Kathmandu, April 5: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala inaugurated Export Promotion Meeting 2000 jointly organised by Ministry of Commerce and Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) here this morning.
According to the organisers, the meeting aims at acquainting the international business community with Nepal’s policies and strategies for the promotion of Nepalese exports and tourism in the world market and to attract foreign investment in the country’s socio-economic development. “The meeting will also provide first hand information to all on opportunities and prospects of investment in different sectors of economy, including tourism, hydropower projects, computer software, and medicinal herbs,” they said.
More than 400 delegates, half of which representing Nepal’s government and non-governmental organisations, from 33 different countries across the world are taking part in the three-day meeting, which was organised in conjunction with yesterday’s Nepal Trade Fair 2000.
In his inaugural speech, Prime Minister Koirala said that the main objective of the meeting was to achieve a better understanding amongst the participants of the opportunities available for trade and investment potentials in Nepal. “Such meetings will further promote the understanding between the participants and will contribute to widen the trade and investment prospects in Nepal.”
Showing a bright picture of Nepal’s economy, Koirala said that the government had been promoting investment through a variety of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for local and foreign investors. “In addition to selected manufacturing and service industries, tourism and water resources are the prominent areas of foreign investment in Nepal.”
RSS adds: Stating that Nepal’s economy had undergone considerable changes in the last nine years, Prime Minister Koirala referred to the important progress made by the country in achieving and maintaining macro-economic stability and removal of the major restrictions that impeded the development of trade and industry.
Nepal’s economy was already quite liberal with almost no barriers to international trade, a fairly open foreign investment regime and deregulated interest rates and the inflation rate had also been brought down to low level, he added.
Referring to tourism and water as the prominent areas for foreign investment apart from selected manufacturing and service industries, Prime Minister Koirala noted that Nepal could contribute significantly to the growing demand for power prompted by the surge of industrial, economic and population growth in South Asia.
“Nepal has the world’s highest mountains, famous pilgrimage sites like Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, and a number of other attraction,” he noted, adding that the government had adopted the “open sky” policy to attract more investment in the aviation sector.
These reforms had made Nepal a much better place for trade and investment compared with our South Asian partners, he added.
The award winners are Paramount Carpet Industries, Momento Apparels P. Ltd., Narayani Leather Manufacturing Industries, Triveni Dal and Oil Industries P. Ltd., New Himalaya Akash Exports, Aseatic Traders and Exporters and Dabur Nepal P. Ltd.
Welcoming the guests and participants earlier, Commerce Minister Ram Krishna Tamrakar informed that the Ministry would soon establish Economic Information Centre to disseminate Nepal’s policies and strategies on the promotion of exports, tourism and investment.
He expressed the hope that the meeting would enhance Nepal’s tourism sector and help attract more economic activities in the country.
Referring to the giant neighbours India and China as world’s two largest markets, Minister Tamrakar said that investment in Nepal had bright prospects.
President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Pradeep Kumar Shrestha said Nepal was quite aware of the fact that the success in bringing prosperity to the people of the country would depend on the ability to successfully participate in the global economy and for this purpose, market products and services should be provided as per the demand of the world market.
Kathmandu:Nepal Tourism Board organised the West Europe Road Show from 17-31 March 2000 covering ten cities in Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and also a visit to the S.M.T. Fair at Paris, France.
The Road Show was be organised to create greater awareness of Nepal as an ideal holiday destination in the European market and also give the private sector participants an opportunity to meet at close quarters existing and potential tour operators and media in these countries, according to NTB statement.
The Road Show covered Hamburg, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Cologne, Brussels, Geneva, Zurich, Munich, Vienna and Frankfurt. Balram Singh Malla, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Germany visited the venues at Cologne and Frankfurt, while Kedar Bhakta Shrestha, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to the Benelux countries was present at Amsterdam, Brussels and Luxembourg. Shambhunath Simkhada, Royal Nepalese Ambassador and permanent representative to the UN Mission in Switzerland also present the occasion in Geneva. The Honorary consul General’s in the various cities were also present at the venues. Welcoming the guests at the respective venues, the Nepalese ambassadors highlighted the attractions of Nepal and why it is a “must see destination” for all tourists.
The Road Show Destination Presentation followed lby reception was held at top venues in each city. After the address by the Ambassador/Honorary Consul, Tek Bahadur Dangi, Director-Marketing & Promotion made a power-point destination presentation accentuating NTB’s role in product development and marketing and promotion of Nepal. In his presentation, he pointed out that Nepal is a destination for all seasons, age-groups and budgets. Nepal is essentially the country of Mt. Everest but it has much more to offer ranging from a rich cultural heritage and bounteous biodiversity, from subtropical jungles in the south to arctic climates in the north. The multimedia show held the people in thrall and was very much appreciated by the invittees, many of who were surprised at the quality and quantity of tourism activities and tourism facilities and services available in Nepal. This was followed by a detailed introduction of the private sector participants and table-talk sessions. The Maximum weightage was given to the table-talk sessions in order let the invitees have a chance to learn about each participant’s exclusive property and services individually. The venues at Munich, Frankfurt, Brussels, Luxembourg, Zurich and Vienna drew enthusiastic tour operators and journalists who were very interested in Nepal and its Tourism products. Celebrities who attended the NTB functions were Mr. Eugene Berger, Secretary of State for environment and an Everest summiter at Luxembourg and Toni Hagen at Zurich. Hagen mesmerised the guests with anecdotes of his long association with Nepal. He stated that of all the countries that he had visited, none was comparable to Nepal in addition, Royal Nepal Airlines participated at Frankfurt, Condor at Hamburg, Qatar Airlines co-hosted the event at Munich and Cologne and Lauda Air co-hosted at Vienna. All the Airlines also provided two free tickets each to be given away in a lottery draw at the venues. The eight lucky winners will be visitting Nepal on a one-week holiday sponsored by the participating companies. All the invitees were given a press kit consisting of brochures, map, destination manual, C.D. Rom and wallet. The Road Show has generated and enhanced the destination image of Nepal to a great extent in the respective countries and it w ill have a positive impact in the Nepalese tourism industry in the future said NTB.
Butwal:Construction work on the dry port at Belahiya (Sunauli) of Rupandehi district, the second in the country, has been completed.
The dry port constructed at on area of 2.8 hectares has been completed l0 months behind schedule.
China Water and Electric Corporation had the contract for construction of the dry port which began in March 1998 and was scheduled to be completed last June.
Nepal Multi-Model Trade and Transit Facilitation under the Ministry of Commerce was entrusted responsibility for implementation of the project and the responsibility for supervision of the dry port went to rights, an organisation under the Government of India.
China Water and Electric Corporation paid monthly compensation of Rs 600,000 for delay in completion of the project.
The dry port constructed at a cost of Rs 100 million can park 275 trucks for loading and unloading.
Manager of the rights project Ajaya Kumar Sharma says the dry port has ample physical facilities and all its functions would be carried out through the use of computers.
The dry port is seven kilometers from Nautanawa Railway Station in India and businessmen in both Nepal and India will benefit from it, it is believed.
Importers will be provided door to door transportation services from the dry port on the basis of just one set of papers through improvement in internal procedures, according to manager Sharma.
After the dry port comes into use, the import and export trade will be simplified, the cost of transportation reduced and the difficulties and irregularities involved in recovering additional customs duties also reduced, it is learnt.
Moreover, the problems of loading and unloading and checking of goods coming in from various harbours in India will disappear, it is further stated.
Nepalgunj: Nineteen bags of the medicinal herb “Jhyau” which is banned from export was seized recently at Jayaspur VDC of Banke district while it was being taken to India, it is learnt from the Banke district administration office.
In the clash that took place between smugglers and police on the occasion from 9 to 9.30 p.m., there was an exchange of fire, but no one was injured.
According to the information received, people from the district administration office and the district forest office went to Jayaspur VDC on a tip-off, but nothing was found.
A gang of 150 to 200 smugglers had succeeded in running away leaving behind the bags containing the medicinal herb. No arrest was made.
Chief district officer Shyam Prasad Mainali has said he is committed to preventing smuggling in the district.
Meanwhile, journalists and representatives of various political parties, speaking at a programme organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Banke district committee, said smuggling is on the rise in the district and only the police and administration can bring it under control.
The value of the seized medicinal herb is only Rs 6,000 at the rate of Rs 10 per kilogramme. But export has been banned, according to ranger at the district forest office Amar Shaha.
Kathmandu: Work has started on a 3.5 km embankment from Gonarpur in Kolhuwa Bageya VDC in Mohattari district to the Jaleshwar Bardibas Road for keeping the Ratu River under control.
His Majesty’s Government Rural Community Infrastructure development program has provided Rs l,000,000 in cash and 2,500 quintals of rice for the construction work, it is learnt from the DDC.
Soil erosoin in the Chure area has led to the a rise in river level year after year and this in turn has damaged hundreds of bigaha of land in the district, it is stated.
In particular the Jandha river in the western part of Mahottari has changed course over the past few years to link up with the Ankusi and Ratu Rivers. This has had an adverse impact on Jaleshwar Municipality and various VDCs including Sarapalli, Balawa, Gonarpura, Koltuwa Bageya and Damarhi Madai. Since the past three years the Ratu has changed course to destroy cultivation in the Jaleshwar, Ratawada and Ramaul Bajarahi areas.
Work on the embankment construction has been divided into nine packages.
The package program is to cost about Rs l5 million, and a coordination and supervision committee has been formed under the convenorship of DDC chairman Tej Narayan Yadav to see to proper utilisation of available resources for the construction.
According to initial estimates, the embankment will be constructed at a total cost of Rs 55,200,000. Cooperation is being extended by the district irrigation office, the divisional roads office and others.
Kathmandu: Six senior lyricists published a joint statement here recently welcoming the announcement by Radio Nepal on the occasion of its golden jubilee celebrations that royalty would be provided from the next financial year to Nepalese lyricists, musicians and singers for every song broadcast by Radio Nepal.
In the statement, they have said that implementation of this provision would go a long way in the overall development of Nepalese song and music.
After this, other concerned organisations using song and music would also pay timely attention to implementing the directives concerning royalty issued recently by HMG, they added.
Those issuing the statement are Dharma Raj Thapa, Dinesh Adhikari, Kiran Kharel, Nati Kaji Shrestha, Ratna Shamsher Thapa and Shiva Shankar Manandhar.
Meanwhile in Pokhara, the west regional level song duet organised by the Radio Nepal Regional broadcasting centre, Pokhara, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Radio Nepal concluded here recently.
The Syangja Bazar team came out first, the Tanahu District Development Committee (DDC) team, Tanahu, second and the Argheli Village Development Committee (VDC) team, Nawalparasi, third in the song duet. Likewise, the Sindure VDC team, Lamjung won the consolation prize in the song contest.
Chief district officer Shyam Sundar Sharma gave away cash awards and certificates to the teams winning the contest.
In all sixteen teams had taken part in the song contest.
Likewise, a workshop on friendship between sponsors and the sponsored organised by the Lions Club of Kavre Sankhu has just concluded.
Of the ll5 clubs under the Lions Club International district 325 “A”, the Lions Club of Kavre Shankhu has set up 30 Lions Clubs and two Leo Clubs. Lions Club of Kavre Sankhu president Ram Sundar Malla chaired the workshop at which district 325 “A” governor Dr. Wanta Mani Pradhan was chief guest.
Kathmandu: Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola other day called on UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata and discussed with her the Bhutanese refugees problem.
According to the Royal Nepalese Permanent Mission in Geneva, during the meeting Minister Bastola appreciated the assistance and cooperation of the UNHCR and said this assistance and cooperation, the care and maintenance of the Bhutanese refugees would have been very difficult.
He also briefed her about the status of the negotiations currently going on between Nepal and Bhutan.
High Commissioner Ms. Ogata on her part expressed the need of early resolution of the Bhutanese refugee problem.
Likewise, Foreign Affairs Minister Bastola met Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Thorbjorn Jagland Monday and exchanged views on the state of bilateral relations existing between the two countries.
On the occasion, Minister Bastola appreciated the cooperation and assistance extended by Norway to Nepal especially in the field of hydro power sector and requested for increased assistance.
The Norwegian Foreign Minister stated the willingness of the Norwegian government to cooperate with His Majesty’s Government of Nepal.
Also on Monday, Director-General of the International Organisation for Migration B. Mckinley called on Foreign Minister Bastola and explained him about the activities and programmes of the International Organisation for migration. They also discussed the issue of the Bhutanese refugees.
Mckinley expressed the willingness of his oganisation to cooperate with Nepal in different areas like trafficking of women, awareness programme related to migration etc.
Tansen : 4-year-old boy, Lila Bahadur Ganha, and an one and half-year-old girl, Balkumari, both the children of Man Bahadur Ganha were burnt to death in a fire that erupted at his house in Mainahi VDC, ward No. 9 in Palpa district on Saturday.
His 6-year-old son who sustained injuries has been admitted at the Palpa Mission Hospital for the treatment.
Fire which is suspected to have been spread by his own children destroyed property worth Rs. 200,000, it is learnt.
Meanwhile, Nepalgunj, with the advent of summer and windy weather the fire incidents are posing greater danger in banke district.
A fire gutted 3 houses, 3 cow-sheds, grains, clothing and other household goods at the Pedani village in mahadevpuri VDC, ward No. 8.
The loss is estimated at worth Rs. 300,000. Rs. 200,000 of which was suffered by Tol Prasad Kafle alone, according to Ranjit Bahadur Shrestha of Nepalgunj fire brigade.
The fire was brought under control with the help of fire brigade.
The same day, 3 houses were destroyed and 3 domestic animals perished in a fire at Betahani VDC, ward No.2.
Two hutments, one at Nepalgunj Municipality, ward No. 17 and another at ghodegoan in Paraspur VDC were gutted by two incidents of fire on March 31 and 2 respectively, it is learnt from the fire brigade.
Nepalgunj: The indefinite transport strike that began last Sunday at the call of the Bheri Zone Transport Entrepreneurs Association has been called off from 4 p.m. on providing compensation to the owners of the damaged buses, according to president of the Bheri Zone Transport Entrepreneurs Association Narayan Sashasi.
Chief district officers of Rupandehi and Kapilbastu, superintendents of police of the two districts and senior superintendent of police of Lumbini zone represented HMG at the meeting which was also attended by representatives of Bheri and Rapti Zonal Transport Entrepreneurs Association and Western Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Association.
Some miscreant had set the buses on fire on January 27 and subsequently, Bheri Zonal Transport Entrepreneurs Association called the Transport Strike on Tinaukhola (Butwal)-attariya sector of the Far Western Region, demanding compensation for th damages.
The buses bearing the number plates Na. A. Kha. 8736, Me. A. Kha. 546, and Lu. A. Kha. 1616 and a Sajha bus bearing the number plate Ba. A. Kha.M 4896 are reported involved in the incident.
The damage will be assessed by government technical personnel. The amount will be borne by the insured companies as all the four buses were reportedly insured.
Charikot (dolakha): Voters’ identity cards are to be distributed to the registered voters in constituency number two of Dolakha district from next year.
This information was given at a two-day seminar of assistant name registration officers on registration and updating of the voters’ list organised here recently.
According to the district election commission office, arrangement for distribution of the voters’ identity cards in constituency-2 of the district would be complete by the time of the local election. There are two electoral constituencies in the district.
Inaugurating the two-day seminar, district development committee (DDC) chairman Lal Kumar K.C. said that free, fair and peaceful elections were the hallmarks of a democracy.
Basanta Raj Joshi of the cpn-ml, Barma Lama of the Nepali Congress, deputy mayor of Bhimeshwar Municipality Shanta Bahadur Basnet and chief district officer Khagendra Dev Joshi also shed light on the importance of free and fair elections for the consolidation of democracy in the country.
VDC secretaries and office-bearers took part in the seminar in their capacity as the assistant name registration officers.