KATHMANDU: Switzerland has reiterated its support in various developmental sectors in Nepal.

Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Manuel Sager pledged support to Nepal. He is on a Nepal visit to mark the 60 years of the Swiss Development Cooperation in Nepal.

Sager also held a high-level meeting with the Nepali authorities including Minister for Finance Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada and Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi. He also observed different Swiss-funded projects in and around Ramechhap.

The Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Nepal 2018-2021 foresees total disbursements in Nepal of approximately Rs 14.7 billion for four years and emphasizes on inclusive federal state building, promotion employment and income, and contribution to the safety of Nepali migrant workers.

KATHMANDU: Nepal is not participating in the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), which is held every year in Hunan Province of China.

The BFA is scheduled to begin from Tuesday this year.

Nepal is not going to participate in Boao Summit this time since it was not invited by China this time.

“Nepal is not prepared for Boao Summit this year,” said Shanker Das Bairagi, secretary at the ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Former Nepali monarchs used to take part in the summit at the invitation of Chinese government. China stopped sending invitation following the People’s Movement in 2006.

However, it resumed invitation to Nepal after Sushil Koirala took charge as the prime minister.

The BFA is a non-profit organization that hosts high-level forums for leaders from governments, business and academia in Asia to share their views on the burning issues in this continent.

KATHMANDU: Nepal government is all set to buy two trains  for Rs 846.5 million from Konkan Railway Corporation Limited of India, a report in Naya Patrika said.

The process will be initiated through G2G process following the approval by the cabinet. The government had allocated Rs 500 million for the procurement of trains in the fiscal year 2018-19.

The process to procure trains will be initiated within two weeks, said Balaram Mishra, director general of the Department of Railways.

The government is gearing up to celebrate 2020 as Visit Nepal Year. Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) is a major gateway for international tourists visiting Nepal. Management of TIA is crucial since the first impression is the last impression. Raj Kumar Chhetri, General Manager at TIA is working to give the airport a facelift. Khabarhub caught up with Chhetri. Excerpts:

There are a lot of complaints on the poor state of things at TIA. How are you dealing with those?

I am in the aviation sector for the past 30 years. Thus, I am familiar with the problems facing TIA. When we talk about international airports, we have an image of huge and sophisticated airports in developed countries. We do not have an adequate budget to develop huge infrastructures. Yet, I am trying my best by managing the resources we have.

Given the limited budget, I am working on a way to draw the attention of the tourists in a different manner. I am emphasizing on our unique culture and tradition.

TIA toilets used to be stinky, we made them neat and clean. Also in the past, passengers were disappointed in the lack of drinking water and adequate sitting facilities. Those problems exist no more.

I am also working to install air conditioners in the domestic and international lounge of the airport. Alongside, construction works are on to scale up the TIA infrastructure.

What have you done at the airport as part of welcoming foreign tourists?

Given the limited budget, I am working on a way to draw the attention of the tourists in a different manner. I am emphasizing on our unique culture and tradition. I have designed and decorated the airport the way we welcome guests as per our tradition. This has enchanted visitors.

We have used copper pitchers full of water with flowers on the tops. Walls are decorated with pictures that resemble our culture and tradition. We have also placed a statue of Garuda to welcome tourists. It is in fact, loved by many and people take a selfie with the statue. All these have come at the cost of mere Rs. 5,00,000. These small things have remained impressive to international tourists since these are new sights to them, uncommon at sophisticated airports.

What about the parking problem?

Parking is not a big issue as was in the past. Previously, it was messy. Even pick picketers roamed freely at the mismanaged parking lot. Taxi drivers forced passengers into their vehicles, dragging them. The situation now is different. Yes, the parking lot is a bit distant from the airport. However, you have trolleys to carry your goods from the well-managed parking lot up to the airport.

We are also starting pick and drop service soon so that passengers are directly led to the parking area from the plane.

You once talked of a boutique airport. What does that mean?

By a boutique airport, I mean a modern airport reflecting original traditional and cultural traits. We are been working on it. As part of a short term plan, we are housing a one-horn rhino at the airport within two weeks. That shall give it a distinct look for the tourists. Besides, the airport also has long term projects in developing its infrastructure.

There have been reports of disrupted flights due to cracks on the runway during monsoon? How are you dealing with the problem?

Problem with the runway is true. Now, we are repairing the runway with new materials. This work will be over in three months. We are also working on the taxiway. The airport is getting rid of this problem, soon.

Is TIA becoming a transit point for criminals as rumored?

I cannot tell you what transpired at TIA before my tenure. But after I assumed the position, crime-related activities here have come down by 80 percent. We are serious about the security issue. We hold security meeting once a month that is attended by officers from the revenue office, terminal office; and the police and army. We are frequently updated on the security situation here.

BANKE: Indian Custom Office has intercepted as many as 140 Kathmandu-bound fuel tankers at Rupaidiya checkpoint, citing technical glitches with online service.

According to Sharad Kumar KC, custom officer at Nepalgunj Custom Office, 140 fuel tankers as well as a dozen trucks laden with vegetables have been stranded on the Nepal-India border checkpoint for the last two days.

Even though the Indian Custom Office agreed to release the trucks ferrying vegetables, they are not going to release the tankers until the online service comes into operation, KC told Khabarhub.

“We are coordinating with Indian Custom Office since yesterday. They said they are facing server problem with the online service. They are trying to fix it,” he said.

KC said transport disruption started occurring time and again at the border checkpoint since online service was brought into operation.

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli has bought 10,000 shares of the Trishuli ‘B’ under the People’s Hydropower Program.

At a program organized by the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, Oli applied for 10,000 shares of the Hydropower project. Similarly, his wife Radhika Shakya also applied for the same ratio of shares.

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) today clarified that there has been no change in the pricing of petroleum products now.

The decision has been made keeping in mind the interest of the people although the price of petroleum products has gone up in the international market.

NOC Spokesperson Birendra Goit said as per the new price list received on March 16 from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the price of petrol has increased by Rs 2 per liter.

SURKHET: The business communities have proposed that Banke and Bardiya districts be merged into Karnali State. Surkhet and Kohalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) have argued that the merger would boost economic development of the state.

Speaking at an interaction program in Birendranagar, Dhan Bahadur Raut,  President of Surkhet  said the state carving has distanced mutual relations between Banke, Bardiya and Karnali districts. He viewed that the integration process would not be possible without political support. “Political leaders should take initiatives in this regard,” he claimed.
Besides business, Raut also pointed out the cultural and social relations among Banke, Bardiya and Surkhet. Likewise, Narendra Sharma, member of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of state 5 urged all sections of the society to raise their voice in this regard.

KATHMANDU: Populace in rural area is still deprived of banking facilities. Of 79 local levels in Karnali province, only 64 have got direct bank service.

Bank services are yet to reach a total of 42 local levels of the country. According to the latest economic details made public by Nepal Rastra Bank, branches of commercial banks have opened in 711 units of total 753 local level in the country.

The government plans to extend banking services to all the local levels within this fiscal year.

CALIFORNIA: Tesla has launched its Model Y range in California. The car was shown off at an event by chief executive, Elon Musk as the company continues to face serious questions over its manufacturing capacity after failing to meet demand for its Model 3. The company has claimed that its latest all-electric car will be the “safest mid-size SUV (sport utility vehicle) in the world.”