September 25: Transport entrepreneurs are preparing to open advance bookings for the upcoming festivals from the beginning of October.…
September 25: Transport entrepreneurs are preparing to open advance bookings for the upcoming festivals from the beginning of October.…
September 25: Nepal and China have signed 12 different agreements and one memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to…
September 25: With the publication of Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2080, in the Nepal Gazette, citizenship certificates will now be issued to Non-Resident Nepalis…
September 25: The number of hotels has increased in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, which is a popular tourist destination.…
September 25: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward for support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of…
September 24: Nepali female shooter Slisha Bhandari has set a new national record in 10m air rifle competition.…
Prime Commercial Bank Limited organized a blood donation program on the occasion of its 17th anniversary. In collaboration with Kantipur Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, the bank held the blood donation program at the central office of the bank located in Kamalpokhari,…
Commercial flights from Manthali in Ramechhap district to Lukla have officially commenced from Sunday. Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air have started off regular flights from Manthali Airport, catering primarily to foreign…
September 24: China dominated the opening day of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, winning the first gold and then making a clean sweep in swimming…
September 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that the Government of Nepal will make every possible effort to facilitate and protect Chinese investment and entrepreneurs in Nepal, while calling upon them to take full advantage of the unique opportunity that the country has to offer and explore the benefit from the new avenues that have opened up in…
September 24: The Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced silver medallion coins featuring the image of a 'cow'.…
September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions.…
September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank…
September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in…
September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri…
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">September 25: Transport entrepreneurs are preparing to open advance bookings for the upcoming festivals from the beginning of October. Stakeholders decided to open advance booking in order to manage traffic congestion during the festivals.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A joint meeting of the stakeholders including officials from the Department of Transport Management, Metropolitan Traffic Police Division and transport entrepreneurs held at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport on Friday took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Saroj Sitaula, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs, said that ticket bookings will not be opened until the roads damaged due to floods and landslides are repaired. Although the government has formed a task force for road maintenance, he expressed doubt that the work would be completed within a short span before Dashain.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At present, most of the roads in the country including Narayangadh-Muglin road section, Narayangadh-Butwal road section, Muglin-Pokhara road section, Tokha-Chhare road section, BP Highway are damaged. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Sitaula express concerns that road travel will not be safe if the roads are not repaired, especially during the festive season when there is more traffic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Apart from this, the transport entrepreneurs have also demanded to increase the fares of public vehicles. They argued that the fares need to be revised because of the rise in price of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala formed a task force under the leadership of Uddhav Rijal, director general of the DoTM, on Friday to improve the transport management during the festivals. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The taskforce has been mandated to submit a report within a week with suggestions. After this taskforce studies and submits the report to the ministry, the date of ticket booking will be decided. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Around 100,000 are expected to leave the Kathmandu Valley in about 5,000 vehicles each day ahead of the festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The Dashain festival kicks off on October 15 this year, as per the Vedic Hindu lunar calendar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18817', 'image' => '20230925051953_20191001123102_home going for dashain_passengers of dashain_koteshwor area (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 17:19:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, China Sign 12 Different Agreements during PM Dahal's China Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: Nepal and China have signed 12 different agreements and one memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: Nepal and China have signed 12 different agreements and one memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Concerned officials of Nepal and China signed the agreements and MoU after a meeting between Prime Minister Dahal and his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, at the Great Hall of the People on Monday. Prime Minister Dahal is on a week-long official visit to China since September 23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretaries of the concerned ministries, Nepali Ambassador to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and Chinese officials were present during the occasion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Planning Commission of Nepal and National Development and Reform Commission of China also signed an agreement for collaboration. NPC Vice-Chairperson Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha and Chinese official signed the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a MoU regarding production and distribution of different goods of northern hill region of Nepal signed between Nepal and China in 2017 was exchanged between Nepali Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese official. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, National Development and Reforms Commission of China and Nepal's Finance Ministry signed an agreement for collaboration on the issue of forwarding digital economy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the NDRC of China and Ministry of Forests and Environment of Nepal signed an agreement for collaboration in green financing and low carbon emission. Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese official signed the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal also agreed on the issue of collaboration for agriculture, livestock and fisheries development. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr Rewati Raman Poudel and Chinese official signed the agreement in this regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A MoU has been signed between the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal to form a joint technical working group to review and amend the China Nepal Trade and Payment Agreement reached in 1981. The memorandum of understanding was signed between Commerce and Supply Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and this Chinese counterpart. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, an agreement was reached between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal on a protocol regarding the export of plants for medicinal production from Nepal to China. The protocol was signed between Dr Poudel of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Chinese official. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An agreement has been reached between the Chinese Department of Press and Publication and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to translate and publish ancient texts. The agreement was signed between Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese officials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Nepal and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China reached an agreement to cooperate in the fields of science, technology and innovation. The agreement was signed between Suresh Adhikari, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Chinese officials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Ambassador Shrestha and the Chinese officials on the issues of disaster management, human resources and the Hilsa-Simkot road project. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18816', 'image' => '20230925015509_PRO-KTM-2.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 13:54:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Issue Citizenship Certificates to NRNs', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulations published in Nepal Gazette', 'summary' => 'September 25: With the publication of Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2080, in the Nepal Gazette, citizenship certificates will now be issued to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: With the publication of Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2080, in the Nepal Gazette, citizenship certificates will now be issued to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development on Monday, Chief of Citizenship and Identity Card Management Section at the Home Ministry, Krishna Bahadur Katuwal, shared that this provision has come into effect after the Regulations were published in Nepal Gazette on September 21. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An arrangement has been made to mention non-resident Nepali citizenship certificate in the citizenship provided to non-resident Nepalis. He clarified that those acquiring such type of citizenship certificate would have no political rights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Regulations, those acquiring non-resident Nepali citizenship certificate would have social, cultural and financial rights while arrangement of oath has also made for them, mentioned Katuwal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Regulations has also provision that citizenship could be granted to the citizens above 16 years on the basis of the signature of people's representative if the applicants' father or family refuse to sign for the citizenship certificate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, citizenship certificate could be provided to children brought up at government certified orphanages based on the recommendation of local governments. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the new Regulations have a provision that citizenship certificate could be granted to those who have already acquired citizenship but willing to change their gender status in the citizenship certificate on the basis of certificate from the Ministry of Health and Population. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18815', 'image' => '20230925025014_citizenship.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 14:49:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '200 New Hotels Added in Thamel', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: The number of hotels has increased in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, which is a popular tourist destination. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 25: The number of hotels has increased in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, which is a popular tourist destination. This is the result of businessmen resuming the plan to build hotels that was put on hold due to Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With the announcement of the government to celebrate 'Nepal Visit Year' in 2020, businessmen had planned to open more hotels and restaurants in Thamel area. The government had announced an ambitious plan to bring 2 million tourists in the tourism year. However, the the Covid-19 pandemic slowed down the tourist activity, and the businessmen stalled their plans. Bhaweshwar Sharma, chairman of Thamel Tourism Development Council informed New Business Age that the number of hotels have increased in the Thamel area as businessmen increased their investment as the Covid-19 pandemic has subsided.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“As the Covid-19 has subsided, the infrastructure development increased rapidly. Some are under construction,” said Sharma. Some of the added hotels include Aloft, Barahi, Agantuk, Kailashkut, and Surya.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma informed that the work of collecting data of various businesses in this area is continuing even after the pandemic. He said, “During the collection of data, it was found that a total of 573 hotels are currently operating in this area. Before the onset of Covid-19, only 373 hotels were operating in this area in 2019." According to him, this number includes five-star to tourist level hotels.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the hotels in this area have the capacity to serve 35,000 tourists on a daily basis. Although the hotel infrastructure has increased, the number of tourists has not increased proportionately though. Before Covid-19, around 5,000 to 7,000 tourists used to visit this area daily, which is around 4,000 to 5,000 at present.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With the increase in the number of tourists coming to the country, the number of people arriving at Thamel has also increased. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“This number is not significant though. Currently the occupancy of the hotels here is 40 to 50 percent. However, we estimate that it will reach 75 percent to 80 percent by the end of the tourist season,” Sharma said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The council is also making necessary preparations for night business in Thamel, providing 24-hour service facilities to the tourists. On Sunday, the council and Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) organized an interaction program in the presence of hoteliers of Thamel area, metropolitan police circle Durbarmarg and police chief of Sohrakhutte.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">General Secretary of HAN, Sajan Shakya, said that cooperation is necessary to create an environment where they can safely visit Thamel. He emphasized that the number of hotels, restaurants, and travel companies increased in this area as compared to the period before Covid-19, and that now there is need for the cooperation between police and businessmen as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, Chaturbhuj Ojha, head of Metropolitan Police Circle, Sohrakhutte said that the police administration is ready to help Thamel tourism and businesses. Ojha added that the police are ready to cooperate as long as the businessmen do not violate the law.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Businessmen should strictly follow the law, let's work under the law rather than taking quick benefits. Let's cooperate in tourism promotion and security,”</span> said Ojha</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18814', 'image' => '20230925123524_20200730023507_20200504104410_20190511105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 12:34:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19085', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Call for Operating Direct Flights from China to Bhairahawa and Pokhara ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward for support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward for support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, he said Nepal's hospitality industry is ready to welcome Chinese tourists, with numerous standard hotels catering to their needs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at the Nepal China Business Summit, held in Beijing on Sunday during the official visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China, he said facilitating cross-border trade and ensuring the smooth movement of goods and people is crucial for bilateral socio-economic integration. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The removal of trade barriers, including non-tariff measures, along with the full implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, will lead to increased mutual benefits from bilateral trade," he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also invited the Chinese business community to invest in Nepal's hydropower sector, both for domestic consumption and export to neighboring countries including China itself. Apart from hydropower, investment in tourism infrastructure, such as cable cars, theme parks, and resorts, holds great promise in Nepal, added Dhakal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has already proven to be a trusted destination for Chinese investment, with Chinese investment accounting for over 35 per cent of the total approved foreign direct investments. Furthermore, China is Nepal's second-largest trading partner. However, while we import 16 per cent of our total goods from China, our exports to China remain minimal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal said Nepal is committed to further opening up to foreign investment, technology transfer, public-private partnerships, and investment-related policies to attract both global and regional FDIs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We anticipate a boost in FDI inflows from China, maintaining China as the largest source of FDI for Nepal,” he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal also said FNCCI, as the apex private sector representative body in Nepal, is always ready to cooperate on all fronts to further promote economic relations between Nepal and China. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18813', 'image' => '20230925115138_20220516125900_1652665732.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 11:50:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19084', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Slisha Bhandari Sets National Record in Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepali female shooter Slisha Bhandari has set a new national record in 10m air rifle competition. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepali female shooter Slisha Bhandari has set a new national record in 10m air rifle competition. She scored a total of 616.9 points in the 19th Asian Games underway in China to set the new national record in her first ever international competition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the record was held by Kalpana Pariyar. Pariyar had set the record in the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. She had set the record with 616.8 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhandari scored 101.1, 110.3 and 102.5 points in the first three rounds. Likewise, she scored 105, 104.8 and 103.2 points in the next three stages. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It may be noted that 19-year-old Bhandari started her sports journey from the 9th National Games meet held in Gandaki province last year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => 'asian games, slisha, bhandari, shooting, air, rifle, national, record', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18812', 'image' => '20230925110535_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 11:04:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19083', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prime Commercial Bank Organizes Blood Donation to Mark Its 17th Anniversary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Commercial Bank Limited organized a blood donation program on the occasion of its 17th anniversary. In collaboration with Kantipur Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, the bank held the blood donation program at the central office of the bank located in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">September 25: Prime Commercial Bank Limited organized a blood donation program on the occasion of its 17th anniversary. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">In collaboration with Kantipur Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, the bank held the blood donation program at the central office of the bank located in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">A total of 51 individuals participated in the program by donating blood. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">As a token of appreciation, Sanjeev Manandhar, the Chief Executive Officer of the bank, handed out certificates of recognition to the blood donors.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18811', 'image' => '20230925055828_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 05:57:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19082', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flights from Manthali to Lukla Airport Commence', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Commercial flights from Manthali in Ramechhap district to Lukla have officially commenced from Sunday. Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air have started off regular flights from Manthali Airport, catering primarily to foreign tourists.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 25: Commercial flights from Manthali in Ramechhap district to Lukla have officially commenced from Sunday. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air have started off regular flights from Manthali Airport, catering primarily to foreign tourists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This new air route has been established in response to the heightened air traffic congestion experienced at Kathmandu Airport during the peak tourist season. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The three airlines ferry tourists from Kathmandu to Manthali by bus and then onward to Lukla via aircraft.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the advent of the tourist season this year, it is anticipated that these airlines will conduct an increased number of flights, provided that weather conditions remain favorable. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Manthali Airport, located in close proximity to Kathmandu, boasts refueling facilities and serves as an emergency landing site for aircraft in the eastern region. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18810', 'image' => '20230925054431_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 05:43:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19081', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China Rules in Pool and Beyond on Inaugural Day of Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: China dominated the opening day of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, winning the first gold and then making a clean sweep in swimming event.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">September 24: China dominated the opening day of the 19<sup>th</sup> Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, winning the first gold and then making a clean sweep in swimming event. According to AFP, Chinese athletes broke several records in the process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">By the end of a highly successful day one for the hosts, they had pocketed 20 of 31 golds, while their nearest challengers South Korea had five.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">China's medal rush began when Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping dominated the women's lightweight double sculls rowing for the first gold of the Games, finishing almost 10 seconds ahead of Uzbekistan, added AFP. It was especially satisfying for Zou, who hails from Hangzhou.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The home nation won six of the seven golds at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre rowing venue with only Hong Kong's Lam San-tung and Wong Wai-chun getting in on the party by winning the men's pairs, added the French news agency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">More golds rolled in for China in shooting, modern pentathlon, wushu and artistic gymnastics, in which they triumphed in the men's team event ahead of Japan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">But they saved the best for last in swimming, in what is always one of the most prestigious events at the Games and has extra significance with the Paris Olympics less than a year away, according to AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The news agency reported that Olympic champion Zhang Yufei, China's "Butterfly Queen", was among the winners as the hosts romped home in all seven races on the opening night in the pool, smashing a slew of Asian records.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Zhang successfully defended her 200m butterfly crown, cruising to victory ahead of teammate Yu Liyan in a new Games-record time of 2min 05.57sec.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">That has been bettered this year only by Canadian star Summer McIntosh and Australia's Lizzie Dekkers, then Zhang claimed a second gold of the night in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The first official day of the 19th Asian Games also saw medals handed out in fencing, judo and taekwondo.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Two of South Korea's five golds came in taekwondo, with Kang Wan-jin winning the men's individual poomsae and Cha Yea-eun doing likewise in the women's event, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Likewise, India's women cricketers earlier ripped through Bangladesh, dismissing them for just 51 in the first semi-final.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">President Xi Jinping opened the Games on Saturday night after a delay of a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, the Asian Games has more participants than the Olympics with more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The athletes are vying for 40 gold medals in 40 sports disciplines across 54 venues.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => 'Asian, Games, China, Xi, Jinping, sports, swimming, judo', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18809', 'image' => '20230924093816_AP23267486100452.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 21:37:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Dahal Pledges to Protect Chinese Investment in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that the Government of Nepal will make every possible effort to facilitate and protect Chinese investment and entrepreneurs in Nepal, while calling upon them to take full advantage of the unique opportunity that the country has to offer and explore the benefit from the new avenues that have opened up in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that the Government of Nepal will make every possible effort to facilitate and protect Chinese investment and entrepreneurs in Nepal, while calling upon them to take full advantage of the unique opportunity that the country has to offer and explore the benefit from the new avenues that have opened up in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"There is a huge scope for boosting Chinese investment in Nepal in areas, such as hydropower generation, infrastructure, tourism, SMEs and startup businesses, ICT, agriculture, including highland agriculture, herbal and pharmaceutical industries, e-commerce, new and renewable energy," he said while noting that for Chinese enterprises, in particular, Nepal remains a very attractive investment destination. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In a statement delivered at Nepal-China Business Summit on the theme "Facilitating Investments in Nepal: An Interaction with Chinese Business Enterprises" in Beijing, the capital of China on Sunday, PM Dahal said Nepal-China bilateral trade has continued to grow in a steady and consistent manner, with China being the largest source of foreign direct investment and the second largest trading partner for Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, Prime Minister Dahal, who is on a week-long official visit of China, said, the burgeoning trade deficit is a matter of serious concern for Nepal, which needs to be addressed. "We are making continued efforts to facilitate trade and finds ways particularly to increase Nepal’s export to China. This can be done by enhancing our productive capacity, improving physical infrastructure and making quality certification mechanism more robust." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Noting that the export of Nepali products such as tea, herbal medicine, citrus food, buffalo meat, coffee, ginger, yarn to China have great potential and should, therefore, be prioritized, Prime Minister Dahal stressed on the need to reduce technical barriers and ensure preferential treatment to these products. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The export of the first batch of haylage from Nepal to China in the recent past should make us confident that more such export is possible, said Dahal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He also said strong collaboration and exchanges between the private sectors of the two countries can meaningfully contribute to the further development of Nepal-China economic relationship for mutual benefit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">With a view to creating an environment conducive for business and investment, Nepal has introduced various business-friendly policies and laws to tap the opportunities provided by a peaceful and stable political climate in the country, said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"We have enacted the Foreign Investment and Technology transfer Act, 2019, Public Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2019, Industrial Enterprises Act 2019, Special Economic Zones Act, 2019 and many more investment-related legal instruments for facilitating and accelerating investments in Nepal," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The “one-stop service center” has been established at the Department of Industries in order to facilitate the investors through simplified and streamlined processes. Similarly, the Investment Board of Nepal has been working actively to promote large scale foreign investment in prioritized sectors on a fast-track basis, he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The prime minister also expressed his commitment to making further reforms in policies, regulations and procedures. "The macroeconomic conditions of our economy are relatively stable, and conducive for long-term investments and economic growth. The labor laws are flexible and supportive of the security of industry as well as of economic growth and efficiency."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stating that foreign investment is treated on par with domestic industry, he said those interested may establish a new company with equity investment, invest as a joint venture or through lease financing as well as by technology transfer agreements. Furthermore, the energy supply situation has improved significantly, said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Now we are in a position to export surplus power. Roads, railways and aviation, industrial parks and other infrastructures are under expansion, which would contribute to efficiency and effectiveness of business,” he further said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prime Minister Dahal also pointed out that Nepal has the lowest corporate tax rate in the region. Special industries, enterprises operating roads, bridges, railways, hydropower, transmission lines, etc under the ‘Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT)’ basis are provided special incentives, according to the PM.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Graduation to a middle-income country by 2030 is an opportunity to upscale our productive capacity and undertake structural transformation, which requires a significant amount of investment in critical infrastructure and cutting-edge technology and we count on Chinese investment in filling our financial and technological gaps," he noted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Over the years, Nepal and China have taken important initiatives to improve cross-border connectivity by building more infrastructure and economic connection.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Under the framework of Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, we are working to develop cross border economic zones, road corridors and railway, transmission lines and air connection," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He also referred to Nepal joining the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017 and the work underway to finalize its implementation plan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On a different note, Prime Minister Dahal congratulated the Government and the people of China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping for successfully achieving the first centennial goal of lifting Chinese people from poverty line and conveyed his best wishes for the second centennial goal of making China a modern socialist country in all respects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">From infrastructure to industrialization, from human development to poverty alleviation, from education and health services to science and technology, the advancement China has made under the able stewardship of the Communist Party of China is rarely seen in the history of human civilization, said Dahal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"As a close neighbour, it is but natural for Nepal to desire for enhanced economic partnership with China for mutual benefits," Dahal said, "There are so many enabling factors anchored in close affinity and geographical proximity of our two countries that need to be utilized to promote mutually beneficial cooperation." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The prime minister also noted that international business environment is facing range of challenges posed by economic downturn, geopolitical turmoil and shifting priorities of the nations. However, crisis also brings opportunity, said Dahal, adding, "I believe that our business leaders are capable enough to turn this global downturn into opportunities by innovation and by doing things differently. We need to enhance economic engagements in neighborhood for greater synergy and efficiency." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"President Xi and I have reached broad consensus on strengthening economic cooperation and partnership between our two countries. We will take further decisions on promoting cross-border connectivity during this visit. We will continue to take further measures to reinforce economic engagement between the two countries." -- RSS</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' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18808', 'image' => '20230924084614_PRO-Beijing-PMPrachandb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 20:45:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Issues Silver Medallion Coins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced silver medallion coins featuring the image of a 'cow'. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 24: The Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced silver medallion coins featuring the image of a 'cow'. NRB governor Maha Prasad Adhikari released the coins amid a program at the division office in Babarmahal on Sunday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The medallion coins are available in two different weights: 10 grams and 25 grams. The value of the 10-gram coin is Rs 1,600 while the 25-gram coin is valued at Rs 4,000 per coin.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Mint Division, the medallion coins were minted from the bank's silver stock with a purity of 999. These coins do not feature a specified face value and such coin is called the medallion. The NRB Board of Directors on June 2 decided to mint the coins and bring them into circulation. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18807', 'image' => '20230924055943_F6x3PJuW8AEPFDp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 17:59:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Expands Scope of Credit Guarantee', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. The government’s decision to amend the Credit Guarantee Regulations 2080 to allow credit guarantee programs in new areas has paved the way to expand the scope of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund (DCGF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the revised regulations, the fund will be able to launch new credit guarantee programs in areas related to climate change, start-ups, information technology, skill development training, environmental protection, disaster management, alternative and renewable energy, women's entrepreneurship, etc. For this, the fund can take appropriate decision based on the size of the credit guarantee fund, financial resources of the fund, market demand and needs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">So far, the fund has been guaranteeing credit provided to small and medium enterprises by banks and microfinance companies as well as deprived sector lending and loans provided at subsidized interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ramesh Ghimire, the chief executive officer of DCGF, said that the amendment of the regulations has paved the way for the fund to expand the scope of credit guarantee in the areas according to market needs. He claimed that the role of the fund is important in expanding the access to credit in Nepal and that the banks have been able to extend credit with confidence because of security assurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Until the last fiscal year, the fund covered credit guarantee of loans worth Rs 2.74 billion of 1.7 million borrowers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Once the banks have been assured of credit guarantee, the DCGF will have to bear the loss if the banks fail to recover the loans due to any reason.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For this, the banks and financial institution or the liquidator should make a claim with the fund for the loss they have had to bear.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since 2010, the fund has also been giving credit guarantee for deposits up to Rs 500,000 in the individual accounts maintained at banks. As of last fiscal year-end, the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund assured to guarantee deposits worth Rs 1233 billion maintained at 41.5 million accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18806', 'image' => '20230924025245_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:52:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Fails to Acquire Concessional Loans from AIIB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In every annual meeting of AIIB, the finance ministry of Nepal submits proposals for concessional loans from the multilateral donor organisation but the AIIB turns down the proposals every time. Even now, Finance Minister Dr Parkash Sharan Mahat, leading a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Finance, has reached Cairo to lobby for concessional loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB, which was established under the leadership of China, has set high interest rates on commercial loans, so underdeveloped countries like Nepal have a problem in getting concessional loan facilities. Nepal is also a founding member of the bank. Even though Nepal is not able to benefit much from the bank, Finance Minister Mahat has gone to Cairo to participate in the annual meeting of AIIB to be held this week with the proposal of subsidized loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal is seeking loans from AIIB at the same interest and facilities as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. In every annual meeting and bilateral discussion, Nepal has been seeking for loans at subsidized interest rates. Nepal is not ready to take a loans other than concessional loans from AIIB as the interest rate is higher than that of Exim Bank. The bank’s officials have repeatedly requested Nepal to take loans, but they have refused to give concessions on interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB has been giving loans at 2.5 percent interest rate. Finance Minister Mahat says that Nepal is not in a position to invest in infrastructure with such loans given in US dollars. Minister Mahat will make a proposal for a concessional loan with AIIB, mainly with the argument that there is a lack of capital for Nepal's infrastructure development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">When taking a loan from AIIB, the interest rate is fixed by adding 1 to 1.5 percentage points to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The Ministry of Finance said that AIIB's loan can be used only by blending it with loans received from other donor agencies at cheaper interest rates. The Chinese government has 30 percent shares in the bank. Nepal has invested Rs 8 billion in it, which is 0.08 percent of the bank's capital. The purpose of this bank is to mobilize more capital in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the bank in 2013. The government of Nepal has not been able to benefit much from AIIB, which has emerged as a competitive bank among international financial institutions.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18805', 'image' => '20230924020450_AIIB_20221212_Press-Release_ESS-Communications_1129X620px.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '19th Asian Games: Nepal's Table Tennis Team Eliminated in Group Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China. Both the Nepali women's and men's teams have been eliminated in the group stage of the team event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the matches held at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou city on Saturday, the Nepali women's team lost to India with a score of 0-3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's Sikka Suwal was defeated by India's Diya Parag Chitale 11-1, 11-6 and 11-8 while Nabita Shrestha was defeated by Ahyika Mukharjee 11-3, 11-7, and Ivana Thapa Magar lost the match to Sutirtha Mukherjee with a score of 1-11, 5-11 and 2-11. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's men's team was also defeated by North Korea in straight sets of 3-0. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Samyog Kapali lost to North Korea's player 7-11, 4-11 and 5-11. In another match, Rubin Maharjan was defeated by a score of 11-2, 11-6, and 11-2, while Bilosh Shrestha lost the match 8-11, 2-11 and 3-11. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18804', 'image' => '20230924013702_720 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:36:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aadhyanta Accelerator Program Concludes with ‘Historic’ Rs 200 Million Commitment for 10 Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">The eight-month program organised in collaboration with Sahaj-NAMDP, FNCCI Koshi Province, and the Provincial Investment Authority, zeroed in on empowering agricultural enterprises, priming them for scalability and drawing investors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement, the fund management company said that the initiative actively envisions amplifying the entrepreneurship in Koshi Province, and to expedite economic activities as well as to promote pioneering and innovation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">According to the statement, 10 enterprises emerged investment-ready at the culmination of the accelerator program. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Significant investors, including Global Equity Fund, NIMB Ace Capital Limited, Himalayan Capital Limited, Reliable Ventures Limited, and Aadhyanta Fund Management, expressed interest in five enterprises, signaling commitments to the tune of Rs 200 million, reads the statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Beneficiaries of this financial pact include Birat Group, Khetipati Organics, Agri Center Jhapa, Raktakali Tea Estate, and Dibyadristi Veneration and Agro.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Rajendra Raut, executive member of FNCCI and President of FNCCI Koshi Province, chaired the momentous gathering. The event was attended by Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City Nagesh Koirlaa, and distinguished personalities including Reema Shrestha, Dr Saroj Koirala, among others.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Commenting on the day's significance, Manoj Paudel of Aadhyanta shed light on the transformational potential of the alternative finance industry for the Nepali economy, positioning it as a robust counterweight to political uncertainties impacting economic stability.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18803', 'image' => '20230924022241_Picture.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:20:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">September 25: Transport entrepreneurs are preparing to open advance bookings for the upcoming festivals from the beginning of October. Stakeholders decided to open advance booking in order to manage traffic congestion during the festivals.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A joint meeting of the stakeholders including officials from the Department of Transport Management, Metropolitan Traffic Police Division and transport entrepreneurs held at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport on Friday took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Saroj Sitaula, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs, said that ticket bookings will not be opened until the roads damaged due to floods and landslides are repaired. Although the government has formed a task force for road maintenance, he expressed doubt that the work would be completed within a short span before Dashain.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At present, most of the roads in the country including Narayangadh-Muglin road section, Narayangadh-Butwal road section, Muglin-Pokhara road section, Tokha-Chhare road section, BP Highway are damaged. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Sitaula express concerns that road travel will not be safe if the roads are not repaired, especially during the festive season when there is more traffic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Apart from this, the transport entrepreneurs have also demanded to increase the fares of public vehicles. They argued that the fares need to be revised because of the rise in price of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala formed a task force under the leadership of Uddhav Rijal, director general of the DoTM, on Friday to improve the transport management during the festivals. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The taskforce has been mandated to submit a report within a week with suggestions. After this taskforce studies and submits the report to the ministry, the date of ticket booking will be decided. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Around 100,000 are expected to leave the Kathmandu Valley in about 5,000 vehicles each day ahead of the festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The Dashain festival kicks off on October 15 this year, as per the Vedic Hindu lunar calendar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18817', 'image' => '20230925051953_20191001123102_home going for dashain_passengers of dashain_koteshwor area (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 17:19:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, China Sign 12 Different Agreements during PM Dahal's China Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: Nepal and China have signed 12 different agreements and one memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: Nepal and China have signed 12 different agreements and one memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Concerned officials of Nepal and China signed the agreements and MoU after a meeting between Prime Minister Dahal and his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, at the Great Hall of the People on Monday. Prime Minister Dahal is on a week-long official visit to China since September 23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretaries of the concerned ministries, Nepali Ambassador to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and Chinese officials were present during the occasion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Planning Commission of Nepal and National Development and Reform Commission of China also signed an agreement for collaboration. NPC Vice-Chairperson Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha and Chinese official signed the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a MoU regarding production and distribution of different goods of northern hill region of Nepal signed between Nepal and China in 2017 was exchanged between Nepali Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese official. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, National Development and Reforms Commission of China and Nepal's Finance Ministry signed an agreement for collaboration on the issue of forwarding digital economy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the NDRC of China and Ministry of Forests and Environment of Nepal signed an agreement for collaboration in green financing and low carbon emission. Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese official signed the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal also agreed on the issue of collaboration for agriculture, livestock and fisheries development. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr Rewati Raman Poudel and Chinese official signed the agreement in this regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A MoU has been signed between the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal to form a joint technical working group to review and amend the China Nepal Trade and Payment Agreement reached in 1981. The memorandum of understanding was signed between Commerce and Supply Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and this Chinese counterpart. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, an agreement was reached between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal on a protocol regarding the export of plants for medicinal production from Nepal to China. The protocol was signed between Dr Poudel of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Chinese official. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An agreement has been reached between the Chinese Department of Press and Publication and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to translate and publish ancient texts. The agreement was signed between Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese officials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Nepal and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China reached an agreement to cooperate in the fields of science, technology and innovation. The agreement was signed between Suresh Adhikari, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Chinese officials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Ambassador Shrestha and the Chinese officials on the issues of disaster management, human resources and the Hilsa-Simkot road project. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18816', 'image' => '20230925015509_PRO-KTM-2.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 13:54:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Issue Citizenship Certificates to NRNs', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulations published in Nepal Gazette', 'summary' => 'September 25: With the publication of Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2080, in the Nepal Gazette, citizenship certificates will now be issued to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: With the publication of Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2080, in the Nepal Gazette, citizenship certificates will now be issued to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development on Monday, Chief of Citizenship and Identity Card Management Section at the Home Ministry, Krishna Bahadur Katuwal, shared that this provision has come into effect after the Regulations were published in Nepal Gazette on September 21. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An arrangement has been made to mention non-resident Nepali citizenship certificate in the citizenship provided to non-resident Nepalis. He clarified that those acquiring such type of citizenship certificate would have no political rights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Regulations, those acquiring non-resident Nepali citizenship certificate would have social, cultural and financial rights while arrangement of oath has also made for them, mentioned Katuwal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Regulations has also provision that citizenship could be granted to the citizens above 16 years on the basis of the signature of people's representative if the applicants' father or family refuse to sign for the citizenship certificate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, citizenship certificate could be provided to children brought up at government certified orphanages based on the recommendation of local governments. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the new Regulations have a provision that citizenship certificate could be granted to those who have already acquired citizenship but willing to change their gender status in the citizenship certificate on the basis of certificate from the Ministry of Health and Population. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18815', 'image' => '20230925025014_citizenship.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 14:49:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '200 New Hotels Added in Thamel', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: The number of hotels has increased in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, which is a popular tourist destination. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 25: The number of hotels has increased in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, which is a popular tourist destination. This is the result of businessmen resuming the plan to build hotels that was put on hold due to Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With the announcement of the government to celebrate 'Nepal Visit Year' in 2020, businessmen had planned to open more hotels and restaurants in Thamel area. The government had announced an ambitious plan to bring 2 million tourists in the tourism year. However, the the Covid-19 pandemic slowed down the tourist activity, and the businessmen stalled their plans. Bhaweshwar Sharma, chairman of Thamel Tourism Development Council informed New Business Age that the number of hotels have increased in the Thamel area as businessmen increased their investment as the Covid-19 pandemic has subsided.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“As the Covid-19 has subsided, the infrastructure development increased rapidly. Some are under construction,” said Sharma. Some of the added hotels include Aloft, Barahi, Agantuk, Kailashkut, and Surya.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma informed that the work of collecting data of various businesses in this area is continuing even after the pandemic. He said, “During the collection of data, it was found that a total of 573 hotels are currently operating in this area. Before the onset of Covid-19, only 373 hotels were operating in this area in 2019." According to him, this number includes five-star to tourist level hotels.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the hotels in this area have the capacity to serve 35,000 tourists on a daily basis. Although the hotel infrastructure has increased, the number of tourists has not increased proportionately though. Before Covid-19, around 5,000 to 7,000 tourists used to visit this area daily, which is around 4,000 to 5,000 at present.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With the increase in the number of tourists coming to the country, the number of people arriving at Thamel has also increased. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“This number is not significant though. Currently the occupancy of the hotels here is 40 to 50 percent. However, we estimate that it will reach 75 percent to 80 percent by the end of the tourist season,” Sharma said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The council is also making necessary preparations for night business in Thamel, providing 24-hour service facilities to the tourists. On Sunday, the council and Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) organized an interaction program in the presence of hoteliers of Thamel area, metropolitan police circle Durbarmarg and police chief of Sohrakhutte.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">General Secretary of HAN, Sajan Shakya, said that cooperation is necessary to create an environment where they can safely visit Thamel. He emphasized that the number of hotels, restaurants, and travel companies increased in this area as compared to the period before Covid-19, and that now there is need for the cooperation between police and businessmen as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, Chaturbhuj Ojha, head of Metropolitan Police Circle, Sohrakhutte said that the police administration is ready to help Thamel tourism and businesses. Ojha added that the police are ready to cooperate as long as the businessmen do not violate the law.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Businessmen should strictly follow the law, let's work under the law rather than taking quick benefits. Let's cooperate in tourism promotion and security,”</span> said Ojha</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18814', 'image' => '20230925123524_20200730023507_20200504104410_20190511105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 12:34:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19085', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Call for Operating Direct Flights from China to Bhairahawa and Pokhara ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward for support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward for support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, he said Nepal's hospitality industry is ready to welcome Chinese tourists, with numerous standard hotels catering to their needs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at the Nepal China Business Summit, held in Beijing on Sunday during the official visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China, he said facilitating cross-border trade and ensuring the smooth movement of goods and people is crucial for bilateral socio-economic integration. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The removal of trade barriers, including non-tariff measures, along with the full implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, will lead to increased mutual benefits from bilateral trade," he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also invited the Chinese business community to invest in Nepal's hydropower sector, both for domestic consumption and export to neighboring countries including China itself. Apart from hydropower, investment in tourism infrastructure, such as cable cars, theme parks, and resorts, holds great promise in Nepal, added Dhakal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has already proven to be a trusted destination for Chinese investment, with Chinese investment accounting for over 35 per cent of the total approved foreign direct investments. Furthermore, China is Nepal's second-largest trading partner. However, while we import 16 per cent of our total goods from China, our exports to China remain minimal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal said Nepal is committed to further opening up to foreign investment, technology transfer, public-private partnerships, and investment-related policies to attract both global and regional FDIs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We anticipate a boost in FDI inflows from China, maintaining China as the largest source of FDI for Nepal,” he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal also said FNCCI, as the apex private sector representative body in Nepal, is always ready to cooperate on all fronts to further promote economic relations between Nepal and China. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18813', 'image' => '20230925115138_20220516125900_1652665732.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 11:50:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19084', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Slisha Bhandari Sets National Record in Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepali female shooter Slisha Bhandari has set a new national record in 10m air rifle competition. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepali female shooter Slisha Bhandari has set a new national record in 10m air rifle competition. She scored a total of 616.9 points in the 19th Asian Games underway in China to set the new national record in her first ever international competition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the record was held by Kalpana Pariyar. Pariyar had set the record in the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. She had set the record with 616.8 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhandari scored 101.1, 110.3 and 102.5 points in the first three rounds. Likewise, she scored 105, 104.8 and 103.2 points in the next three stages. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It may be noted that 19-year-old Bhandari started her sports journey from the 9th National Games meet held in Gandaki province last year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => 'asian games, slisha, bhandari, shooting, air, rifle, national, record', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18812', 'image' => '20230925110535_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 11:04:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19083', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prime Commercial Bank Organizes Blood Donation to Mark Its 17th Anniversary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Commercial Bank Limited organized a blood donation program on the occasion of its 17th anniversary. In collaboration with Kantipur Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, the bank held the blood donation program at the central office of the bank located in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">September 25: Prime Commercial Bank Limited organized a blood donation program on the occasion of its 17th anniversary. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">In collaboration with Kantipur Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, the bank held the blood donation program at the central office of the bank located in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">A total of 51 individuals participated in the program by donating blood. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">As a token of appreciation, Sanjeev Manandhar, the Chief Executive Officer of the bank, handed out certificates of recognition to the blood donors.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18811', 'image' => '20230925055828_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 05:57:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19082', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flights from Manthali to Lukla Airport Commence', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Commercial flights from Manthali in Ramechhap district to Lukla have officially commenced from Sunday. Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air have started off regular flights from Manthali Airport, catering primarily to foreign tourists.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 25: Commercial flights from Manthali in Ramechhap district to Lukla have officially commenced from Sunday. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air have started off regular flights from Manthali Airport, catering primarily to foreign tourists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This new air route has been established in response to the heightened air traffic congestion experienced at Kathmandu Airport during the peak tourist season. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The three airlines ferry tourists from Kathmandu to Manthali by bus and then onward to Lukla via aircraft.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the advent of the tourist season this year, it is anticipated that these airlines will conduct an increased number of flights, provided that weather conditions remain favorable. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Manthali Airport, located in close proximity to Kathmandu, boasts refueling facilities and serves as an emergency landing site for aircraft in the eastern region. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18810', 'image' => '20230925054431_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 05:43:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19081', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China Rules in Pool and Beyond on Inaugural Day of Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: China dominated the opening day of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, winning the first gold and then making a clean sweep in swimming event.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">September 24: China dominated the opening day of the 19<sup>th</sup> Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, winning the first gold and then making a clean sweep in swimming event. According to AFP, Chinese athletes broke several records in the process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">By the end of a highly successful day one for the hosts, they had pocketed 20 of 31 golds, while their nearest challengers South Korea had five.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">China's medal rush began when Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping dominated the women's lightweight double sculls rowing for the first gold of the Games, finishing almost 10 seconds ahead of Uzbekistan, added AFP. It was especially satisfying for Zou, who hails from Hangzhou.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The home nation won six of the seven golds at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre rowing venue with only Hong Kong's Lam San-tung and Wong Wai-chun getting in on the party by winning the men's pairs, added the French news agency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">More golds rolled in for China in shooting, modern pentathlon, wushu and artistic gymnastics, in which they triumphed in the men's team event ahead of Japan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">But they saved the best for last in swimming, in what is always one of the most prestigious events at the Games and has extra significance with the Paris Olympics less than a year away, according to AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The news agency reported that Olympic champion Zhang Yufei, China's "Butterfly Queen", was among the winners as the hosts romped home in all seven races on the opening night in the pool, smashing a slew of Asian records.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Zhang successfully defended her 200m butterfly crown, cruising to victory ahead of teammate Yu Liyan in a new Games-record time of 2min 05.57sec.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">That has been bettered this year only by Canadian star Summer McIntosh and Australia's Lizzie Dekkers, then Zhang claimed a second gold of the night in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The first official day of the 19th Asian Games also saw medals handed out in fencing, judo and taekwondo.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Two of South Korea's five golds came in taekwondo, with Kang Wan-jin winning the men's individual poomsae and Cha Yea-eun doing likewise in the women's event, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Likewise, India's women cricketers earlier ripped through Bangladesh, dismissing them for just 51 in the first semi-final.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">President Xi Jinping opened the Games on Saturday night after a delay of a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, the Asian Games has more participants than the Olympics with more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The athletes are vying for 40 gold medals in 40 sports disciplines across 54 venues.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => 'Asian, Games, China, Xi, Jinping, sports, swimming, judo', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18809', 'image' => '20230924093816_AP23267486100452.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 21:37:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Dahal Pledges to Protect Chinese Investment in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that the Government of Nepal will make every possible effort to facilitate and protect Chinese investment and entrepreneurs in Nepal, while calling upon them to take full advantage of the unique opportunity that the country has to offer and explore the benefit from the new avenues that have opened up in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that the Government of Nepal will make every possible effort to facilitate and protect Chinese investment and entrepreneurs in Nepal, while calling upon them to take full advantage of the unique opportunity that the country has to offer and explore the benefit from the new avenues that have opened up in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"There is a huge scope for boosting Chinese investment in Nepal in areas, such as hydropower generation, infrastructure, tourism, SMEs and startup businesses, ICT, agriculture, including highland agriculture, herbal and pharmaceutical industries, e-commerce, new and renewable energy," he said while noting that for Chinese enterprises, in particular, Nepal remains a very attractive investment destination. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In a statement delivered at Nepal-China Business Summit on the theme "Facilitating Investments in Nepal: An Interaction with Chinese Business Enterprises" in Beijing, the capital of China on Sunday, PM Dahal said Nepal-China bilateral trade has continued to grow in a steady and consistent manner, with China being the largest source of foreign direct investment and the second largest trading partner for Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, Prime Minister Dahal, who is on a week-long official visit of China, said, the burgeoning trade deficit is a matter of serious concern for Nepal, which needs to be addressed. "We are making continued efforts to facilitate trade and finds ways particularly to increase Nepal’s export to China. This can be done by enhancing our productive capacity, improving physical infrastructure and making quality certification mechanism more robust." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Noting that the export of Nepali products such as tea, herbal medicine, citrus food, buffalo meat, coffee, ginger, yarn to China have great potential and should, therefore, be prioritized, Prime Minister Dahal stressed on the need to reduce technical barriers and ensure preferential treatment to these products. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The export of the first batch of haylage from Nepal to China in the recent past should make us confident that more such export is possible, said Dahal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He also said strong collaboration and exchanges between the private sectors of the two countries can meaningfully contribute to the further development of Nepal-China economic relationship for mutual benefit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">With a view to creating an environment conducive for business and investment, Nepal has introduced various business-friendly policies and laws to tap the opportunities provided by a peaceful and stable political climate in the country, said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"We have enacted the Foreign Investment and Technology transfer Act, 2019, Public Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2019, Industrial Enterprises Act 2019, Special Economic Zones Act, 2019 and many more investment-related legal instruments for facilitating and accelerating investments in Nepal," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The “one-stop service center” has been established at the Department of Industries in order to facilitate the investors through simplified and streamlined processes. Similarly, the Investment Board of Nepal has been working actively to promote large scale foreign investment in prioritized sectors on a fast-track basis, he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The prime minister also expressed his commitment to making further reforms in policies, regulations and procedures. "The macroeconomic conditions of our economy are relatively stable, and conducive for long-term investments and economic growth. The labor laws are flexible and supportive of the security of industry as well as of economic growth and efficiency."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stating that foreign investment is treated on par with domestic industry, he said those interested may establish a new company with equity investment, invest as a joint venture or through lease financing as well as by technology transfer agreements. Furthermore, the energy supply situation has improved significantly, said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Now we are in a position to export surplus power. Roads, railways and aviation, industrial parks and other infrastructures are under expansion, which would contribute to efficiency and effectiveness of business,” he further said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prime Minister Dahal also pointed out that Nepal has the lowest corporate tax rate in the region. Special industries, enterprises operating roads, bridges, railways, hydropower, transmission lines, etc under the ‘Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT)’ basis are provided special incentives, according to the PM.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Graduation to a middle-income country by 2030 is an opportunity to upscale our productive capacity and undertake structural transformation, which requires a significant amount of investment in critical infrastructure and cutting-edge technology and we count on Chinese investment in filling our financial and technological gaps," he noted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Over the years, Nepal and China have taken important initiatives to improve cross-border connectivity by building more infrastructure and economic connection.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Under the framework of Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, we are working to develop cross border economic zones, road corridors and railway, transmission lines and air connection," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He also referred to Nepal joining the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017 and the work underway to finalize its implementation plan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On a different note, Prime Minister Dahal congratulated the Government and the people of China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping for successfully achieving the first centennial goal of lifting Chinese people from poverty line and conveyed his best wishes for the second centennial goal of making China a modern socialist country in all respects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">From infrastructure to industrialization, from human development to poverty alleviation, from education and health services to science and technology, the advancement China has made under the able stewardship of the Communist Party of China is rarely seen in the history of human civilization, said Dahal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"As a close neighbour, it is but natural for Nepal to desire for enhanced economic partnership with China for mutual benefits," Dahal said, "There are so many enabling factors anchored in close affinity and geographical proximity of our two countries that need to be utilized to promote mutually beneficial cooperation." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The prime minister also noted that international business environment is facing range of challenges posed by economic downturn, geopolitical turmoil and shifting priorities of the nations. However, crisis also brings opportunity, said Dahal, adding, "I believe that our business leaders are capable enough to turn this global downturn into opportunities by innovation and by doing things differently. We need to enhance economic engagements in neighborhood for greater synergy and efficiency." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"President Xi and I have reached broad consensus on strengthening economic cooperation and partnership between our two countries. We will take further decisions on promoting cross-border connectivity during this visit. We will continue to take further measures to reinforce economic engagement between the two countries." -- RSS</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' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18808', 'image' => '20230924084614_PRO-Beijing-PMPrachandb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 20:45:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Issues Silver Medallion Coins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced silver medallion coins featuring the image of a 'cow'. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 24: The Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced silver medallion coins featuring the image of a 'cow'. NRB governor Maha Prasad Adhikari released the coins amid a program at the division office in Babarmahal on Sunday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The medallion coins are available in two different weights: 10 grams and 25 grams. The value of the 10-gram coin is Rs 1,600 while the 25-gram coin is valued at Rs 4,000 per coin.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Mint Division, the medallion coins were minted from the bank's silver stock with a purity of 999. These coins do not feature a specified face value and such coin is called the medallion. The NRB Board of Directors on June 2 decided to mint the coins and bring them into circulation. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18807', 'image' => '20230924055943_F6x3PJuW8AEPFDp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 17:59:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Expands Scope of Credit Guarantee', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. The government’s decision to amend the Credit Guarantee Regulations 2080 to allow credit guarantee programs in new areas has paved the way to expand the scope of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund (DCGF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the revised regulations, the fund will be able to launch new credit guarantee programs in areas related to climate change, start-ups, information technology, skill development training, environmental protection, disaster management, alternative and renewable energy, women's entrepreneurship, etc. For this, the fund can take appropriate decision based on the size of the credit guarantee fund, financial resources of the fund, market demand and needs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">So far, the fund has been guaranteeing credit provided to small and medium enterprises by banks and microfinance companies as well as deprived sector lending and loans provided at subsidized interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ramesh Ghimire, the chief executive officer of DCGF, said that the amendment of the regulations has paved the way for the fund to expand the scope of credit guarantee in the areas according to market needs. He claimed that the role of the fund is important in expanding the access to credit in Nepal and that the banks have been able to extend credit with confidence because of security assurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Until the last fiscal year, the fund covered credit guarantee of loans worth Rs 2.74 billion of 1.7 million borrowers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Once the banks have been assured of credit guarantee, the DCGF will have to bear the loss if the banks fail to recover the loans due to any reason.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For this, the banks and financial institution or the liquidator should make a claim with the fund for the loss they have had to bear.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since 2010, the fund has also been giving credit guarantee for deposits up to Rs 500,000 in the individual accounts maintained at banks. As of last fiscal year-end, the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund assured to guarantee deposits worth Rs 1233 billion maintained at 41.5 million accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18806', 'image' => '20230924025245_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:52:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Fails to Acquire Concessional Loans from AIIB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In every annual meeting of AIIB, the finance ministry of Nepal submits proposals for concessional loans from the multilateral donor organisation but the AIIB turns down the proposals every time. Even now, Finance Minister Dr Parkash Sharan Mahat, leading a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Finance, has reached Cairo to lobby for concessional loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB, which was established under the leadership of China, has set high interest rates on commercial loans, so underdeveloped countries like Nepal have a problem in getting concessional loan facilities. Nepal is also a founding member of the bank. Even though Nepal is not able to benefit much from the bank, Finance Minister Mahat has gone to Cairo to participate in the annual meeting of AIIB to be held this week with the proposal of subsidized loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal is seeking loans from AIIB at the same interest and facilities as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. In every annual meeting and bilateral discussion, Nepal has been seeking for loans at subsidized interest rates. Nepal is not ready to take a loans other than concessional loans from AIIB as the interest rate is higher than that of Exim Bank. The bank’s officials have repeatedly requested Nepal to take loans, but they have refused to give concessions on interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB has been giving loans at 2.5 percent interest rate. Finance Minister Mahat says that Nepal is not in a position to invest in infrastructure with such loans given in US dollars. Minister Mahat will make a proposal for a concessional loan with AIIB, mainly with the argument that there is a lack of capital for Nepal's infrastructure development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">When taking a loan from AIIB, the interest rate is fixed by adding 1 to 1.5 percentage points to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The Ministry of Finance said that AIIB's loan can be used only by blending it with loans received from other donor agencies at cheaper interest rates. The Chinese government has 30 percent shares in the bank. Nepal has invested Rs 8 billion in it, which is 0.08 percent of the bank's capital. The purpose of this bank is to mobilize more capital in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the bank in 2013. The government of Nepal has not been able to benefit much from AIIB, which has emerged as a competitive bank among international financial institutions.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18805', 'image' => '20230924020450_AIIB_20221212_Press-Release_ESS-Communications_1129X620px.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '19th Asian Games: Nepal's Table Tennis Team Eliminated in Group Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China. Both the Nepali women's and men's teams have been eliminated in the group stage of the team event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the matches held at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou city on Saturday, the Nepali women's team lost to India with a score of 0-3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's Sikka Suwal was defeated by India's Diya Parag Chitale 11-1, 11-6 and 11-8 while Nabita Shrestha was defeated by Ahyika Mukharjee 11-3, 11-7, and Ivana Thapa Magar lost the match to Sutirtha Mukherjee with a score of 1-11, 5-11 and 2-11. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's men's team was also defeated by North Korea in straight sets of 3-0. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Samyog Kapali lost to North Korea's player 7-11, 4-11 and 5-11. In another match, Rubin Maharjan was defeated by a score of 11-2, 11-6, and 11-2, while Bilosh Shrestha lost the match 8-11, 2-11 and 3-11. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18804', 'image' => '20230924013702_720 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:36:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aadhyanta Accelerator Program Concludes with ‘Historic’ Rs 200 Million Commitment for 10 Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">The eight-month program organised in collaboration with Sahaj-NAMDP, FNCCI Koshi Province, and the Provincial Investment Authority, zeroed in on empowering agricultural enterprises, priming them for scalability and drawing investors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement, the fund management company said that the initiative actively envisions amplifying the entrepreneurship in Koshi Province, and to expedite economic activities as well as to promote pioneering and innovation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">According to the statement, 10 enterprises emerged investment-ready at the culmination of the accelerator program. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Significant investors, including Global Equity Fund, NIMB Ace Capital Limited, Himalayan Capital Limited, Reliable Ventures Limited, and Aadhyanta Fund Management, expressed interest in five enterprises, signaling commitments to the tune of Rs 200 million, reads the statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Beneficiaries of this financial pact include Birat Group, Khetipati Organics, Agri Center Jhapa, Raktakali Tea Estate, and Dibyadristi Veneration and Agro.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Rajendra Raut, executive member of FNCCI and President of FNCCI Koshi Province, chaired the momentous gathering. The event was attended by Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City Nagesh Koirlaa, and distinguished personalities including Reema Shrestha, Dr Saroj Koirala, among others.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Commenting on the day's significance, Manoj Paudel of Aadhyanta shed light on the transformational potential of the alternative finance industry for the Nepali economy, positioning it as a robust counterweight to political uncertainties impacting economic stability.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18803', 'image' => '20230924022241_Picture.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:20:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19089', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Advance Bookings for Dashain to Open from October', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: Transport entrepreneurs are preparing to open advance bookings for the upcoming festivals from the beginning of October. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">September 25: Transport entrepreneurs are preparing to open advance bookings for the upcoming festivals from the beginning of October. Stakeholders decided to open advance booking in order to manage traffic congestion during the festivals.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A joint meeting of the stakeholders including officials from the Department of Transport Management, Metropolitan Traffic Police Division and transport entrepreneurs held at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport on Friday took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Saroj Sitaula, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs, said that ticket bookings will not be opened until the roads damaged due to floods and landslides are repaired. Although the government has formed a task force for road maintenance, he expressed doubt that the work would be completed within a short span before Dashain.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At present, most of the roads in the country including Narayangadh-Muglin road section, Narayangadh-Butwal road section, Muglin-Pokhara road section, Tokha-Chhare road section, BP Highway are damaged. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Sitaula express concerns that road travel will not be safe if the roads are not repaired, especially during the festive season when there is more traffic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Apart from this, the transport entrepreneurs have also demanded to increase the fares of public vehicles. They argued that the fares need to be revised because of the rise in price of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala formed a task force under the leadership of Uddhav Rijal, director general of the DoTM, on Friday to improve the transport management during the festivals. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The taskforce has been mandated to submit a report within a week with suggestions. After this taskforce studies and submits the report to the ministry, the date of ticket booking will be decided. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Around 100,000 are expected to leave the Kathmandu Valley in about 5,000 vehicles each day ahead of the festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The Dashain festival kicks off on October 15 this year, as per the Vedic Hindu lunar calendar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18817', 'image' => '20230925051953_20191001123102_home going for dashain_passengers of dashain_koteshwor area (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 17:19:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, China Sign 12 Different Agreements during PM Dahal's China Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: Nepal and China have signed 12 different agreements and one memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: Nepal and China have signed 12 different agreements and one memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Concerned officials of Nepal and China signed the agreements and MoU after a meeting between Prime Minister Dahal and his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, at the Great Hall of the People on Monday. Prime Minister Dahal is on a week-long official visit to China since September 23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretaries of the concerned ministries, Nepali Ambassador to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and Chinese officials were present during the occasion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Planning Commission of Nepal and National Development and Reform Commission of China also signed an agreement for collaboration. NPC Vice-Chairperson Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha and Chinese official signed the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a MoU regarding production and distribution of different goods of northern hill region of Nepal signed between Nepal and China in 2017 was exchanged between Nepali Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese official. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, National Development and Reforms Commission of China and Nepal's Finance Ministry signed an agreement for collaboration on the issue of forwarding digital economy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the NDRC of China and Ministry of Forests and Environment of Nepal signed an agreement for collaboration in green financing and low carbon emission. Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese official signed the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal also agreed on the issue of collaboration for agriculture, livestock and fisheries development. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr Rewati Raman Poudel and Chinese official signed the agreement in this regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A MoU has been signed between the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal to form a joint technical working group to review and amend the China Nepal Trade and Payment Agreement reached in 1981. The memorandum of understanding was signed between Commerce and Supply Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and this Chinese counterpart. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, an agreement was reached between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal on a protocol regarding the export of plants for medicinal production from Nepal to China. The protocol was signed between Dr Poudel of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Chinese official. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An agreement has been reached between the Chinese Department of Press and Publication and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to translate and publish ancient texts. The agreement was signed between Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese officials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Nepal and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China reached an agreement to cooperate in the fields of science, technology and innovation. The agreement was signed between Suresh Adhikari, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Chinese officials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Ambassador Shrestha and the Chinese officials on the issues of disaster management, human resources and the Hilsa-Simkot road project. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18816', 'image' => '20230925015509_PRO-KTM-2.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 13:54:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Issue Citizenship Certificates to NRNs', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulations published in Nepal Gazette', 'summary' => 'September 25: With the publication of Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2080, in the Nepal Gazette, citizenship certificates will now be issued to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: With the publication of Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2080, in the Nepal Gazette, citizenship certificates will now be issued to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development on Monday, Chief of Citizenship and Identity Card Management Section at the Home Ministry, Krishna Bahadur Katuwal, shared that this provision has come into effect after the Regulations were published in Nepal Gazette on September 21. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An arrangement has been made to mention non-resident Nepali citizenship certificate in the citizenship provided to non-resident Nepalis. He clarified that those acquiring such type of citizenship certificate would have no political rights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Regulations, those acquiring non-resident Nepali citizenship certificate would have social, cultural and financial rights while arrangement of oath has also made for them, mentioned Katuwal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Regulations has also provision that citizenship could be granted to the citizens above 16 years on the basis of the signature of people's representative if the applicants' father or family refuse to sign for the citizenship certificate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, citizenship certificate could be provided to children brought up at government certified orphanages based on the recommendation of local governments. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the new Regulations have a provision that citizenship certificate could be granted to those who have already acquired citizenship but willing to change their gender status in the citizenship certificate on the basis of certificate from the Ministry of Health and Population. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18815', 'image' => '20230925025014_citizenship.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 14:49:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '200 New Hotels Added in Thamel', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: The number of hotels has increased in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, which is a popular tourist destination. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 25: The number of hotels has increased in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, which is a popular tourist destination. This is the result of businessmen resuming the plan to build hotels that was put on hold due to Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With the announcement of the government to celebrate 'Nepal Visit Year' in 2020, businessmen had planned to open more hotels and restaurants in Thamel area. The government had announced an ambitious plan to bring 2 million tourists in the tourism year. However, the the Covid-19 pandemic slowed down the tourist activity, and the businessmen stalled their plans. Bhaweshwar Sharma, chairman of Thamel Tourism Development Council informed New Business Age that the number of hotels have increased in the Thamel area as businessmen increased their investment as the Covid-19 pandemic has subsided.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“As the Covid-19 has subsided, the infrastructure development increased rapidly. Some are under construction,” said Sharma. Some of the added hotels include Aloft, Barahi, Agantuk, Kailashkut, and Surya.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma informed that the work of collecting data of various businesses in this area is continuing even after the pandemic. He said, “During the collection of data, it was found that a total of 573 hotels are currently operating in this area. Before the onset of Covid-19, only 373 hotels were operating in this area in 2019." According to him, this number includes five-star to tourist level hotels.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the hotels in this area have the capacity to serve 35,000 tourists on a daily basis. Although the hotel infrastructure has increased, the number of tourists has not increased proportionately though. Before Covid-19, around 5,000 to 7,000 tourists used to visit this area daily, which is around 4,000 to 5,000 at present.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With the increase in the number of tourists coming to the country, the number of people arriving at Thamel has also increased. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“This number is not significant though. Currently the occupancy of the hotels here is 40 to 50 percent. However, we estimate that it will reach 75 percent to 80 percent by the end of the tourist season,” Sharma said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The council is also making necessary preparations for night business in Thamel, providing 24-hour service facilities to the tourists. On Sunday, the council and Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) organized an interaction program in the presence of hoteliers of Thamel area, metropolitan police circle Durbarmarg and police chief of Sohrakhutte.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">General Secretary of HAN, Sajan Shakya, said that cooperation is necessary to create an environment where they can safely visit Thamel. He emphasized that the number of hotels, restaurants, and travel companies increased in this area as compared to the period before Covid-19, and that now there is need for the cooperation between police and businessmen as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, Chaturbhuj Ojha, head of Metropolitan Police Circle, Sohrakhutte said that the police administration is ready to help Thamel tourism and businesses. Ojha added that the police are ready to cooperate as long as the businessmen do not violate the law.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Businessmen should strictly follow the law, let's work under the law rather than taking quick benefits. Let's cooperate in tourism promotion and security,”</span> said Ojha</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18814', 'image' => '20230925123524_20200730023507_20200504104410_20190511105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 12:34:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19085', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Call for Operating Direct Flights from China to Bhairahawa and Pokhara ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward for support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward for support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, he said Nepal's hospitality industry is ready to welcome Chinese tourists, with numerous standard hotels catering to their needs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at the Nepal China Business Summit, held in Beijing on Sunday during the official visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China, he said facilitating cross-border trade and ensuring the smooth movement of goods and people is crucial for bilateral socio-economic integration. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The removal of trade barriers, including non-tariff measures, along with the full implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, will lead to increased mutual benefits from bilateral trade," he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also invited the Chinese business community to invest in Nepal's hydropower sector, both for domestic consumption and export to neighboring countries including China itself. Apart from hydropower, investment in tourism infrastructure, such as cable cars, theme parks, and resorts, holds great promise in Nepal, added Dhakal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has already proven to be a trusted destination for Chinese investment, with Chinese investment accounting for over 35 per cent of the total approved foreign direct investments. Furthermore, China is Nepal's second-largest trading partner. However, while we import 16 per cent of our total goods from China, our exports to China remain minimal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal said Nepal is committed to further opening up to foreign investment, technology transfer, public-private partnerships, and investment-related policies to attract both global and regional FDIs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We anticipate a boost in FDI inflows from China, maintaining China as the largest source of FDI for Nepal,” he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal also said FNCCI, as the apex private sector representative body in Nepal, is always ready to cooperate on all fronts to further promote economic relations between Nepal and China. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18813', 'image' => '20230925115138_20220516125900_1652665732.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 11:50:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19084', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Slisha Bhandari Sets National Record in Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepali female shooter Slisha Bhandari has set a new national record in 10m air rifle competition. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepali female shooter Slisha Bhandari has set a new national record in 10m air rifle competition. She scored a total of 616.9 points in the 19th Asian Games underway in China to set the new national record in her first ever international competition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the record was held by Kalpana Pariyar. Pariyar had set the record in the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. She had set the record with 616.8 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhandari scored 101.1, 110.3 and 102.5 points in the first three rounds. Likewise, she scored 105, 104.8 and 103.2 points in the next three stages. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It may be noted that 19-year-old Bhandari started her sports journey from the 9th National Games meet held in Gandaki province last year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => 'asian games, slisha, bhandari, shooting, air, rifle, national, record', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18812', 'image' => '20230925110535_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 11:04:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19083', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prime Commercial Bank Organizes Blood Donation to Mark Its 17th Anniversary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Commercial Bank Limited organized a blood donation program on the occasion of its 17th anniversary. In collaboration with Kantipur Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, the bank held the blood donation program at the central office of the bank located in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">September 25: Prime Commercial Bank Limited organized a blood donation program on the occasion of its 17th anniversary. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">In collaboration with Kantipur Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, the bank held the blood donation program at the central office of the bank located in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">A total of 51 individuals participated in the program by donating blood. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">As a token of appreciation, Sanjeev Manandhar, the Chief Executive Officer of the bank, handed out certificates of recognition to the blood donors.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18811', 'image' => '20230925055828_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 05:57:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19082', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flights from Manthali to Lukla Airport Commence', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Commercial flights from Manthali in Ramechhap district to Lukla have officially commenced from Sunday. Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air have started off regular flights from Manthali Airport, catering primarily to foreign tourists.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 25: Commercial flights from Manthali in Ramechhap district to Lukla have officially commenced from Sunday. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air have started off regular flights from Manthali Airport, catering primarily to foreign tourists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This new air route has been established in response to the heightened air traffic congestion experienced at Kathmandu Airport during the peak tourist season. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The three airlines ferry tourists from Kathmandu to Manthali by bus and then onward to Lukla via aircraft.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the advent of the tourist season this year, it is anticipated that these airlines will conduct an increased number of flights, provided that weather conditions remain favorable. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Manthali Airport, located in close proximity to Kathmandu, boasts refueling facilities and serves as an emergency landing site for aircraft in the eastern region. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18810', 'image' => '20230925054431_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 05:43:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19081', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China Rules in Pool and Beyond on Inaugural Day of Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: China dominated the opening day of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, winning the first gold and then making a clean sweep in swimming event.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">September 24: China dominated the opening day of the 19<sup>th</sup> Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, winning the first gold and then making a clean sweep in swimming event. According to AFP, Chinese athletes broke several records in the process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">By the end of a highly successful day one for the hosts, they had pocketed 20 of 31 golds, while their nearest challengers South Korea had five.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">China's medal rush began when Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping dominated the women's lightweight double sculls rowing for the first gold of the Games, finishing almost 10 seconds ahead of Uzbekistan, added AFP. It was especially satisfying for Zou, who hails from Hangzhou.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The home nation won six of the seven golds at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre rowing venue with only Hong Kong's Lam San-tung and Wong Wai-chun getting in on the party by winning the men's pairs, added the French news agency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">More golds rolled in for China in shooting, modern pentathlon, wushu and artistic gymnastics, in which they triumphed in the men's team event ahead of Japan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">But they saved the best for last in swimming, in what is always one of the most prestigious events at the Games and has extra significance with the Paris Olympics less than a year away, according to AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The news agency reported that Olympic champion Zhang Yufei, China's "Butterfly Queen", was among the winners as the hosts romped home in all seven races on the opening night in the pool, smashing a slew of Asian records.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Zhang successfully defended her 200m butterfly crown, cruising to victory ahead of teammate Yu Liyan in a new Games-record time of 2min 05.57sec.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">That has been bettered this year only by Canadian star Summer McIntosh and Australia's Lizzie Dekkers, then Zhang claimed a second gold of the night in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The first official day of the 19th Asian Games also saw medals handed out in fencing, judo and taekwondo.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Two of South Korea's five golds came in taekwondo, with Kang Wan-jin winning the men's individual poomsae and Cha Yea-eun doing likewise in the women's event, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Likewise, India's women cricketers earlier ripped through Bangladesh, dismissing them for just 51 in the first semi-final.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">President Xi Jinping opened the Games on Saturday night after a delay of a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, the Asian Games has more participants than the Olympics with more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The athletes are vying for 40 gold medals in 40 sports disciplines across 54 venues.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => 'Asian, Games, China, Xi, Jinping, sports, swimming, judo', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18809', 'image' => '20230924093816_AP23267486100452.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 21:37:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Dahal Pledges to Protect Chinese Investment in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that the Government of Nepal will make every possible effort to facilitate and protect Chinese investment and entrepreneurs in Nepal, while calling upon them to take full advantage of the unique opportunity that the country has to offer and explore the benefit from the new avenues that have opened up in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that the Government of Nepal will make every possible effort to facilitate and protect Chinese investment and entrepreneurs in Nepal, while calling upon them to take full advantage of the unique opportunity that the country has to offer and explore the benefit from the new avenues that have opened up in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"There is a huge scope for boosting Chinese investment in Nepal in areas, such as hydropower generation, infrastructure, tourism, SMEs and startup businesses, ICT, agriculture, including highland agriculture, herbal and pharmaceutical industries, e-commerce, new and renewable energy," he said while noting that for Chinese enterprises, in particular, Nepal remains a very attractive investment destination. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In a statement delivered at Nepal-China Business Summit on the theme "Facilitating Investments in Nepal: An Interaction with Chinese Business Enterprises" in Beijing, the capital of China on Sunday, PM Dahal said Nepal-China bilateral trade has continued to grow in a steady and consistent manner, with China being the largest source of foreign direct investment and the second largest trading partner for Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, Prime Minister Dahal, who is on a week-long official visit of China, said, the burgeoning trade deficit is a matter of serious concern for Nepal, which needs to be addressed. "We are making continued efforts to facilitate trade and finds ways particularly to increase Nepal’s export to China. This can be done by enhancing our productive capacity, improving physical infrastructure and making quality certification mechanism more robust." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Noting that the export of Nepali products such as tea, herbal medicine, citrus food, buffalo meat, coffee, ginger, yarn to China have great potential and should, therefore, be prioritized, Prime Minister Dahal stressed on the need to reduce technical barriers and ensure preferential treatment to these products. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The export of the first batch of haylage from Nepal to China in the recent past should make us confident that more such export is possible, said Dahal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He also said strong collaboration and exchanges between the private sectors of the two countries can meaningfully contribute to the further development of Nepal-China economic relationship for mutual benefit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">With a view to creating an environment conducive for business and investment, Nepal has introduced various business-friendly policies and laws to tap the opportunities provided by a peaceful and stable political climate in the country, said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"We have enacted the Foreign Investment and Technology transfer Act, 2019, Public Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2019, Industrial Enterprises Act 2019, Special Economic Zones Act, 2019 and many more investment-related legal instruments for facilitating and accelerating investments in Nepal," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The “one-stop service center” has been established at the Department of Industries in order to facilitate the investors through simplified and streamlined processes. Similarly, the Investment Board of Nepal has been working actively to promote large scale foreign investment in prioritized sectors on a fast-track basis, he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The prime minister also expressed his commitment to making further reforms in policies, regulations and procedures. "The macroeconomic conditions of our economy are relatively stable, and conducive for long-term investments and economic growth. The labor laws are flexible and supportive of the security of industry as well as of economic growth and efficiency."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stating that foreign investment is treated on par with domestic industry, he said those interested may establish a new company with equity investment, invest as a joint venture or through lease financing as well as by technology transfer agreements. Furthermore, the energy supply situation has improved significantly, said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Now we are in a position to export surplus power. Roads, railways and aviation, industrial parks and other infrastructures are under expansion, which would contribute to efficiency and effectiveness of business,” he further said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prime Minister Dahal also pointed out that Nepal has the lowest corporate tax rate in the region. Special industries, enterprises operating roads, bridges, railways, hydropower, transmission lines, etc under the ‘Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT)’ basis are provided special incentives, according to the PM.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Graduation to a middle-income country by 2030 is an opportunity to upscale our productive capacity and undertake structural transformation, which requires a significant amount of investment in critical infrastructure and cutting-edge technology and we count on Chinese investment in filling our financial and technological gaps," he noted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Over the years, Nepal and China have taken important initiatives to improve cross-border connectivity by building more infrastructure and economic connection.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Under the framework of Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, we are working to develop cross border economic zones, road corridors and railway, transmission lines and air connection," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He also referred to Nepal joining the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017 and the work underway to finalize its implementation plan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On a different note, Prime Minister Dahal congratulated the Government and the people of China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping for successfully achieving the first centennial goal of lifting Chinese people from poverty line and conveyed his best wishes for the second centennial goal of making China a modern socialist country in all respects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">From infrastructure to industrialization, from human development to poverty alleviation, from education and health services to science and technology, the advancement China has made under the able stewardship of the Communist Party of China is rarely seen in the history of human civilization, said Dahal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"As a close neighbour, it is but natural for Nepal to desire for enhanced economic partnership with China for mutual benefits," Dahal said, "There are so many enabling factors anchored in close affinity and geographical proximity of our two countries that need to be utilized to promote mutually beneficial cooperation." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The prime minister also noted that international business environment is facing range of challenges posed by economic downturn, geopolitical turmoil and shifting priorities of the nations. However, crisis also brings opportunity, said Dahal, adding, "I believe that our business leaders are capable enough to turn this global downturn into opportunities by innovation and by doing things differently. We need to enhance economic engagements in neighborhood for greater synergy and efficiency." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"President Xi and I have reached broad consensus on strengthening economic cooperation and partnership between our two countries. We will take further decisions on promoting cross-border connectivity during this visit. We will continue to take further measures to reinforce economic engagement between the two countries." -- RSS</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' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18808', 'image' => '20230924084614_PRO-Beijing-PMPrachandb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 20:45:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Issues Silver Medallion Coins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced silver medallion coins featuring the image of a 'cow'. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 24: The Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced silver medallion coins featuring the image of a 'cow'. NRB governor Maha Prasad Adhikari released the coins amid a program at the division office in Babarmahal on Sunday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The medallion coins are available in two different weights: 10 grams and 25 grams. The value of the 10-gram coin is Rs 1,600 while the 25-gram coin is valued at Rs 4,000 per coin.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Mint Division, the medallion coins were minted from the bank's silver stock with a purity of 999. These coins do not feature a specified face value and such coin is called the medallion. The NRB Board of Directors on June 2 decided to mint the coins and bring them into circulation. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18807', 'image' => '20230924055943_F6x3PJuW8AEPFDp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 17:59:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Expands Scope of Credit Guarantee', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. The government’s decision to amend the Credit Guarantee Regulations 2080 to allow credit guarantee programs in new areas has paved the way to expand the scope of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund (DCGF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the revised regulations, the fund will be able to launch new credit guarantee programs in areas related to climate change, start-ups, information technology, skill development training, environmental protection, disaster management, alternative and renewable energy, women's entrepreneurship, etc. For this, the fund can take appropriate decision based on the size of the credit guarantee fund, financial resources of the fund, market demand and needs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">So far, the fund has been guaranteeing credit provided to small and medium enterprises by banks and microfinance companies as well as deprived sector lending and loans provided at subsidized interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ramesh Ghimire, the chief executive officer of DCGF, said that the amendment of the regulations has paved the way for the fund to expand the scope of credit guarantee in the areas according to market needs. He claimed that the role of the fund is important in expanding the access to credit in Nepal and that the banks have been able to extend credit with confidence because of security assurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Until the last fiscal year, the fund covered credit guarantee of loans worth Rs 2.74 billion of 1.7 million borrowers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Once the banks have been assured of credit guarantee, the DCGF will have to bear the loss if the banks fail to recover the loans due to any reason.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For this, the banks and financial institution or the liquidator should make a claim with the fund for the loss they have had to bear.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since 2010, the fund has also been giving credit guarantee for deposits up to Rs 500,000 in the individual accounts maintained at banks. As of last fiscal year-end, the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund assured to guarantee deposits worth Rs 1233 billion maintained at 41.5 million accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18806', 'image' => '20230924025245_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:52:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Fails to Acquire Concessional Loans from AIIB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In every annual meeting of AIIB, the finance ministry of Nepal submits proposals for concessional loans from the multilateral donor organisation but the AIIB turns down the proposals every time. Even now, Finance Minister Dr Parkash Sharan Mahat, leading a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Finance, has reached Cairo to lobby for concessional loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB, which was established under the leadership of China, has set high interest rates on commercial loans, so underdeveloped countries like Nepal have a problem in getting concessional loan facilities. Nepal is also a founding member of the bank. Even though Nepal is not able to benefit much from the bank, Finance Minister Mahat has gone to Cairo to participate in the annual meeting of AIIB to be held this week with the proposal of subsidized loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal is seeking loans from AIIB at the same interest and facilities as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. In every annual meeting and bilateral discussion, Nepal has been seeking for loans at subsidized interest rates. Nepal is not ready to take a loans other than concessional loans from AIIB as the interest rate is higher than that of Exim Bank. The bank’s officials have repeatedly requested Nepal to take loans, but they have refused to give concessions on interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB has been giving loans at 2.5 percent interest rate. Finance Minister Mahat says that Nepal is not in a position to invest in infrastructure with such loans given in US dollars. Minister Mahat will make a proposal for a concessional loan with AIIB, mainly with the argument that there is a lack of capital for Nepal's infrastructure development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">When taking a loan from AIIB, the interest rate is fixed by adding 1 to 1.5 percentage points to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The Ministry of Finance said that AIIB's loan can be used only by blending it with loans received from other donor agencies at cheaper interest rates. The Chinese government has 30 percent shares in the bank. Nepal has invested Rs 8 billion in it, which is 0.08 percent of the bank's capital. The purpose of this bank is to mobilize more capital in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the bank in 2013. The government of Nepal has not been able to benefit much from AIIB, which has emerged as a competitive bank among international financial institutions.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18805', 'image' => '20230924020450_AIIB_20221212_Press-Release_ESS-Communications_1129X620px.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '19th Asian Games: Nepal's Table Tennis Team Eliminated in Group Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China. Both the Nepali women's and men's teams have been eliminated in the group stage of the team event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the matches held at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou city on Saturday, the Nepali women's team lost to India with a score of 0-3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's Sikka Suwal was defeated by India's Diya Parag Chitale 11-1, 11-6 and 11-8 while Nabita Shrestha was defeated by Ahyika Mukharjee 11-3, 11-7, and Ivana Thapa Magar lost the match to Sutirtha Mukherjee with a score of 1-11, 5-11 and 2-11. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's men's team was also defeated by North Korea in straight sets of 3-0. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Samyog Kapali lost to North Korea's player 7-11, 4-11 and 5-11. In another match, Rubin Maharjan was defeated by a score of 11-2, 11-6, and 11-2, while Bilosh Shrestha lost the match 8-11, 2-11 and 3-11. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18804', 'image' => '20230924013702_720 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:36:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aadhyanta Accelerator Program Concludes with ‘Historic’ Rs 200 Million Commitment for 10 Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">The eight-month program organised in collaboration with Sahaj-NAMDP, FNCCI Koshi Province, and the Provincial Investment Authority, zeroed in on empowering agricultural enterprises, priming them for scalability and drawing investors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement, the fund management company said that the initiative actively envisions amplifying the entrepreneurship in Koshi Province, and to expedite economic activities as well as to promote pioneering and innovation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">According to the statement, 10 enterprises emerged investment-ready at the culmination of the accelerator program. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Significant investors, including Global Equity Fund, NIMB Ace Capital Limited, Himalayan Capital Limited, Reliable Ventures Limited, and Aadhyanta Fund Management, expressed interest in five enterprises, signaling commitments to the tune of Rs 200 million, reads the statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Beneficiaries of this financial pact include Birat Group, Khetipati Organics, Agri Center Jhapa, Raktakali Tea Estate, and Dibyadristi Veneration and Agro.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Rajendra Raut, executive member of FNCCI and President of FNCCI Koshi Province, chaired the momentous gathering. The event was attended by Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City Nagesh Koirlaa, and distinguished personalities including Reema Shrestha, Dr Saroj Koirala, among others.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Commenting on the day's significance, Manoj Paudel of Aadhyanta shed light on the transformational potential of the alternative finance industry for the Nepali economy, positioning it as a robust counterweight to political uncertainties impacting economic stability.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18803', 'image' => '20230924022241_Picture.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:20:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">September 25: Transport entrepreneurs are preparing to open advance bookings for the upcoming festivals from the beginning of October. Stakeholders decided to open advance booking in order to manage traffic congestion during the festivals.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">A joint meeting of the stakeholders including officials from the Department of Transport Management, Metropolitan Traffic Police Division and transport entrepreneurs held at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport on Friday took a decision to this effect.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Saroj Sitaula, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs, said that ticket bookings will not be opened until the roads damaged due to floods and landslides are repaired. Although the government has formed a task force for road maintenance, he expressed doubt that the work would be completed within a short span before Dashain.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">At present, most of the roads in the country including Narayangadh-Muglin road section, Narayangadh-Butwal road section, Muglin-Pokhara road section, Tokha-Chhare road section, BP Highway are damaged. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Sitaula express concerns that road travel will not be safe if the roads are not repaired, especially during the festive season when there is more traffic.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Apart from this, the transport entrepreneurs have also demanded to increase the fares of public vehicles. They argued that the fares need to be revised because of the rise in price of petroleum products.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala formed a task force under the leadership of Uddhav Rijal, director general of the DoTM, on Friday to improve the transport management during the festivals. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The taskforce has been mandated to submit a report within a week with suggestions. After this taskforce studies and submits the report to the ministry, the date of ticket booking will be decided. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">Around 100,000 are expected to leave the Kathmandu Valley in about 5,000 vehicles each day ahead of the festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Nirmala UI","sans-serif"">The Dashain festival kicks off on October 15 this year, as per the Vedic Hindu lunar calendar.</span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18817', 'image' => '20230925051953_20191001123102_home going for dashain_passengers of dashain_koteshwor area (2).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 17:19:01', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19087', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal, China Sign 12 Different Agreements during PM Dahal's China Visit', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: Nepal and China have signed 12 different agreements and one memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: Nepal and China have signed 12 different agreements and one memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Concerned officials of Nepal and China signed the agreements and MoU after a meeting between Prime Minister Dahal and his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, at the Great Hall of the People on Monday. Prime Minister Dahal is on a week-long official visit to China since September 23. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretaries of the concerned ministries, Nepali Ambassador to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, and Chinese officials were present during the occasion.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The National Planning Commission of Nepal and National Development and Reform Commission of China also signed an agreement for collaboration. NPC Vice-Chairperson Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha and Chinese official signed the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, a MoU regarding production and distribution of different goods of northern hill region of Nepal signed between Nepal and China in 2017 was exchanged between Nepali Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese official. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, National Development and Reforms Commission of China and Nepal's Finance Ministry signed an agreement for collaboration on the issue of forwarding digital economy. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, the NDRC of China and Ministry of Forests and Environment of Nepal signed an agreement for collaboration in green financing and low carbon emission. Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese official signed the agreement. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal also agreed on the issue of collaboration for agriculture, livestock and fisheries development. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr Rewati Raman Poudel and Chinese official signed the agreement in this regard. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A MoU has been signed between the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal to form a joint technical working group to review and amend the China Nepal Trade and Payment Agreement reached in 1981. The memorandum of understanding was signed between Commerce and Supply Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and this Chinese counterpart. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">On the occasion, an agreement was reached between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal on a protocol regarding the export of plants for medicinal production from Nepal to China. The protocol was signed between Dr Poudel of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Chinese official. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An agreement has been reached between the Chinese Department of Press and Publication and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to translate and publish ancient texts. The agreement was signed between Ambassador Shrestha and Chinese officials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Nepal and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China reached an agreement to cooperate in the fields of science, technology and innovation. The agreement was signed between Suresh Adhikari, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Chinese officials. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Besides, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Ambassador Shrestha and the Chinese officials on the issues of disaster management, human resources and the Hilsa-Simkot road project. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18816', 'image' => '20230925015509_PRO-KTM-2.JPG', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 13:54:24', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19088', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Government to Issue Citizenship Certificates to NRNs', 'sub_title' => 'Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulations published in Nepal Gazette', 'summary' => 'September 25: With the publication of Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2080, in the Nepal Gazette, citizenship certificates will now be issued to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs). ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: With the publication of Nepal Citizenship (Third Amendment) Regulation, 2080, in the Nepal Gazette, citizenship certificates will now be issued to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs). </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at a programme organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development on Monday, Chief of Citizenship and Identity Card Management Section at the Home Ministry, Krishna Bahadur Katuwal, shared that this provision has come into effect after the Regulations were published in Nepal Gazette on September 21. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">An arrangement has been made to mention non-resident Nepali citizenship certificate in the citizenship provided to non-resident Nepalis. He clarified that those acquiring such type of citizenship certificate would have no political rights. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Regulations, those acquiring non-resident Nepali citizenship certificate would have social, cultural and financial rights while arrangement of oath has also made for them, mentioned Katuwal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The Regulations has also provision that citizenship could be granted to the citizens above 16 years on the basis of the signature of people's representative if the applicants' father or family refuse to sign for the citizenship certificate. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, citizenship certificate could be provided to children brought up at government certified orphanages based on the recommendation of local governments. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, the new Regulations have a provision that citizenship certificate could be granted to those who have already acquired citizenship but willing to change their gender status in the citizenship certificate on the basis of certificate from the Ministry of Health and Population. -- RSS</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18815', 'image' => '20230925025014_citizenship.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 14:49:20', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19086', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '200 New Hotels Added in Thamel', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: The number of hotels has increased in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, which is a popular tourist destination. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 25: The number of hotels has increased in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, which is a popular tourist destination. This is the result of businessmen resuming the plan to build hotels that was put on hold due to Covid-19.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With the announcement of the government to celebrate 'Nepal Visit Year' in 2020, businessmen had planned to open more hotels and restaurants in Thamel area. The government had announced an ambitious plan to bring 2 million tourists in the tourism year. However, the the Covid-19 pandemic slowed down the tourist activity, and the businessmen stalled their plans. Bhaweshwar Sharma, chairman of Thamel Tourism Development Council informed New Business Age that the number of hotels have increased in the Thamel area as businessmen increased their investment as the Covid-19 pandemic has subsided.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“As the Covid-19 has subsided, the infrastructure development increased rapidly. Some are under construction,” said Sharma. Some of the added hotels include Aloft, Barahi, Agantuk, Kailashkut, and Surya.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma informed that the work of collecting data of various businesses in this area is continuing even after the pandemic. He said, “During the collection of data, it was found that a total of 573 hotels are currently operating in this area. Before the onset of Covid-19, only 373 hotels were operating in this area in 2019." According to him, this number includes five-star to tourist level hotels.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">At present, the hotels in this area have the capacity to serve 35,000 tourists on a daily basis. Although the hotel infrastructure has increased, the number of tourists has not increased proportionately though. Before Covid-19, around 5,000 to 7,000 tourists used to visit this area daily, which is around 4,000 to 5,000 at present.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With the increase in the number of tourists coming to the country, the number of people arriving at Thamel has also increased. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“This number is not significant though. Currently the occupancy of the hotels here is 40 to 50 percent. However, we estimate that it will reach 75 percent to 80 percent by the end of the tourist season,” Sharma said. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The council is also making necessary preparations for night business in Thamel, providing 24-hour service facilities to the tourists. On Sunday, the council and Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) organized an interaction program in the presence of hoteliers of Thamel area, metropolitan police circle Durbarmarg and police chief of Sohrakhutte.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">General Secretary of HAN, Sajan Shakya, said that cooperation is necessary to create an environment where they can safely visit Thamel. He emphasized that the number of hotels, restaurants, and travel companies increased in this area as compared to the period before Covid-19, and that now there is need for the cooperation between police and businessmen as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, Chaturbhuj Ojha, head of Metropolitan Police Circle, Sohrakhutte said that the police administration is ready to help Thamel tourism and businesses. Ojha added that the police are ready to cooperate as long as the businessmen do not violate the law.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“Businessmen should strictly follow the law, let's work under the law rather than taking quick benefits. Let's cooperate in tourism promotion and security,”</span> said Ojha</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18814', 'image' => '20230925123524_20200730023507_20200504104410_20190511105700_Clipboard37 2.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 12:34:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19085', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Call for Operating Direct Flights from China to Bhairahawa and Pokhara ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 25: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward for support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 25: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Chandra Dhakal has said Nepal is looking forward for support from the Government of China in operating direct flights to two new international airports, Bhairahawa and Pokhara, operational in major tourist destinations of Nepal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Furthermore, he said Nepal's hospitality industry is ready to welcome Chinese tourists, with numerous standard hotels catering to their needs. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Speaking at the Nepal China Business Summit, held in Beijing on Sunday during the official visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to China, he said facilitating cross-border trade and ensuring the smooth movement of goods and people is crucial for bilateral socio-economic integration. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"The removal of trade barriers, including non-tariff measures, along with the full implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, will lead to increased mutual benefits from bilateral trade," he added. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">He also invited the Chinese business community to invest in Nepal's hydropower sector, both for domestic consumption and export to neighboring countries including China itself. Apart from hydropower, investment in tourism infrastructure, such as cable cars, theme parks, and resorts, holds great promise in Nepal, added Dhakal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal has already proven to be a trusted destination for Chinese investment, with Chinese investment accounting for over 35 per cent of the total approved foreign direct investments. Furthermore, China is Nepal's second-largest trading partner. However, while we import 16 per cent of our total goods from China, our exports to China remain minimal. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal said Nepal is committed to further opening up to foreign investment, technology transfer, public-private partnerships, and investment-related policies to attract both global and regional FDIs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">“We anticipate a boost in FDI inflows from China, maintaining China as the largest source of FDI for Nepal,” he added. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dhakal also said FNCCI, as the apex private sector representative body in Nepal, is always ready to cooperate on all fronts to further promote economic relations between Nepal and China. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18813', 'image' => '20230925115138_20220516125900_1652665732.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 11:50:59', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19084', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Slisha Bhandari Sets National Record in Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepali female shooter Slisha Bhandari has set a new national record in 10m air rifle competition. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepali female shooter Slisha Bhandari has set a new national record in 10m air rifle competition. She scored a total of 616.9 points in the 19th Asian Games underway in China to set the new national record in her first ever international competition. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the record was held by Kalpana Pariyar. Pariyar had set the record in the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. She had set the record with 616.8 points. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Bhandari scored 101.1, 110.3 and 102.5 points in the first three rounds. Likewise, she scored 105, 104.8 and 103.2 points in the next three stages. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">It may be noted that 19-year-old Bhandari started her sports journey from the 9th National Games meet held in Gandaki province last year. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => 'asian games, slisha, bhandari, shooting, air, rifle, national, record', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18812', 'image' => '20230925110535_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 11:04:19', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19083', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Prime Commercial Bank Organizes Blood Donation to Mark Its 17th Anniversary', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Prime Commercial Bank Limited organized a blood donation program on the occasion of its 17th anniversary. In collaboration with Kantipur Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, the bank held the blood donation program at the central office of the bank located in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu.', 'content' => '<p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">September 25: Prime Commercial Bank Limited organized a blood donation program on the occasion of its 17th anniversary. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">In collaboration with Kantipur Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, the bank held the blood donation program at the central office of the bank located in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">A total of 51 individuals participated in the program by donating blood. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:17.0pt">As a token of appreciation, Sanjeev Manandhar, the Chief Executive Officer of the bank, handed out certificates of recognition to the blood donors.</span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18811', 'image' => '20230925055828_collage (1).jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 05:57:04', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19082', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Flights from Manthali to Lukla Airport Commence', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'Commercial flights from Manthali in Ramechhap district to Lukla have officially commenced from Sunday. Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air have started off regular flights from Manthali Airport, catering primarily to foreign tourists.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">September 25: Commercial flights from Manthali in Ramechhap district to Lukla have officially commenced from Sunday. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air have started off regular flights from Manthali Airport, catering primarily to foreign tourists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">This new air route has been established in response to the heightened air traffic congestion experienced at Kathmandu Airport during the peak tourist season. </span></span><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The three airlines ferry tourists from Kathmandu to Manthali by bus and then onward to Lukla via aircraft.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">With the advent of the tourist season this year, it is anticipated that these airlines will conduct an increased number of flights, provided that weather conditions remain favorable. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Manthali Airport, located in close proximity to Kathmandu, boasts refueling facilities and serves as an emergency landing site for aircraft in the eastern region. (RSS)</span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-25', 'modified' => '2023-09-25', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18810', 'image' => '20230925054431_collage.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-25 05:43:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '42' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19081', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'China Rules in Pool and Beyond on Inaugural Day of Asian Games', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: China dominated the opening day of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, winning the first gold and then making a clean sweep in swimming event.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">September 24: China dominated the opening day of the 19<sup>th</sup> Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday, winning the first gold and then making a clean sweep in swimming event. According to AFP, Chinese athletes broke several records in the process.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">By the end of a highly successful day one for the hosts, they had pocketed 20 of 31 golds, while their nearest challengers South Korea had five.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">China's medal rush began when Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping dominated the women's lightweight double sculls rowing for the first gold of the Games, finishing almost 10 seconds ahead of Uzbekistan, added AFP. It was especially satisfying for Zou, who hails from Hangzhou.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The home nation won six of the seven golds at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre rowing venue with only Hong Kong's Lam San-tung and Wong Wai-chun getting in on the party by winning the men's pairs, added the French news agency.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">More golds rolled in for China in shooting, modern pentathlon, wushu and artistic gymnastics, in which they triumphed in the men's team event ahead of Japan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">But they saved the best for last in swimming, in what is always one of the most prestigious events at the Games and has extra significance with the Paris Olympics less than a year away, according to AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The news agency reported that Olympic champion Zhang Yufei, China's "Butterfly Queen", was among the winners as the hosts romped home in all seven races on the opening night in the pool, smashing a slew of Asian records.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Zhang successfully defended her 200m butterfly crown, cruising to victory ahead of teammate Yu Liyan in a new Games-record time of 2min 05.57sec.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">That has been bettered this year only by Canadian star Summer McIntosh and Australia's Lizzie Dekkers, then Zhang claimed a second gold of the night in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The first official day of the 19th Asian Games also saw medals handed out in fencing, judo and taekwondo.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Two of South Korea's five golds came in taekwondo, with Kang Wan-jin winning the men's individual poomsae and Cha Yea-eun doing likewise in the women's event, added AFP.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Likewise, India's women cricketers earlier ripped through Bangladesh, dismissing them for just 51 in the first semi-final.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">President Xi Jinping opened the Games on Saturday night after a delay of a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">According to AFP, the Asian Games has more participants than the Olympics with more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">The athletes are vying for 40 gold medals in 40 sports disciplines across 54 venues.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => 'Asian, Games, China, Xi, Jinping, sports, swimming, judo', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18809', 'image' => '20230924093816_AP23267486100452.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 21:37:07', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19080', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'PM Dahal Pledges to Protect Chinese Investment in Nepal ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that the Government of Nepal will make every possible effort to facilitate and protect Chinese investment and entrepreneurs in Nepal, while calling upon them to take full advantage of the unique opportunity that the country has to offer and explore the benefit from the new avenues that have opened up in Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 24: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged that the Government of Nepal will make every possible effort to facilitate and protect Chinese investment and entrepreneurs in Nepal, while calling upon them to take full advantage of the unique opportunity that the country has to offer and explore the benefit from the new avenues that have opened up in Nepal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"There is a huge scope for boosting Chinese investment in Nepal in areas, such as hydropower generation, infrastructure, tourism, SMEs and startup businesses, ICT, agriculture, including highland agriculture, herbal and pharmaceutical industries, e-commerce, new and renewable energy," he said while noting that for Chinese enterprises, in particular, Nepal remains a very attractive investment destination. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">In a statement delivered at Nepal-China Business Summit on the theme "Facilitating Investments in Nepal: An Interaction with Chinese Business Enterprises" in Beijing, the capital of China on Sunday, PM Dahal said Nepal-China bilateral trade has continued to grow in a steady and consistent manner, with China being the largest source of foreign direct investment and the second largest trading partner for Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, Prime Minister Dahal, who is on a week-long official visit of China, said, the burgeoning trade deficit is a matter of serious concern for Nepal, which needs to be addressed. "We are making continued efforts to facilitate trade and finds ways particularly to increase Nepal’s export to China. This can be done by enhancing our productive capacity, improving physical infrastructure and making quality certification mechanism more robust." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Noting that the export of Nepali products such as tea, herbal medicine, citrus food, buffalo meat, coffee, ginger, yarn to China have great potential and should, therefore, be prioritized, Prime Minister Dahal stressed on the need to reduce technical barriers and ensure preferential treatment to these products. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The export of the first batch of haylage from Nepal to China in the recent past should make us confident that more such export is possible, said Dahal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He also said strong collaboration and exchanges between the private sectors of the two countries can meaningfully contribute to the further development of Nepal-China economic relationship for mutual benefit.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">With a view to creating an environment conducive for business and investment, Nepal has introduced various business-friendly policies and laws to tap the opportunities provided by a peaceful and stable political climate in the country, said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"We have enacted the Foreign Investment and Technology transfer Act, 2019, Public Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2019, Industrial Enterprises Act 2019, Special Economic Zones Act, 2019 and many more investment-related legal instruments for facilitating and accelerating investments in Nepal," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The “one-stop service center” has been established at the Department of Industries in order to facilitate the investors through simplified and streamlined processes. Similarly, the Investment Board of Nepal has been working actively to promote large scale foreign investment in prioritized sectors on a fast-track basis, he added.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The prime minister also expressed his commitment to making further reforms in policies, regulations and procedures. "The macroeconomic conditions of our economy are relatively stable, and conducive for long-term investments and economic growth. The labor laws are flexible and supportive of the security of industry as well as of economic growth and efficiency."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Stating that foreign investment is treated on par with domestic industry, he said those interested may establish a new company with equity investment, invest as a joint venture or through lease financing as well as by technology transfer agreements. Furthermore, the energy supply situation has improved significantly, said Dahal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Now we are in a position to export surplus power. Roads, railways and aviation, industrial parks and other infrastructures are under expansion, which would contribute to efficiency and effectiveness of business,” he further said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Prime Minister Dahal also pointed out that Nepal has the lowest corporate tax rate in the region. Special industries, enterprises operating roads, bridges, railways, hydropower, transmission lines, etc under the ‘Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT)’ basis are provided special incentives, according to the PM.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“Graduation to a middle-income country by 2030 is an opportunity to upscale our productive capacity and undertake structural transformation, which requires a significant amount of investment in critical infrastructure and cutting-edge technology and we count on Chinese investment in filling our financial and technological gaps," he noted.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Over the years, Nepal and China have taken important initiatives to improve cross-border connectivity by building more infrastructure and economic connection.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"Under the framework of Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, we are working to develop cross border economic zones, road corridors and railway, transmission lines and air connection," he said.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He also referred to Nepal joining the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017 and the work underway to finalize its implementation plan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On a different note, Prime Minister Dahal congratulated the Government and the people of China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping for successfully achieving the first centennial goal of lifting Chinese people from poverty line and conveyed his best wishes for the second centennial goal of making China a modern socialist country in all respects. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">From infrastructure to industrialization, from human development to poverty alleviation, from education and health services to science and technology, the advancement China has made under the able stewardship of the Communist Party of China is rarely seen in the history of human civilization, said Dahal. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"As a close neighbour, it is but natural for Nepal to desire for enhanced economic partnership with China for mutual benefits," Dahal said, "There are so many enabling factors anchored in close affinity and geographical proximity of our two countries that need to be utilized to promote mutually beneficial cooperation." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The prime minister also noted that international business environment is facing range of challenges posed by economic downturn, geopolitical turmoil and shifting priorities of the nations. However, crisis also brings opportunity, said Dahal, adding, "I believe that our business leaders are capable enough to turn this global downturn into opportunities by innovation and by doing things differently. We need to enhance economic engagements in neighborhood for greater synergy and efficiency." </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">"President Xi and I have reached broad consensus on strengthening economic cooperation and partnership between our two countries. We will take further decisions on promoting cross-border connectivity during this visit. We will continue to take further measures to reinforce economic engagement between the two countries." -- RSS</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' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18808', 'image' => '20230924084614_PRO-Beijing-PMPrachandb.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 20:45:37', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19079', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'NRB Issues Silver Medallion Coins', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced silver medallion coins featuring the image of a 'cow'. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 24: The Mint Division of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced silver medallion coins featuring the image of a 'cow'. NRB governor Maha Prasad Adhikari released the coins amid a program at the division office in Babarmahal on Sunday. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The medallion coins are available in two different weights: 10 grams and 25 grams. The value of the 10-gram coin is Rs 1,600 while the 25-gram coin is valued at Rs 4,000 per coin.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the Mint Division, the medallion coins were minted from the bank's silver stock with a purity of 999. These coins do not feature a specified face value and such coin is called the medallion. The NRB Board of Directors on June 2 decided to mint the coins and bring them into circulation. -- RSS</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18807', 'image' => '20230924055943_F6x3PJuW8AEPFDp.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 17:59:12', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19078', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Govt Expands Scope of Credit Guarantee', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: The government is preparing to expand the score of credit guarantee on provided by banks and financial institutions. The government’s decision to amend the Credit Guarantee Regulations 2080 to allow credit guarantee programs in new areas has paved the way to expand the scope of the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund (DCGF).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">According to the revised regulations, the fund will be able to launch new credit guarantee programs in areas related to climate change, start-ups, information technology, skill development training, environmental protection, disaster management, alternative and renewable energy, women's entrepreneurship, etc. For this, the fund can take appropriate decision based on the size of the credit guarantee fund, financial resources of the fund, market demand and needs. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">So far, the fund has been guaranteeing credit provided to small and medium enterprises by banks and microfinance companies as well as deprived sector lending and loans provided at subsidized interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Ramesh Ghimire, the chief executive officer of DCGF, said that the amendment of the regulations has paved the way for the fund to expand the scope of credit guarantee in the areas according to market needs. He claimed that the role of the fund is important in expanding the access to credit in Nepal and that the banks have been able to extend credit with confidence because of security assurance.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Until the last fiscal year, the fund covered credit guarantee of loans worth Rs 2.74 billion of 1.7 million borrowers.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Once the banks have been assured of credit guarantee, the DCGF will have to bear the loss if the banks fail to recover the loans due to any reason.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For this, the banks and financial institution or the liquidator should make a claim with the fund for the loss they have had to bear.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Since 2010, the fund has also been giving credit guarantee for deposits up to Rs 500,000 in the individual accounts maintained at banks. As of last fiscal year-end, the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund assured to guarantee deposits worth Rs 1233 billion maintained at 41.5 million accounts.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18806', 'image' => '20230924025245_blank - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:52:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19076', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Nepal Fails to Acquire Concessional Loans from AIIB', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal is yet to benefit from concessional loans from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In every annual meeting of AIIB, the finance ministry of Nepal submits proposals for concessional loans from the multilateral donor organisation but the AIIB turns down the proposals every time. Even now, Finance Minister Dr Parkash Sharan Mahat, leading a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Finance, has reached Cairo to lobby for concessional loan.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB, which was established under the leadership of China, has set high interest rates on commercial loans, so underdeveloped countries like Nepal have a problem in getting concessional loan facilities. Nepal is also a founding member of the bank. Even though Nepal is not able to benefit much from the bank, Finance Minister Mahat has gone to Cairo to participate in the annual meeting of AIIB to be held this week with the proposal of subsidized loans.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Nepal is seeking loans from AIIB at the same interest and facilities as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. In every annual meeting and bilateral discussion, Nepal has been seeking for loans at subsidized interest rates. Nepal is not ready to take a loans other than concessional loans from AIIB as the interest rate is higher than that of Exim Bank. The bank’s officials have repeatedly requested Nepal to take loans, but they have refused to give concessions on interest rates.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">AIIB has been giving loans at 2.5 percent interest rate. Finance Minister Mahat says that Nepal is not in a position to invest in infrastructure with such loans given in US dollars. Minister Mahat will make a proposal for a concessional loan with AIIB, mainly with the argument that there is a lack of capital for Nepal's infrastructure development.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">When taking a loan from AIIB, the interest rate is fixed by adding 1 to 1.5 percentage points to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The Ministry of Finance said that AIIB's loan can be used only by blending it with loans received from other donor agencies at cheaper interest rates. The Chinese government has 30 percent shares in the bank. Nepal has invested Rs 8 billion in it, which is 0.08 percent of the bank's capital. The purpose of this bank is to mobilize more capital in the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the bank in 2013. The government of Nepal has not been able to benefit much from AIIB, which has emerged as a competitive bank among international financial institutions.</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18805', 'image' => '20230924020450_AIIB_20221212_Press-Release_ESS-Communications_1129X620px.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:04:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19075', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '19th Asian Games: Nepal's Table Tennis Team Eliminated in Group Stage ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 24: Nepal has been knocked out from the group stage in table tennis team event under the 19th Asian games underway in China. Both the Nepali women's and men's teams have been eliminated in the group stage of the team event. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the matches held at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou city on Saturday, the Nepali women's team lost to India with a score of 0-3. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Nepal's Sikka Suwal was defeated by India's Diya Parag Chitale 11-1, 11-6 and 11-8 while Nabita Shrestha was defeated by Ahyika Mukharjee 11-3, 11-7, and Ivana Thapa Magar lost the match to Sutirtha Mukherjee with a score of 1-11, 5-11 and 2-11. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, Nepal's men's team was also defeated by North Korea in straight sets of 3-0. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Samyog Kapali lost to North Korea's player 7-11, 4-11 and 5-11. In another match, Rubin Maharjan was defeated by a score of 11-2, 11-6, and 11-2, while Bilosh Shrestha lost the match 8-11, 2-11 and 3-11. -- RSS </span></span></span><br /> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18804', 'image' => '20230924013702_720 - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 13:36:16', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '19077', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Aadhyanta Accelerator Program Concludes with ‘Historic’ Rs 200 Million Commitment for 10 Enterprises', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">September 24: Aadhyanta Fund Management Limited, a Nepal-based fund mobilization platform, wrapped up its inaugural Aadhyanta Accelerator Program recently in Biratnagar, highlighting the high-growth potential of Koshi Province's Agri SMEs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">The eight-month program organised in collaboration with Sahaj-NAMDP, FNCCI Koshi Province, and the Provincial Investment Authority, zeroed in on empowering agricultural enterprises, priming them for scalability and drawing investors. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Issuing a statement, the fund management company said that the initiative actively envisions amplifying the entrepreneurship in Koshi Province, and to expedite economic activities as well as to promote pioneering and innovation.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">According to the statement, 10 enterprises emerged investment-ready at the culmination of the accelerator program. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Significant investors, including Global Equity Fund, NIMB Ace Capital Limited, Himalayan Capital Limited, Reliable Ventures Limited, and Aadhyanta Fund Management, expressed interest in five enterprises, signaling commitments to the tune of Rs 200 million, reads the statement.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Beneficiaries of this financial pact include Birat Group, Khetipati Organics, Agri Center Jhapa, Raktakali Tea Estate, and Dibyadristi Veneration and Agro.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Rajendra Raut, executive member of FNCCI and President of FNCCI Koshi Province, chaired the momentous gathering. The event was attended by Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City Nagesh Koirlaa, and distinguished personalities including Reema Shrestha, Dr Saroj Koirala, among others.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Arial,"sans-serif"">Commenting on the day's significance, Manoj Paudel of Aadhyanta shed light on the transformational potential of the alternative finance industry for the Nepali economy, positioning it as a robust counterweight to political uncertainties impacting economic stability.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2023-09-24', 'modified' => '2023-09-24', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '18803', 'image' => '20230924022241_Picture.jpg', 'article_date' => '2023-09-24 14:20:38', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
