- Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Chainpur (Bajhang), April 29: Daman Bahadur Bhandari, the CPN (UML) candidate for the Province Assembly (PA) by-election in Bajhang 1(A), has emerged victorious.
Bhandari obtained 11,612 votes to win the election, Chief Election Officer Sudarshan Lamichhane informed.
Bhandari’s nearest competitor Abhishek Bahadur Singh of the Nepali Congress secured 11,346 votes while another competitor Janak Bahadur Budha of CPN (Maoist Centre) received 3,967 followed by 2,513 of Dil Bahadur Singh of CPN (Unified Socialist), according to the Chief Election Officer. The election was held on April 27.
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Nepal Investment Summit: Two organisations sign MoU for PPP Cooperation
Kathmandu, April 29: The World Association of PPP Units and Professionals (WAPP) and the Nepalese Association of PPP Professionals and Practitioners (NAPPP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for bilateral cooperation.
The MoU was signed in the course of the ongoing Third Investment Summit underway here since Sunday.
WAPP President Ziad-Alexandre Hayek and NAPPP Chair Anup Kumar Upadhyay signed the document on behalf of their respective sides.
Both parties have agreed to collaborate in matters of mutual concerns and exchange knowledge and experiences regarding the public-private partnership.
Strengthening of physical infrastructure and PPP pipelines, preparations of PPP projects and programmes, and collaboration for the promotion of international exercises in the implementation, hosting of joint gatherings and assemblies, and publications of joint journals are among the contents of the MoU.
NAPPP Chairperson Anup Kumar Upadhyay said the cooperation between the WAPP and NAPPP is expected to help Nepal enhance its knowledge and capacity regarding the PPP and strengthen projects on PPP.
WAPP President Hayek said Nepal has a long experience in the implementation of PPP-based projects and this approach has brought transformations mainly in the hydropower and clean energy sectors. Nepal’s home-grown practices and its experiences are exemplary, he said.
WAPP with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, is a global non-governmental organization. It helps its members achieve their professional goals and promotes best practices in PPP to align with UN SDGs, the WAPP said.
NAPPP is said to be an association that brings together practitioners, professionals, and members from multiple sectors to promote collaboration, innovation, and efficiency in public-private partnerships and investment to contribute to sustainable development.
Meanwhile, today itself, Sakha and Company Private Limited and Anforman Group and BORE Hotel, China have signed an agreement worth Rs 100 million for cooperation in hotel business.
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Nepal meeting Bangladesh Red in Int’l U-19 Volleyball Championship
Bhaktapur, April 29: Nepal is playing the final of the International U-19 Volleyball Championship under way in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Nepal will vie with Bangladesh Red in the final today.
The Nepali team made it to the final defeating the hosts Bangladesh Blue, said Deepak Thapa, the outgoing president of Bhaktapur District Sports Development Committee, who is the manager of the Nepali team.
Thapa said Nepali team defeated Bangladesh Blue 25-16, 25-21 and 25-21 in the semi-final match held on Sunday. Before this, Nepal beat the Maldives 23-25, 25-19, 25-13 and 25-21 in a match held on Saturday and booked its berth in the semi-final.
The team from Bhaktapur has gone to Bangladesh to participate in the Championship. The Nepali squad comprises Suresh Malla, Yagya Raj Joshi, Abhishekh Thapa, Puskal Thapa, Dipen Thapa, Pahal Gahatraj, Raj Kumar Rokaya, Sunil Bohara, Ijjat Danai, Sashi Pulami Magar and Bhuwan Tamang. Utsav Khadka is the coach and Janak Bahadur Khadka is the assistant coach.
President of the Sahayata Foundation, Raju Dhungel, Bikas Basnet, entrepreneur Laxman Awal and team manager Thapa mobilized the fund for sending the team to play the Championship in Bangladesh.
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Ilam by-election: UML candidate Suhang continues to lead in vote count
Fikkal (Ilam), April 29: The counting of votes is underway in Ilam-2 constituency under the by-election to the Member of House of Representatives held on Saturday. So far the counting of votes has been concluded at Phakphokthum, Chulachuli and Mangsebung rural municipalities, the Chief Returning Officer’s Office said.
As per the latest vote tally, CPN (UML) candidate Suhang Nembang continues to lead. Out of the 27,615 votes counted so far, Suhang is leading with a margin of 3,754 votes. He has got 11,078 votes while his closest contender Dambar Bahadur Khadka of the Nepali Congress has received 7,324 votes.
Similarly, independent Dekandra Singh Limbu Thegim has secured 6,901 votes while Milan Limbu of the Rastriya Swatantra Party has bagged 1,512 votes.
However, the Mangsebung rural municipality-5 has thrown up a surprising result in the vote count. The independent candidate from the identity camp has got highest number of votes. Thegim secured 1,032 votes while the candidates of the Nepali Congress and the UML could not cross 69 votes. UML’s Nembang received 69 votes while NC candidate Khadka 49 votes in this Ward.
Rastriya Swatantra Party’s candidate Limbu got only three votes. Kirat religious cleric Aatmananda Lingden lives in this Ward.
Currently, the votes from Mai municipality, Ward No 6 and 7 are being counted. There were 115 thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine registered voters in the Ilam -2 constituency. Sixty-nine thousand two hundred and eighty-seven voters cast votes in the by-election.
The by-election in Ilam-2 was necessitated following the death of Subas Chandra Nembang who represented this constituency in the House of Representatives before this.
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Gandaki Province reports cases of forest fire at 467 locations
Gandaki, April 29: Various 467 locations in Gandaki Provinces presently report incidents of forest fires. According to the Province Forest Directorate, so far forest area spanning around 8,277 hectares has been affected by the wildfire this season.
The cases of fire are expected to soar ahead amidst the prolonged dry season, said Directorate forest officer Tilak Bahadur Thapa.
The Directorate information is that the entire 10 districts in the Province except Mustang are affected by the forest fire. The highest loss is in Nawalpur as it affects around 2,553 hectares and the lowest is in Manang which spreads to two hectares.
In terms of numbers, the highest 81 cases are reported from Myagdi and one from Manang.
In Nawalpur, it has been reported in 80 locations followed by 55 in Parbat, 52 in Baglung, 52 in Syangja, 45 in Kaski, 26 in Tanahu and 24 in Lamjung.
Fire so far affects 1,685 hectares of forest in Baglung, 1416 in Parbat, 922 in Myagdi, 750 in Kaski, 497 in Syangja, 215 in Gorkha, 184 in Tanahu and 51 hectares in Lamjung.
The cases of fire have resulted in fatalities in the Province. One died and two others were injured in the course of their attempt to douse the fire at a local community forest at Tamankhola of Baglung a few days ago. It causes livestock loss in Tarakhola of the district.
Similarly, one injury has been reported from Myagadi in the course of a failed attempt to contain the forest fire.
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Gandaki Province reports cases of forest fire at 467 locations
Gandaki, April 29: Various 467 locations in Gandaki Provinces presently report incidents of forest fires. According to the Province Forest Directorate, so far forest area spanning around 8,277 hectares has been affected by the wildfire this season.
The cases of fire are expected to soar ahead amidst the prolonged dry season, said Directorate forest officer Tilak Bahadur Thapa.
The Directorate information is that the entire 10 districts in the Province except Mustang are affected by the forest fire. The highest loss is in Nawalpur as it affects around 2,553 hectares and the lowest is in Manang which spreads to two hectares.
In terms of numbers, the highest 81 cases are reported from Myagdi and one from Manang.
In Nawalpur, it has been reported in 80 locations followed by 55 in Parbat, 52 in Baglung, 52 in Syangja, 45 in Kaski, 26 in Tanahu and 24 in Lamjung.
Fire so far affects 1,685 hectares of forest in Baglung, 1416 in Parbat, 922 in Myagdi, 750 in Kaski, 497 in Syangja, 215 in Gorkha, 184 in Tanahu and 51 hectares in Lamjung.
The cases of fire have resulted in fatalities in the Province. One died and two others were injured in the course of their attempt to douse the fire at a local community forest at Tamankhola of Baglung a few days ago. It causes livestock loss in Tarakhola of the district.
Similarly, one injury has been reported from Myagadi in the course of a failed attempt to contain the forest fire.
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Nepal-China economic relations tall as Himalayas: Minister Bhandari
Kathmandu, April 29: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said the trade relations between Nepal and Tibet, the autonomous region of China, will find a new height in the days to come.
In his address to an opening of the 17th Nepal China (Tibet) Economic and Trade Fair organised by the Trade and Export Promotion Center at Bhrikutmandap today, the Minister said this.
He acknowledged China as a longstanding trade partner for Nepal. The trade and economic relations and cultural ties between Nepal and China are as towering as the Himalaya.”
The high terrains and challenging topography have never hindered the trade relations between Nepal and China, he said, adding that ” Our ancestors utilized such deemed challenges as opportunities to promote the trans-Himalaya trade relations when the means of modern transports were not available.”
He said Nepal and China always treat and recognize themselves as friends of happiness and sadness, adding that China’s stability, unity, and prosperity are always the wish of Nepal. ” Nepal is always committed to a One-China policy and I utilize this moment to reiterate Nepal’s commitments by heart, words, and actions to its unity and integrity.”
He expressed his hope that an escalating railway connectivity and economic boom in China will cross the Himalayas in the future. He also expected the support of China to reduce the increasing trade deficit of Nepal with the northern neighbour.
Expressing that the Fair will be an important means to promote trade between the two countries, he said, “I hope that this kind of trade fair will also help to increase trade between our two neighboring countries and will be beneficial for the business community to find new buyers, new markets and new business destinations.”
Deputy Head of the People’s Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Lan Fuquan, emphasized the trade relations between Nepal and Tibet. He suggested that businessmen of the two countries cooperate in import and export by establishing good business relations.
Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce Dinesh Kumar Ghimire said that trade relations between the two countries will accelerate if exports can be managed. He urged Chinese investors to establish industries here to produce export goods to reduce Nepal’s trade deficit with China.
Executive Director of Trade and Export Promotion Center, Sharad Bikram Rana said earlier that according to the Memorandum of Understanding between Nepal and China (Tibet) dated 1990, the Fair is being held alternately with the Nepal Tibet Economic and Trade Fair with the aim of further expanding economic and trade relations between Nepal and China (Tibet).
He expressed his belief that Nepali exporters will use this Fair as an important opportunity to export their goods to China through the concessional system of zero customs rate and will have fruitful business with the business community in Tibet to promote their business.
The Fair, which started today, will continue till May 4. There are 50 Chinese and 15 Nepali business stalls in the fair. About 40 types of exportable goods exported from Nepal to China are kept in the Nepali stalls.
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MoUs signed with Chinese companies for investment facilitation
Kathmandu, April 29: Two memoranda of understanding (MoU) have been signed whereby Nepal’s private sector will facilitate in bringing in investment from Chinese companies.
In this connection, one MoU was signed between Nepal’s Next Gen Management Solutions Pvt Ltd and China’s ‘MABC Investment Pvt Ltd’ and the next MoU between Nepal’s Federation of Nepalese Industry and Commerce (FNIC) and the China Dongguan Jingliang Lighting Product Company Ltd.
The MoUs were signed on the second day of the Third Investment Summit here today.
Next Gen will facilitate the parent company of MABC in foreign investment in Nepal while FNIC do the same to the Dongguan Jingliang Lighting Product Company Ltd.
Ambassador of Nepal to the People’s Republic of China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, was also present in the MoU signing ceremony.
Ilam by-election update: UML candidate Suhang continues to lead in vote count
Fikkal (Ilam), April 29: CPN (UML) candidate Suhang Nembang continues to lead in the vote tally in the counting of votes under the by-election to the Member of House of Representatives held on Saturday in Ilam, constituency-2.
So far, votes from Phakphokthum, Chulachuli and Mangsebung rural municipalities and Mai municipality have been counted. As per the results of the vote count, of the 32 thousand 194 votes counted so far, Nembang has secured 13,069 votes while Nepali Congress candidate Dambar Bahadur Khadka has polled 8,386 votes.
Independent candidate Dakendra Singh Limbu Thegim has got 8,098 votes, Rastriya Swatantra Party’s Milan Limbu 1,713 votes, CPN (Unified Socialist)’s Jit Bahadur Rai 287 votes and Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s Laxmi Gurung 285 votes, according to the Office of the Returning Officer.
At present votes from Deumai municipality, Ward No 1, 2 and 3 are being counted. There are six local units in Ilam-2 constituency. Votes from Ilam municipality remain to be counted.
There were 115 thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine registered voters in the Ilam -2 constituency. Sixty-nine thousand two hundred and eighty-seven voters cast votes in the by-election.
The by-election in Ilam-2 was necessitated following the death of Subas Chandra Nembang who represented this constituency in the House of Representatives before this.
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Goals of 16th Plan have been determined as per nation’s needs: NPC Vice Chair
Kathmandu, April 29: Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha, has said that the goals and programmes of the 16th Plan have been determined by identifying the needs of the country.
Addressing the ‘Harnessing Green Finance for Sustainable Investment’ session held on the second day of the Third Investment Summit here today, he said that equal priority has been given to the development and expansion of the energy sector, which is the main basis of economic prosperity. He said that among the various possible areas of investment, the energy sector is a special priority of the government and the programme has been decided accordingly.
Stating that agriculture is one of the major sectors in which investment has to be expanded and it is necessary to modernize it, he stressed on the need of managing the necessary resources and tools for a modern farming system. Informing that the government has set a programme with the idea of protecting the forest area in multiple ways and using it for economic gain, the NPC Vice Chairman presented the fact that forests are the basis of prosperity.
While discussing the area of investment, Vice Chairman Shrestha also mentioned the drinking water sector. He called upon foreign investors to invest in harnessing Nepal’s water, suggesting that glacier water can be processed and sold. He emphasized that water is also an exportable commodity.
Vice Chairman Shrestha said that based on the progress Nepal has made in the field of environmental protection, it should get more concessions for its contribution to green finance and carbon reduction. He urged the people to imbibe the idea that not only Nepal will benefit from the worthwhile efforts made by it for sustainable development, but the whole world will be able to enjoy the benefits. It is for the benefit of the whole Earth.
In the session, Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini, Vice President of Nepal Industry Association Ashish Garg and others also spoke on the green economy and its dimensions.
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Investment Summit achieves grand success: Minister Pun
Kathmandu, April 29: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has said the third Nepal Investment Summit-2024 has been a grand success.
The Minister said this in his address to a sideline meeting with representatives from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ambassadors of various countries to Nepal held earlier today under the Summit.
He said the government has been encouraged by the enthusiastic participation of development partners in the meeting and such participation made the Summit a grand success. “The presence in the meeting is a testament to suggest that Nepal is one of the suitable and emerging destinations in the world for investment.”
Pledging to further strengthen the cooperation with the development partners in the days ahead, he said the Event sent a message to the world that Nepal is united in terms of efforts to build an atmosphere conducive to investment.
As he said, the political presence, remarks, and commitments including from the major opposition leaders contributed to establishing the fact that Nepal presents ample investment opportunities. He thanked the development partners for their remarkable presence and commitments expressed during the Summit, contributing to making it successful.
He also expressed his happiness over the good attraction of development partners and investors towards the projects presented during the Summit.
He took time to say that the amendment of nine laws through an ordinance on the eve of the Summit to build an investment-friendly atmosphere has enhanced the level of confidence among investors. According to him, the process of Sovereign Credit Rating, one of the concerns of development partners, has been initiated.
The Minister states that there are abundant opportunities for Nepal’s energy, tourism, information technology, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors.
As Nepal is progressing towards graduation to a middle-income developing country from the category of the least developed country and in this context, other capacity enhancements are the priorities of the government.
As he said, Nepal situating in between two emerging nations: Nepal and India suggests a great opportunity for domestic and foreign investment.
As he said, Nepal’s biological diversities and the abundant availability of natural resources make it a suitable zone for investment. He pledged further policy and legal reforms and procedural simplification for investment in the days to come.
The Finance Minister utilized the forum to say that social justice, good governance, and prosperity are the priorities of the CPN (Maoist Centre)-led government, and the budget for an upcoming fiscal year will address these matters with much priority.
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Australian investment roped in for building resort in Rara
Kathmandu, April 29: Australian investment has been brought in for opening a luxurious resort in the vicinity of Rara Lake area of Mugu.
An agreement for investment in the resort was reached with the Expert Group of Australia on the second day of the Third Investment Summit today. The Summit kicked off on Sunday.
A MoU for the investment collaboration was signed by Badri Aryal and Sanjeev Sharma on behalf the Expert Group and by Abhisek Bikram Shah on behalf of Rara Holdings Resort Pvt Ltd.
The resort to be constructed on 80 ropanis area at Murmatop of Chhayanath Rara Municipality-9, Mugu district, will have an investment of approximately Rs 700 million in the first phase and around Rs 400 million in the second phase, Shah said.
According to him, the target is to construct the resort within one and half years. The detailed project report for the same has been also developed. The resort will be constructed using the local resources and reflecting the local culture, he added.
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