- Thursday, 19 December 2024
Kathmandu, April 26: Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Maha Prasad Adhikari country’s current economic condition was moderate.
Addressing a programme organized on 69th anniversary of NRB here Friday, the governor said the year 2080 BS witnessed positive signs on external sector of the economy despite low demand for credit and economic slowdown.
He also said that the central bank got succeed in managing fiscal stability and strengthening of the payment system and contain high inflation.
The NRB governor argued that the inflation rate of the consumer goods in the current fiscal year is expected to be within the moderate cap of 6.5 per cent. He, however, cautioned that Russia-Ukraine conflict and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and ban imposed by some countries in the expert of foodstuffs could pose risk with price fluctuation in foodstuffs and fuel.
“Like the previous fiscal year, growth in remittance inflow is encouraging,” he added, stating that sufficient liquidity in the market and reduced interest rate have created bases for better economic activities.
Likewise, the governor said that agricultural output is estimated to be satisfactory in the current fiscal year due to favourable weather and timely supplies of fertilizers.
Production of 600 megawatts of power in the current fiscal year and progress in tourism industry could ensure an average growth in the economy, he added.
Similarly, he shared that the central bank is making efforts to formulate some vital laws and procedures for the management of monetary and fiscal sectors. And added that drafting of the Lease Finance, and Securitization among others is ongoing.
Adhikari claimed that the NRB was doing effectively for the management of monetary sector adding that the central bank has vital role in country’s overall economic development and fiscal stability.
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20- Fugitive arrested after 26 years
Trishuli (Nuwakot), April 26: A convict in the human trafficking case has been arrested after 26 years of the court verdict. The arrestee is Junga Bahadur Tamang (Ram) of Dupcheshwor rural municipality-4.
He was proven guilty in the case relating to the trafficking of a woman from Nepal to India. The Nuwakot police arrested him on Friday from Satbise of Tadi rural municipality-4 in the district.
According to the District Police Office’s Chief Superintendent of Police, Shantiraj Koirala, Tamang was apprehended on tip-off.
Tamang had been absconding since the court’s verdict.
On February 2, 1999, the Makwanpur District Court had sentenced him to nine years, seven months, and ten days of imprisonment for his involvement in the trafficking case. Following his arrest, Tamang has been sent to prison to serve the sentence.
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21- No alternative to digital departure: Minister Sharma
Kathmandu, April 26: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has viewed there was no alternative to digital departure for progressive transformation of the country.
Inaugurating the ‘digital expo’ organized by Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kathmandu here Friday, Minister reminded that government was at work to ensure national coverage of internet.
Agriculture, energy, tourism and IT are major focus of government, while three projects relating to IT would be dangled at investment summit, according to her. She urged the private sectors to invest in these sectors.
The Minister further said online trade was on rise with the development of IT. It is time to manage well the digital trade, to which government is thinking of, she informed.
The spokesperson of the government reiterated commitment to resolve problems facing private sectors. Efforts to remove procedural and legal hurdles were begun to create atmosphere conducive for investment.
“Private sector should also come forward; robust public-private collaboration paves way for country’s development,” she argued.
On the occasion, Chair of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Kamalesh Agrawal, sought government’s role on better coordination with private sector, which has significant role on economic prosperity. He demanded that government eased interstate online payment.
Vice chair of FNCCI, Hemraj Dhakal, also sought effective role of government to create investment friendly atmosphere. Present economy needs structural change, he stressed.
Similarly, Chair of the Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries, Umesh Singh, suggested the government that it took private sector in confidence to improve national economy.
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22- Handicraft business for import reduction: Minister Bhandari
Kathmandu, April 26: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has recognized the role of handicrafts business in reducing the country’s imports.
In his address to an interaction organised by the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal here Friday, the Minister said the handicraft business itself carries a great potential for contributing to the discouragement of imports, for which use of capital and technology is essential.
As he said, the handicraft business is not just a trade, but visibility of country’s culture and heritage. It has also the role on employment creation.
On the occasion, the Minister shared about the government’s preparations for implementing the draft of the Handicrafts Development Policy submitted by the Federation.
According to him, the government is making efforts to establish the SAARC Handicrafts Design Centre in Nepal on the public-private partnership model in a bid to provide necessary guidelines and services to handicrafts entrepreneurs in an integrated way.
Such services include design, development, quality certification, marketing and entrepreneurship schemes and so on. He shared that a building for the proposed SAARC Handicrafts Design Centre has been readied at Tripureshwor and the government is preparing to endorse the procedures to operate the facility.
He pledged that the government would leave no stone unturned to promote handicraft items listed in the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy formulated by the Ministry to promote industry and enterprises properly.
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23- Community development project launched in Chitwan
Kathmandu, April 26: The High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) based in Khairahani municipality of Chitwan, was launched on Friday.
The project came into implementation with the financial assistance of India at the tendered cost of Rs 36.74 million under the ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’. It was jointly inaugurated by Shashi Kumar Khaniya, mayor of Khairahani municipality, and Shri Avinash Kumar Singh, the first secretary at Embassy of India, Kathmandu.
Public representatives, government officials, representatives of the project user committee, and social workers joined the inauguration.
This project, implemented through the local government, is an important example of the robust development partnership between India and Nepal, the Embassy said in a statement.
This HICDP-Embankment and Launching Apron Dhungre Khole River Training Works is expected to help prevent agricultural land erosion, deforestation, and frequent eviction of locals due to river flood flow and mitigate the risk associated with river dynamics and enhance resilience against natural calamities.
Since 2003, the Indian government has taken up over 551 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and has completed 489 projects, according to the Embassy.
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24- People despair over setbacks in communist movement: Chair Nepal
Kathmandu, April 26: Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist), Madhav Kumar Nepal, has said people were despair over frequent setbacks in country’s communist movement.
During a programme organized by the Youth Association affiliated to his party here Friday, Chairman Nepal reminded that split among communist had caused public despair and aggression.
He informed that his party would be established as per communist concept. Socialist revolution and economic transformation were party’s guideline, he made it clear. Socioeconomic transformation is essential to end all sorts of discriminations in society, Nepal said, adding that proper policy, principles and programmes can address societal needs.
The former PM viewed it is State’s responsibility to protect legal rights of all citizens for equality. He claimed political revolution was over in the country.
The leader opined it is responsibility of communist party to ensure social justice and prosperity.
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25- NC President urges party people to involve in rescue of fire survivors
Kathmandu, April 26: Nepali Congress (NC) President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has instructed party leaders and cadres to involve in rescue and relief efforts meant for the survivors of fire incidents reported in various districts across the country.
Issuing a press statement on Friday, the NC President directed the party people to get engaged in the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation of the fire survivors in Mahottari, Khotang, Baglung, Parbat, Gulmi, Dolpa, among other districts.
He expressed sorrow over the loss of lives, livestock, and physical properties in the incidents, extending sympathy to the affected and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He wished eternal peace to those killed in the incidents.
The leader of the main opposition demands the government ensure immediate relief, compensation, and shelter for those rendered homeless in the incidents, guaranteeing proper medical treatment to the injured.
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26- “World’s cheapest hydrogen energy could be produced in Nepal”
Kathmandu, April 26: Stakeholders and experts have stressed that a focus should be laid on production of alternative energy including hydrogen energy, solar energy and wind energy along with the hydroelectricity in Nepal.
At a session on ‘Pioneering the Clean Energy Synergy’ at the sideline of the Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 organized by Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) in the capital city, they said alternative energy has no option for energy security in the country.
On the occasion, hydrogen expert and Professor of Kathmandu University Biraj Singh Thapa said Nepal should get prepared for hydrogen energy since its price is expected to lower 62 per cent by 2030.
He argued a study carried out in the UK has shown that production of hydrogen energy is inexpensive in Nepal compared to other countries. “World’s cheapest hydrogen energy could be produced in Nepal through the mixture of solar, wind and hydro,” Prof Dr Thapa shared.
Stating that the Kathmandu University carried out a symbolic job by running hydrogen vehicle, Prof Dr Thapa called for collaboration of the government and private sector for this.
“Now the government and other sector should invest in this area. Ammonia is emerging as an energy for future. Research work is being carried out on this in partnership between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the Kathmandu University,” he added.
Member of IPPAN Kuber Mani Nepal said solar energy could be an alternative to traditional energy, which is 60 per cent of the total domestic power consumption in the country.
He viewed that a separate policy was needed to deal with the solar energy adding that existing Electricity Bill states very little about it.
Alternative energy producer Kushal Gurung shared that his company was experimenting production of energy from the use of organic waste in Pokhara adding that more than 2.5 million tonnes of organic fertilizer could be produced in Nepal only if 20 per cent of the country’s compostable waste was utilized.
On the occasion, CEO of Simple Energy Apar Neupane, Deputy Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre Dr Laxman Ghimire, CDE of Ministry of Energy Laxmi Jha, former President of IPPAN Shailendra Guragain and others expressed their views on diverse scopes of the alternative energy.
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27- One dead, two injured in forest fire in Baglung
Dhorpatan, April 26: A person was killed while two others were injured in a fire in Baglung on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Devsingh Kami, 48, of Silgum of Tamankhola rural municipality-2 in the district while the injured are Gyan Bahadur Budha Magar, 31, and Prem Bahadur Gharti Magar, 33, of the same locality.
The incident occurred as the three reached the Raniban community forest at Silgum in a bid to put out the blaze spread since Friday morning, according to Area Police Office Burtibang’s Chief Police Inspector Raj Kumar Sunar. The man went missing in the forest at 11:00 am and his body was retrieved later at 2:00 pm.
The injured were rescued and brought to the Burtibang Primary Health Centre. They suffered burns in different parts of the body. Even a house and two cowsheds were also destroyed by the fire.
Until the filing of the report, the blaze is yet to be taken under control, it is said.
Meanwhile, the Division Forest Office, Baglung handed materials to extinguish forest fire. The materials worth Rs 500 thousand were handed to the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, and the Nepali Army.
The incidents of wildfire are on rise in the district lately, according to Office Chief Saroj Panthi.
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28- Nepal’s progress notable: Satyarthi
Kathmandu, April 26: Nobel laureate and noted social activist from India, Kailash Satyarthi, observed that Nepal’s progress in human rights was notable after the political change.
With the mention of rights in constitution, the rights warrant proper address, he underlined.
Satyarthi arrived here as a special guest in the first convocation ceremony of Patan Academy of Health Sciences. During the address, he underlined the need to eliminate child labour. Child labour is sheer exploitation and violation of their rights, he reminded.
The noted human rights activist reminded that he had expressed solidarity to Nepalis’ protest at Nepali Embassy in India during then ongoing people’s movement in Nepal in 2046BS.
Former member of the National Human Rights Commission, Gauri Pradhan, met with Satyarthi. Pradhan said Satyarthi’s messages on social transformation and child rights would be relevant for Nepal as well.
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29- Former finance minister insists on addressing peasants’ problems
Kathmandu, April 26: The decline in contribution of agriculture sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a matter of concern, former Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat said.
In his address to a programme organised by the Nepal Peasants’ Federation here Friday, the former Minister said the agricultural sector has around 25 per cent contribution to the GDP and its declining graph is a matter of concern. He insisted on the combined efforts to address the challenges facing farmers.
Mahat who serves as the Spokesperson for the major opposition Nepali Congress (NC) utilised the moment to call on party leaders and cadres to focus on the strengthening of the party organisation. Expressing his concern over ‘publicity of personal interests’ in the party, he said such a culture would not do good to the organisation.
He also urged organizations aligned with the party to play an effective role in spreading the party ideology up to the grassroots level.
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30- EC calls for exercising franchise in by-polls
Kathmandu, April 26: The Election Commission has called the voters for their participation in the by-elections- of the House of Representatives (HoR) and of the Province Assembly (PA) – taking place in Ilam-2 and Bajhang 1(A) respectively, next day.
Issuing a press note on the eve of the by-election on Friday, the EC appealed to the voters from the respective electoral constituencies to exercise franchise in the scheduled time from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.
As the EC said, all the preparations for the elections were completed.
Voters are urged to possess an official card: it may be a voter ID card, Nepali citizenship certificate or national ID, PAN ID or a driving license to tally it with the final voter name list to be eligible for voting.
The EC further said monitoring of electoral activities was intensified to ensure credible, free and fair election. EC also reminded the adherence to election related laws as Election Commission Act; Election Act, and Election Code of Conduct in the wake of beginning of silence period.
The concerned chief district officers were already directed via the Home Ministry to effectively manage public transportation for voters without affecting election integrity, according to EC.
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