- Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Kathmandu, Nov 3: President Ramchandra Paudel is embarking on Europe visit from November 8.The meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Thursday approved the President’s visit schedule for Europe. President Paudel is scheduled to visit Germany and Italy after attending the ‘Paris Peace Forum’ being held in Paris, France.
He is returning home on November 17.
Similarly, the Cabinet endorsed the attendance of a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka in the ‘Dubai Air Show, 2023’ to be held in UAE.
The government also approved the visit of Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply, Ramesh Rijal, to China for the participation in ‘China International Import Fair’ being held in Sanghai, while the visit of a delegation led by Minister of State for Education, Science and Technology, Pramila Kumari, to China for attending an event on ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ scheduled from November 6-7.
The visit of CIAA Chief Prem Kumar Rai has been approved by the government. Rai is attending a UN event on corruption control to be held in Atlanta, US, from December 11 to 15.
The Cabinet meeting endorsed the letter of agreement to be reached with Korea on agricultural technology development, transfer and commercialization.
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Chure conservation must for Madhesh: Minister Yadav
Sarlahi, Nov 3: Minister of Water Supplies Mahendra Ray Yadav has said the conservation of Chure region is significant for the Madhesh.
As the Minister viewed, gradual depletion of water in the Madhesh is due to Chure degradation. He made such observation while inaugurating an integrated rural drinking water project supported by the solar pumping system at Lalbandi Municipality-16 in Sarlahi on Friday.
The project was a joint initiation of the local government, the government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme Nepal.
On the occasion, the Minister said the government was making efforts to ease the supplies of the drinking water. The government aims to supply safe drinking water to the entire Nepali citizens by introducing the Drinking Water and Sanitation Act-2079 BS, according to him.
Minister Yadav also pledged prioritization of the projects that warrant immediate attention. According to Lalbandi Municipality ward no 16 Chair, Ganesh Thapa, the project, with a water capacity of 225,000 litres, was constructed at a cost of Rs 15.97 million and is expected to benefit around 300 households.
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NC has no issue in unity: President Deuba
Galkot(Baglung), Nov 3: Nepali Congress (NC) President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the NC is united at the present time. In his address to the NC district conference in Baglung on Friday, he said there remained no significant grievances within the party and sporadic grudges would be addressed.
He was of the opinion that the Constitution was still in the implementation phase and there was no doubt over its full enforcement in the days to come. “Nepal Constitution is exemplary and some challenges regarding its implementation will be sorted out.”, he added.
Public support to the NC is growing nationwide, according to Deuba who said the party is always in favour of development and prosperity. He also called for an end to the culture of hate speech against persons and community on political ground.
He said the conferences ranging from the ward to the district would further help consolidate the Nepali Congress while extending congratulations to the NC Baglung for hosting the conference.
He also applauded the NC presence at the local level in Baglung and in the Gandaki province. Over 2,000 party leaders and cadres were present in the conference.
Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey commended the party for its contributions to the establishment of democracy and republic, sensitizing party cadres and leaders to be more accountable to the party vision and goals.
NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula said there remained still some issues regarding the effective implementation of the Constitution.
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Development partners pledge extending assistance
Kathmandu, Nov 3: At least 16 development partners active in Nepal have expressed their joint commitment to help the country’s efforts for socio-economic development.
The development partners have agreed to integrate and expand financial and technical assistance to Nepal in the implementation of high-priority investment and policies as per the Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development (GRID).
A joint statement to this effect was endorsed at the high-level programme organized on Thursday by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the World Bank and other development partners. The government, development partners, civil society organizations, private sector stakeholders and eminent groups have reiterated their commitment to work at institutional and thematic level to continue financing and implementing the GRID priority areas in Nepal.
Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said, “We have embraced GRID approach with a vision towards building green, further resilient and inclusive economies that can enable us to cope with disasters, preserve the environment and enhance the lives of our people”.
He further said, “The new GRID strategic plan of action can be a policy medium to spur development and employment opportunities, strengthen livelihood and open up avenues for the prosperity of Nepali people”.
For the implementation of GRID strategic plan of action there are several innovative fiscal investments such as grants and other subsidized fiscal investments, concessional loan and carbon trade. The foreign fiscal investment as a complementary to the public budgets of Nepal is aimed at benefitting the external and domestic private sector.
The GRID plan of action has identified 10 priority areas. It includes further resilient infrastructure, ecosystem and more productive, sustainable and integrated management of land, forest and water for food systems.
Among other areas included in the plan of action are greening the urban economy, expanding access to drinking water and roads, reducing air pollution and managing solid waste, promoting renewable energy, sustaining transport and strengthening disaster response for increasing productivity and enabling social security and health system for making further responsible.
Also on the occasion, World Bank’s Managing Director Anna Bjerde expressed happiness for the opportunity to provide support in leveraging strategic actions towards green, resilient and inclusive economy.
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CNI affiliated to UNCDF ‘web platform’
Kathmandu, Nov 3: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has been affiliated to the Agora Web Platform’ of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
The platform has been set up to support in the expansion of investment and trade.
CNI Chairperson Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and UNCDF’s Deputy Executive Secretary Xavier Michon exchanged the memorandum of understanding on the operation of and affiliation to Agora platform. CNI is the first-ever organization affiliated to the Agora platform.
The platform will be taken ahead to promote investment for Nepali industries. The CNI as a representative organization of production and service-based industries will monitor the domestic projects of Agora. Financial service with expertise required for the development of entrepreneurship will be provided to the entrepreneurs and business persons of Nepal as per the need.
CNI Chairperson Agrawal expressed his confidence that the Agora platform would be spectacular to transform the scenario of investment in Nepal through UNCDF support. UNCDF’s Deputy Executive Secretary Michon said meaningful collaboration and understanding with CNI would be helpful in expanding access of the Nepali goods to international market.
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Cabinet expansion in Koshi Province
Morang, Nov 3: Chief of Koshi Province, Parshu Ram Khapung, administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed ministers Ganesh Prasad Upreti and Kamal Prasad Jabegu on Friday.
Province Chief appointed them as ministers without portfolio upon the recommendation of Chief Minister Kedar Karki in line with Article 168 (9) of Constitution of Nepal.
The newly appointed minister Upreti represents CPN (Maoist Centre) while Jabegu the CPN (Unified Socialist). They are the Province Assembly members.
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Minister Mahat insists on people’s ownership to Upper Arun
Kathmandu, Nov 3: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has said the cooperation and participation of locals is highly important while implementing any development project.
During his field inspection to Bhotkhola in Sankhuwasabha, the project site of the Upper Arun Hydro Power Project on Friday, the Minister stressed that locals should get the maximum benefits from the project. “This aspect would be kept in mind while implementing the project.”
The run-of-river project with optimized generating capacity of 1061-megawatt has reached the implementation phase, it is said. “This project holds a high significance for the Sankhuwasabha folks, and now it will be implemented,” the Minister added.
He further pledged that the project would not see a budget constraint. The resources for it would be secured under any circumstances. Issues caused by the project here will be resolved and locals will have their fair stake in the project’s shares.
Mahat viewed the project would help improve the living standard of the Sankhuwasabha folks and the government would ensue the local’s socio-economic participation in it. A delegation comprising Minister Mahat, Minister for Energy, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, and the World Bank representatives reached Bhotokhola.
According to him, the World Bank has expressed its interest in the project investment.
The Nepal Electricity Authority is the implementing body of the Project and its estimated cost is over 2.026 billion.
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Woman killed in tiger attack
Bardiya, Nov 3: A woman was killed in a tiger attack in Bardiya on Friday. According to the Division Forest Office, Bardiya, the victim is Srijana Dangi, 28, of Shaktipur of Madhuban Municipality-5. The woman encountered the big cat while she was grazing goats near the Chiraute community forest.
Her mortal remains were retrieved from the area where incident occurred.The community forest is near the Bardiya National Park.
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Minister discusses operation modality of int’l airports
Kathmandu, Nov 3: Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, held a discussion with chief secretary and ministry secretaries on how the two international airports could be operated.
He discussed the operation modality of the Gautam Buddha International Airport and the Pokhara Regional International Airport.
The discussant argued effective operation of the airports needs roles from various sides. Various options on operation modality were weighed on.
Although both airports are readied for commercial flights, they have not been operated well yet. Currently, Nepal Airlines is conducting the international flights at the Gautam Buddha International Airport. But, Pokhara International Airport is awaiting international commercial flight.
A serious discussion was held on what sort of modality could be adopted to run the new international airports. However, the discussants failed to reach conclusion, according to Gyanendra Bhul, Information Officer at Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
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Vice-Chancellor post lying vacant at TU
Kathmandu, Nov 3: The post of Vice-Chancellor at the Tribhuvan University (TU) has remained vacant with the four-year term of its vice-chancellor ending from today.
It has been claimed that during his tenure he had advanced the establishment of tech-savvy University, culture of good governance, management of educational calendar, reforms in education system and practices of decentralization in the Tribhuvan University.
He shared that several forward-looking measures were adopted in enhancing of capacity of the employees, enhancing effectiveness of regulation of constituent and affiliated campuses and amendment to the TU law, rules and by-law.
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Government releases prize amount for cricketers
Kathmandu, Nov 3: The Finance Ministry has released the prize money as announced by the government for the Nepali cricket teams. National Sports Council Member-Secretary Tankalal Ghishing has confirmed that a total of Rs 15.75 million has been allocated to the Council for the Nepali cricket team that participated in three different cups.
The Council will organize a formal programme to distribute the award. The government allocated Rs. 7.9 million to the team participating in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup that had run from April 18 to May 1.
The meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 3 had decided to award Rs 600 thousands to each Nepali cricketer and the head coach and Rs 300 thousand each to other team officials as an incentive for their performance.
Likewise, Rs 4.6 million has been allocated for the ICC Under-19 Men’s CWC-Asia Qualifier that was organised from February 24 to March 2 and Rs 3.25 million for the ICC CWC League-2 that ran from March 11 to 16, according to Ghising.
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