Kathmandu: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has approved a budget of Rs 25.11 billion for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26.



The decision was made during the second meeting of the 17th municipal assembly session held on Wednesday at the National Assembly Hall.



The budget outlines KMC’s financial and development plans for the next fiscal year, focusing on infrastructure, public services, and urban management.

KMC approves Rs 25.11 billion budget for fiscal year 2025/26

Rajbiraj: Five Nepali workers facing severe hardships in their workplace in Gujarat, India have been rescued and reunited with their families, according to Tirahut rural municipality in Saptari district.



They were employed at a cold store at Johorapur in the Gujarat State where they reportedly endured physical assault and mental torture by their employer, said Bijay Yadav, Chairperson of Tirahut rural municipality.



The workers hailing from Saptari district were also denied the wages they had been promised and were threatened and exploited, said Chairperson Yadav. The rescued workers were Sakaldev Sada, 60, of Tirahut rural municipality and 28-year-old Chandan Khang and Shailendra Sada of Hanumannagar Kankalini municipality and three others, according to Yadav.



He further shared that the rescue operation resulted in a success due to the active initiation of cyber security analyst and media person Abhinav Kumar and in coordination with the Nepal National Mushahar Association.



Association's Saptari chapter Chairperson Shivadev Sada mentioned that the rescued operation was carried out in coordination with the local authorities at Jodhpur in Gujarat as well the Chairperson of the Tirahut rural municipality.

Five Nepali workers rescued from Gujarat in India

Kathmandu: About 59 percent of this season’s paddy plantation has been completed across the country, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.



As of July 13, rice has been planted on around 816,405 hectares of land. This is about 8 percent less than the same period last year.



Among the provinces, Sudurpaschim is leading with 93 percent of its target already completed, covering around 164,000 hectares of land while in Karnali Province, paddy plantation so far spreads on 64,000 hectares, reaching 83 percent of the target. In Lumbini, it is 73 percent, with 223,000 hectares of land planted with paddy.



Last year, by this time, the country had reported about 67 percent paddy plantation.



Paddy plantation is still ongoing in many areas and is expected to reach around 98 percent by mid-August.



Ministry spokesperson Mahananda Joshi said the Terai region is the most fertile and produces about 70 percent of the country’s total rice, while the hilly regions contribute the remaining 30 percent.



During the previous fiscal year 2080/81 (2023/24), the country had witnessed the total rice production of 5.724 million metric tonnes. Unfavorable weather conditions, natural disasters, excessive rainfall, and droughts create adversities for rice plantation, deferring the plantation schedule in some areas.



In Nepal, paddy is usually grown on about 1.4 million hectares of land. With the use of improved knowledge, skills, modern technologies, and better seed varieties, rice production is expected to increase in the coming years.



According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, a 10 percent change in rice production can lead to about 1 percent change in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).



This year, an estimated 6 million metric tonnes of rice will be produced, yielding approximately 3.5 million metric tons of edible rice, it has been said.

Nearly 59 percent rice plantation completed so far across country

Kathmandu: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has directed for an investigation into alleged involvement of unauthorized people during the Prime Minister's recent visit to Spain.



On Sunday, the Home Minister issued directives to Home Secretary Gokarnamani Duwadi and Inspector General of Police Deepak Thapa to determine whether people except those in the official delegation had travelled to Spain during the Prime Minister's visit.



“They have been instructed to investigate whether anyone traveled to Spain on a visit visa apart from the official delegation,” the Home Minister said. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police will be deployed to carry out the investigation. If anyone is found guilty, legal action will be taken in accordance with the law.



It may be noted that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had travelled to Spain on June 28 in the course of attending the Fourth United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD-4) in Spain that was held from June 30 to July 3.

Home Minister directs for investigating alleged travel of additional to Spain

Kathmandu: Nepal Rastra Bank has increased the foreign exchange facility for Nepali citizens traveling to countries other than India, raising the limit from USD 2,500 to USD 3,000 per trip.



The revised provision was announced in the monetary policy for the fiscal year 2025/26, released on Friday.



The move aims to ease travel-related expenses for Nepalis going abroad, excluding India, where currency exchange facilities follow a separate arrangement.

Dollar exchange limit raised to USD 3,000 for Nepalis traveling abroad

Kathmandu: The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has issued the monetary policy for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 (2025-26).



Unveiling the monetary policy, the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel, stated that a flexible policy has been adopted cautiously.



The monetary policy mentions approving and implementing the second financial sector strategy. The bank rate, which serves as the upper limit of the interest rate corridor, has been set at six per cent, and the policy rate at four and a half per cent. Previously, the bank rate was 6.5 per cent and the policy rate was 5 per cent.



According to the monetary policy, the limit for loans issued for the construction and purchase of private residential houses has been increased from Rs 20 million to Rs 30 million. When constructing or purchasing the first house, a loan-to-value ratio of up to 80 per cent can be maintained, while for others, a maximum of 70 per cent can be established.



The limit for personal share collateral loans has been increased from Rs 150 million to Rs 250 million.The limit for the amount Nepalese traveling abroad can carry has been increased from two thousand five hundred US dollars to three thousand US dollars.



The monetary policy has set a target to increase the private sector loan disbursement by 12 per cent in the upcoming fiscal year.

Monetary Policy for upcoming fiscal year unveiled

Kathmandu: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari has stated that becoming a woman entrepreneur is not just about running a business but also about empowering the family financially.



Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the International Women's Leadership Conference here today, Minister Bhandari said that women's leadership and entrepreneurship are the foundations for building a prosperous nation.



He said, “Women entrepreneurship is about creating employment in a community and ultimately strengthening the dignity and self-reliance of the nation. When we talk about women leadership and entrepreneurship, we are not just discussing gender equality, but also addressing the main drivers of nation-building.”



Minister Bhandari clarified that the development of women entrepreneurs is essential to realize the national aspiration of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'.



He added that various programmes are currently being implemented, including women's entrepreneurship development programme, technology transfer, business-related services, startup programme, and initiatives to promote the artisan community.



"There is a prevalence of small, home-based, and micro industries in Nepal. Most of them are led and run by women. In sectors such as food processing, herbal products, tea, coffee, handicrafts, and tourism, the skills of Nepali women have made it possible for them to compete in the international market," the Minister for Industry said.



He mentioned that export-oriented production strategies and topics like climate change are extremely relevant for the entrepreneurship sector.



"AI is no longer a technology of the future; it is a reality of the present," he said, adding that women entrepreneurs will be able to improve production processes, analyze customer behaviour, and enhance business efficiency through its use.



Minister Bhandari emphasized the need to advance the concept of green entrepreneurship. He stated that since climate change has a greater impact on mountainous nations like Nepal, it is essential to transform the solution into an opportunity.

Minister Bhandari says women's becoming entrepreneur makes family financially capable

Kathmandu: Several vital health programs in Nepal have come to a standstill following the suspension of grants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), leaving significant gaps in maternal, child, and reproductive health services.



According to the Family Welfare Division (FWD), the sudden aid freeze has disrupted a range of public health initiatives, many of which were implemented in collaboration with international development partners such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).



The crisis deepened after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration announced a halt to foreign aid, impacting numerous international non-governmental organizations working in underdeveloped countries, including Nepal. As a result, reproductive health programs, HIV prevention efforts, and maternal and child health services have been severely affected.



The division has requested the Ministry of Finance to allocate Rs 14 million to settle pending payments for completed program activities. While partial funding has been secured for the next fiscal year for select initiatives, officials say most programs will have to rely on constrained government resources moving forward.

US Aid suspension halts key health programs in Nepal

Kathmandu: A high-level Nepal-UK Investment Meeting was held on July 2 at the House of Lords in London, jointly organized by the Nepal German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NGCCI) and the Nepal Centre UK.



The event aimed to explore trade and investment opportunities between Nepal and the United Kingdom and encourage British investors to engage in Nepal.



Senior government officials and business leaders from both countries participated in the meeting, where discussions centered on Nepal’s potential for foreign investment, particularly in the energy, infrastructure, and tourism sectors.



Speaking at the event, Sushil Gyawali, CEO of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN), highlighted Nepal’s improving investment climate. He emphasized that Nepal has streamlined investment processes and introduced attractive incentives.



Gyawali urged UK investors to tap into Nepal’s vast opportunities, particularly in hydropower, airport modernization, and the hospitality industry.



Baroness Verma, addressing the gathering, stated that Nepal’s strategic location between India and China makes it an ideal investment destination.



She encouraged British businesses to seriously consider Nepal’s untapped potential.



While expressing optimism about Nepal’s reforms, some UK-based entrepreneurs also raised concerns about the implementation of policies. London-based tech entrepreneur George Chacko praised Nepal’s investment policies as promising but stressed the need for consistent execution.



Rabindra Jung Lamichhane of Gini London pointed out bureaucratic obstacles that still hinder investments.



NGCCI President Santosh Chandra Kunwar, who facilitated the meeting, urged entrepreneurs to increase investment in Nepal, stating that the country is becoming increasingly attractive for foreign investors.



Nepal’s Ambassador to the UK, Chandra Ghimire, assured full support from the embassy to serious investors. He also discussed Nepal’s ongoing efforts to create a sustainable and investor-friendly environment.



Fashion designer Sanyukta Shrestha presented successful case studies of UK-Nepal industrial collaboration, drawing attention to real-world investment success stories.



Nirmal Kumar Thapa of Nepal Centre UK, one of the key organizers, remarked that such dialogues are instrumental in enhancing Nepal-UK economic cooperation. He also shared that a British trade delegation is expected to visit Kathmandu later this year, with several UK companies already showing interest in Nepali ventures.

Nepal-UK investment meeting held in London to boost bilateral economic ties

Patan: Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari, has said those involved in foreign employment fraud by using legal loopholes would be brought to book.



At a programme organised by Safe Migration (SAMI) Programme in Lalitpur today, Minister Bhandari shared, "There are 36,000 cases of fraud at the Department of Foreign Employment. So we are planning to amend the constitution in order to settle such cases and take action against those involved in cheating."



Stating that development and promotion of employment in the country is the alternative to forced foreign employment, he mentioned that priority was given to domestic employment promotion along with safe foreign employment.



"The Ministry is planning to forward a campaign through SAMI in order to work in favour of country's economic development and prosperity by bringing Nepalis back from foreign employment. We have now forwarded programmes through skill development foundation keeping internal employment in mind", added Minister Bhandari.



SAMI Project has proved the relevance of the programme, he observed, mentioning that the ministry had wanted to expand safe migration programme to all 753 local levels.



Similarly, Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Krishna Hari Pushkar, said the government would always play positive role to implement SAMI programme. Likewise, a representative of Swiss Embassy in Nepal opined that SAMI Project is a significant learning.

Foreign employment fraudsters will face action: Minister Bhandari

Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal has officially approved 111 countries for institutional foreign employment for Nepali workers, as per data up to Falgun (mid-February) of the fiscal year 2024/25.



Despite this formal approval, a significant number of Nepali workers continue to reach unapproved destinations through informal or illegal channels. Authorities have raised concerns that unauthorized agents are actively luring job seekers to these risky locations, suggesting the actual number of destination countries may be higher than reported.



According to the latest Economic Survey released by the Ministry of Finance, 1,670 manpower agencies have been licensed to facilitate foreign employment. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains the most popular destination for Nepali migrant workers.



By Falgun, 317,063 individuals had received new labor approvals—of which 93.3% were men and 6.7% were women. When including renewals, the total number of labor approvals rose to 534,471. During the same period, South Korea received 7,509 workers under the EPS (Employment Permit System).



However, foreign employment continues to come with severe risks. Between Shrawan and Falgun (mid-July to mid-March), 974 Nepali workers—922 men and 52 women—died while working abroad. The government provided over Rs 656.7 million in compensation to the families of the deceased. Additionally, 336 workers (317 men and 19 women) were reported injured or seriously ill, with Rs 147.4 million provided in support.



To improve safety and awareness, the government is implementing a Safe Migration Program, now in its fourth phase, across 267 local units in 68 districts. As of mid-March 2025, more than 454,000 people have received services through the program.

111 countries open for Nepali migrant workers, but unsafe routes persist

Sevilla (Spain): The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development opened today at the Fabius Exhibition Centre in Sevilla, Spain.



The summit is being attended by heads of state and head of the government, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The opening session was addressed by King Philip II of Spain, President of the Government of Spain (Prime Minister) Pedro Sanchez, Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres.



Prime Minister Oli is accompanied by Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amrit Bahadur Rai, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Chief of the Protocol at the MoFA Kumar Raj Kharel.



The visit from Prime Minister Oli made at the friendly invitation of UN Secretary-General Guterres and Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez for the International Conference on Financing for Development of the United Nations (FfD-4).



The Conference on Financing for Development brings together leaders of all world governments, global and regional organizations, financial and business institutions, business leaders, civil society and relevant representatives of the UN system. Nepal will advocate in the conference by leading the voices of the least developed, small and island countries.



The conference will also discuss the implementation of investment commitments made by rich countries to poor and small countries.



It will be an important platform for promoting international cooperation for the UN Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030. The summit will focus on the challenges of immediate and long-term cooperation and investment for sustainable development while improving the global financial architecture.



It will discuss and draw conclusions on issues including sustainable development, finance for development, and in particular development assistance, investment, and technology transfer.

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