality of work is constantly compromised.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Doctors say that eating poisonous vegetables and fruits has adverse effects on human health. Dr Arjun Budhathoki, cardiologist at Bir Hospital says that the toxins used in vegetables and fruits affect all parts of the human body and should be avoided at all costs. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“There is no part in our body that is not affected by toxins. Consumption of highly toxic vegetables mainly causes heart, skin, nerve related diseases, menstrual and reproductive problems in women and also plays a role in all types of cancers,” said Dr Budhathoki. Therefore, to avoid this, vegetables should be washed at least 5 times with clean or salt water or water mixed with potassium.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-07', 'modified' => '2022-04-08', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14804', 'image' => '20220407045825_p02-120209-78.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-07 16:57:42', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15055', 'article_category_id' => '268', 'title' => 'Flower Import up as Export Declines', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'April 6: Imports of flowers have skyrocketed in recent years despite the country being declared 90 percent self-reliant on flower production.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">April 6: Imports of flowers have skyrocketed in recent years despite the country being declared 90 percent self-reliant on flower production. On the other hand, data show that the export of flowers is declining continuously.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Floriculture Association of Nepal, the country imported flowers worth Rs 385.3 million in the fiscal year 2077/78 alone. Meanwhile, export was limited to Rs 4.8 million. Businessmen say that exports have declined due to the decline in investment in flower business due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2073/74, flower import amounted to Rs 113.6 million and export amounted to Rs 36.5 million. Since then, imports have been steadily rising while exports have been shrinking. Looking at the data for the first eight months of the current fiscal year (July-March), it can be seen that flowers and flower products worth Rs 178.46 million have been imported into the country. Exports amounted to Rs 33.78 million during the period. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Min Bahadur Tamang, president of the association, considers the reason for decline in exports last year to the failure of florists to produce exportable flowers due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that about a decade ago, Nepal exported flowers worth up to Rs 190 million annually to European countries as well as the United States and Australia. He said that international demand for flowers could not be met due to insufficient investment in the flower business last year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to him, until a few years ago, the demand for rose produced in Nepal used to be huge in the world market. Tamang said that export has declined due to the inability to supply quality flowers as per the demand and impact of the pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He added that the state should take responsibility to create an environment for large investment in flower business to increase exports. Tamang said, “NRB has adopted a policy that allows loans up to Rs 50 million for floriculture. However, this investment is too small to produce exportable flowers. Therefore, it is important for the state to pay attention to such things.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Prakash Kumar Sanjel also agrees with Tamang. He said that the concessional loan announced by NRB is insufficient to produce exportable flowers by investing in agriculture. He informed that a work procedure for the increment for the loan from Rs 50 million to Rs 500 million, depending on the nature of the business, has already been sent to the NRB and the Ministry of Finance. Sanjel says that the government should set up a separate body to look after the flower business to increase exports.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dr Gunakar Bhatt, the spokesperson of NRB, says that procedures should be amended in order to implement the recommendation of the ministry. He said that NRB alone cannot do anything if the government does not amends the working procedure.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">About 700 people including entrepreneurs, businessmen and farmers were involved in the flower business with an investment of over Rs 6 billion in 43 districts before the pandemic. According to the association, the number of farmers and entrepreneurs has decreased by about 10 percent after the onset of the pandemic. Similarly, the association is also aware that more than 30,000 square kilometers of land used for floriculture is barren and other lands have not been able to produce at full capacity.</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-04-06', 'modified' => '2022-04-11', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '14797', 'image' => '20220406021821_flower.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-04-06 14:17:34', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, '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
