Kathmandu: In a bid to deepen cross-border tourism cooperation, the Embassy of Nepal in Bangladesh and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) jointly organized the 'Nepal-Bangladesh Tourism Meet' in Dhaka on Friday evening under the theme Neighbourly Nepal: Land of Lifetime Experiences.



Addressing the gathering, Nepal’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari highlighted Nepal’s growing popularity among Bangladeshi tourists, citing its unique combination of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and adventure tourism. Calling tourism a bridge of friendship, he urged entrepreneurs from both nations to strengthen business-to-business ties and foster deeper people-to-people connections.



Officiating NTB Director Rohini Prasad Khanal delivered a detailed presentation on Nepal’s wide-ranging tourism offerings — from adventure activities like trekking, mountaineering, paragliding, and bungee jumping to peaceful experiences such as spiritual retreats and wellness escapes. He also promoted emerging sectors such as medical tourism, encouraging Bangladeshi visitors to experience Nepal in a way that creates lasting memories.



AKM Moniruzzaman, Joint Secretary at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, emphasized the potential of developing joint tourism packages to position Nepal and Bangladesh as complementary destinations for regional and global tourists.



In her welcome remarks, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nepali Embassy, Lalita Silwal, reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of tourism collaboration with Bangladesh.



The event also featured a motivational account by Bangladeshi mountaineer Ikramul Hassan Shakil, who recently completed a 1,372-kilometer ‘Sea to Summit’ expedition culminating in his successful ascent of Mt. Everest on May 19, 2025.



Other speakers included President of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) Abdus Salam Aref and Chairman of the Asian Tourism Fair Mohiuddin Helal.



The program was attended by over 150 participants, including government officials, tour operators, airline representatives, hoteliers, and other tourism stakeholders from both nations.



Nepali cultural performances added a festive touch, while a raffle draw featured round-trip tickets for the Dhaka–Kathmandu route and holiday packages sponsored by Himalaya Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and Nepali tour operators.



Earlier in the day, B2B and networking sessions were held between tour and travel professionals from Nepal and Bangladesh. The Nepali delegation included NTB officials and representatives from 13 travel companies.

Nepal-Bangladesh tourism meet held in Dhaka to boost bilateral travel ties

Kathmandu: Member of the National Planning Commission, Dr Prakash Shrestha has underlined the need of policy-level reforms for agro modernization and commercialization. At an interaction organized here today by the Nepal Forum of Economic Journalists, he emphasized on the policy improvements to boost agriculture yields and take the country to economic development. The government should mechanize subsidy and concession to the farmers based on the production, he said. The agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and industry sectors create employment opportunities for youths, he said, adding that the commercial banks need to flow investment based on regional specialization for capital management. Dr Shrestha clarified that the policy of excluding projects costing below Rs 30 million has been adopted to shun distributive budget. Chief Executive Officer of Nabil Bank, Manoj Gywali highlighted the crucial role of banks and financial institutions for capital collection and investment expansion. He stressed that the banks should be attentive of collateral security while flowing the money deposited by the general public as the loan.

Policy-level reforms stressed for agro modernization

Kathmandu: The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has decided to write to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting it to direct Nepal’s diplomatic missions to take necessary measures for ensuring the safety of Nepali workers in Israel and Iran.



This move comes in response to the ongoing conflict between the two countries and aims to mitigate potential risks to Nepali citizens residing or working in the affected regions.



A meeting of the concerned stakeholders held under the convenorship of Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar, also decided to collect regular updates on the status of Nepali nationals in Israel, Iran, and neighbouring affected areas through diplomatic channels.



In line with the meeting's decisions, the Ministry will provide counseling and up-to-date travel information to address the safety needs of Nepalis engaged in foreign employment.



The Ministry has been tasked with staying on standby to carry out relief, rescue, and safe repatriation operations for Nepalis in Israel, Iran, and other affected areas, as required. If necessary, the Ministry will coordinate with third countries for transit arrangements during repatriation efforts.



Furthermore, the meeting has recommended mobilizing the Labour Migration and Foreign Employment Resolution Taskforce, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an emergency response team to support these efforts.



It has been decided to request the relevant authorities to take necessary initiatives for the security and assistance of Nepali citizens in the respective countries through security diplomacy, and to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to arrange for a waiver of additional fees that may be incurred in the case of transferring air tickets for Nepalis going for foreign employment to Israel, Iran, and affected neighboring countries.



Secretary Pushkar said the meeting instructed the bodies concerned to prepare the statistics of Nepali citizens currently in foreign employment in Israel, Iran, and other affected neighbouring countries by obtaining labour approval.



The meeting has directed the Department of Foreign Employment, the Foreign Employment Board, and the Social Security Fund to prepare for the expansion of ‘virtual’ and ‘telemedicine’ services to provide mental health counseling services to and the immediate rescue of Nepali citizens in Israel, Iran, and the affected neighbouring countries.



The Ministry has requested for taking necessary precautions as per the notice issued by the relevant country and the Government of Nepal.



Attendees in the meeting included the secretary of the relevant parliamentary committee and the representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Departments of Immigration and Foreign Employment, and representatives from umbrella organizations in the private sector.



Source: RSS

Labour and Employment Ministry concerned over safety of Nepalis in Iran, Israel

Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal has filed a lawsuit demanding over Rs 1.36 billion from Nepal Can Move Pvt Ltd and its operators, accusing them of large-scale tax evasion through concealed sales and undeclared income.



The Department of Revenue Investigation (DoRI) registered the case at the High Court on Sunday, charging Nepal Can Move Pvt Ltd, Nepal Can Group Pvt Ltd, and seven individuals, including key shareholders and company officials, of evading value-added tax (VAT) and income tax.



According to the DoRI, the company concealed significant portions of its income by bypassing Nepal’s tax system, conducting sales through an online portal with a server based in Australia. The department alleges that the accused deliberately kept the server overseas to avoid scrutiny by Nepal’s tax administration.



The accused individuals include major shareholder Sudip Acharya (55.33% shares), Jiwan Gyawali (16%), along with Ganga Bahadur Thapa, Manish Prasad Acharya, Mithu Paudel, Sangam Paudel (Deputy Executive Director), and others. Acharya and Gyawali, identified as the key figures behind the operations, reportedly failed to appear despite multiple summons and are currently absconding.



The DoRI has demanded Rs 684.4 million in unpaid taxes and an additional Rs 684.4 million in penalties, totaling Rs 1.368 billion.



Investigations revealed that the company engaged in manual billing to manipulate sales records and avoid tax obligations. The transactions were not reported to the Inland Revenue Department, violating provisions under the Revenue Leakage (Investigation and Control) Act, 2052 BS.



The DoRI said it confiscated key digital and financial documents, including the company’s trial balance records from fiscal year 2019/20 to mid-March of the current fiscal year 2025/26, further substantiating the claims.



The case is seen as part of a broader government crackdown on financial crimes and tax evasion.

Government files Rs 1.36 billion tax evasion lawsuit against 'Nepal Can Move'

Kathmandu: The Federation of Nepal Gold Silver Gem and Jewelry Associations has urged the government to review the decision to impose Value Added Tax (VAT) on diamond and gems, and luxury tax on gold.



At a news conference today, the Federation feared that such taxes could impact the business too, while some of the businesses could even be forced to shut down.



The government has announced to impose VAT on diamond and precious stones, and two percent luxury tax on gold items.



Federation Chair Sumanman Tamrakar argued that the new provision of VAT and tax could not only impact 25,000 businesspeople with Rs 350 billion of investment but also the craftsmen and their dependents.



The Federation has claimed that the business contributes some Rs 20 billion in revenue collection annually.

Call to review VAT, luxury tax on diamond, gems jewelries and gold

Kathmandu: A case has been formally registered against Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman and former Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane at the District Court in Parsa, on charges of misappropriating funds from the Sano Paila Cooperative.



Lamichhane is currently under police remand at Bhairahawa jail in connection with the high-profile Supreme Cooperative fraud case, which originated in Rupandehi district. The latest case accuses him of embezzling Rs 57.4 million from depositors' savings in the Sano Paila Cooperative.



Altogether, 29 individuals, including Lamichhane, have been named as defendants in the case. Authorities claim that the group misappropriated a total of Rs 1.32 billion from the cooperative. The Sano Paila Cooperative was operated by GB Rai, a key suspect in the nationwide cooperative fraud scandal who is currently on the run. The cooperative reportedly had around 800 depositors.



According to the police investigation report, submitted to the District Government Attorney’s Office on April 27, significant portions of the siphoned funds were transferred to companies affiliated with Rai. This includes Rs 13.7 million to Nature Hub International, Rs 18.5 million to Nature Nest Pvt. Ltd., and Rs 10.1 million to SpringWood Real Estate.



Despite the report being ready in April, the case registration process was delayed. The new filing in Parsa adds to Lamichhane’s mounting legal troubles as investigations into large-scale cooperative fraud continue across the country.

Case filed against RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane in Parsa over cooperative fund misuse

Kathmandu: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has resumed the export of electricity to Bangladesh, sending 40 megawatts of power through India's transmission line starting today.



Nepal had exported electricity to Bangladesh for the first time on July 15, 2024, but it lasted only 12 hours. The export has now resumed after nearly a year, following a tripartite agreement signed last year between NEA, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), and India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN).



According to Subarna Sapkota, Deputy Manager of NEA’s Electricity System Control Department, Nepal will export a total of 146.88 million units of electricity over the next five months—until November 15. The government is expected to earn Rs 1.29 billion from the deal, with the electricity being sold at 6.40 US cents per unit. The power will be transmitted from Nepal’s 400 kV Dhalkebar Substation via India’s Muzaffarpur and Berhampur to reach the Bheramara Substation in Bangladesh.



Meanwhile, Nepal has continued electricity exports to India. NEA had been supplying 185 MW of power to India since June 1, which has now increased to 200 MW from Saturday. Under the bilateral agreement between Nepal and India, the electricity is sold at a rate of 5.25 Indian rupees per unit.



Additionally, NEA has started exporting 80 MW of electricity to the Indian state of Bihar since midnight. Nepal is also actively engaged in electricity trading in the Indian market through the 400 kV and 132 kV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission lines.



With the onset of the monsoon season, Nepal’s hydropower generation has surged, allowing it to export surplus electricity to both India and Bangladesh.



Source: RSS

Nepal resumes power export to Bangladesh, to earn Rs 1.29 billion in five months

Kathmandu: Three major political parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Center)—have reached a two-point agreement in response to the growing controversy over visit visa abuses and immigration irregularities.



Signed by the chief whips of the three parties, the agreement pledges full government cooperation with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), which is currently investigating the matter.



“The government will facilitate the investigation being carried out by the CIAA regarding the irregularities linked to visit visas and immigration,” the agreement states.



The second point calls for a comprehensive policy, legal, and structural reform of the immigration and visa system, to be pursued following an in-depth study.



However, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) opted not to sign the agreement. RSP leaders said they disagreed with the approach outlined in the deal and criticized it as insufficient to address systemic issues.

Major parties sign agreement on visit visa scandal

Kathmandu: The European Union has added Nepal to its list of high-risk third-country jurisdictions for money laundering and terrorist financing, following the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) similar designation earlier this year.



In a statement issued Tuesday, the European Commission announced the inclusion of Nepal and nine other countries—Algeria, Angola, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, and Venezuela—on the revised list. Meanwhile, eight countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), were removed.



The EU’s move subjects financial transactions involving Nepal to enhanced due diligence and stricter scrutiny by institutions within the bloc. The Commission stated the measure is intended to protect the EU’s financial system and uphold international standards against illicit financial flows.



This updated list mirrors the FATF’s grey list, formally known as "Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring." The FATF placed Nepal and Laos on the list in February 2024, citing shortcomings in their frameworks to counter money laundering and terrorism financing.

EU lists Nepal as high-risk country for money laundering and terror financing

Kathmandu: Nearly 138 million children worldwide were engaged in child labor in 2024, according to a joint report by UNICEF and the International Labour Organization (ILO) released Wednesday, warning that progress remains too slow to meet global eradication targets.



The report reveals that 137.6 million children aged 5–17, or 7.8 percent of that age group, were still working last year—equivalent to twice the population of France. This figure highlights the world’s failure to meet its Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating child labor by 2025, a target set in 2015.



“That timeline has now come to an end. But child labor has not,” the UN agencies stated.



While the number of child laborers has declined from 246 million in 2000, the pace has slowed dramatically.



After a rise between 2016 and 2020, the trend reversed, with 20 million fewer children in labor in 2024 compared to 2020. Yet, experts warn that at the current rate, eliminating child labor could take hundreds of years.



“Even if we quadruple the current pace, we’re looking at 2060 before we meet our goal,” said Claudia Cappa, UNICEF’s child protection expert.



UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell acknowledged “significant progress,” but stressed that millions of children still toil in hazardous conditions in mines, factories, and fields.



The report found that nearly 40 percent of child laborers were engaged in work considered dangerous to their health, safety, or development.



The agriculture sector accounts for the highest share, at 61 percent, followed by domestic and service work (27 percent) and industry (13 percent), including mining and manufacturing.



Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most affected, with 87 million child laborers. The Asia-Pacific region has shown the most improvement, reducing its number from 49 million in 2000 to 28 million in 2024.



Progress for younger children remains especially slow. Nearly 80 million children aged 5 to 11—about 8.2 percent of that age group—were working last year.



The report highlights known solutions, including free, compulsory education and universal social protection systems, as key to preventing child labor and protecting children as they grow.



However, UNICEF warned that global funding cuts threaten to undermine recent gains.

UN Report: 138 mn children still in labor, goal to end child labor by 2025 missed

Kathmandu: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved $42.7 million (approximately Rs 5.84 billion) for Nepal under the sixth installment of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), citing satisfactory progress in the implementation of the program.



An IMF mission led by Sarwat Jahan visited Kathmandu from May 26 to June 10, holding discussions with Nepali officials. A staff-level agreement was reached on key policies and reforms necessary to complete the sixth review under the ECF.



The agreement remains subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board.



Upon formal approval, the latest disbursement will bring the total IMF support under the ECF to $331.8 million.



Nepal entered the ECF arrangement in 2022, following a sharp decline in foreign exchange reserves and a weakened balance of payments.



The total ECF arrangement amounts to $395.9 million, equivalent to 180 percent of Nepal’s quota under the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR), to be disbursed in several tranches over four years.



Following the fifth review, Nepal received approximately $41.8 million (Rs 5.81 billion). The IMF has also urged Nepal to maintain vigilance in strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures, especially after being placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.



Regulatory reforms in this area remain a priority, the IMF stated.

IMF approves $42.7 million for Nepal under sixth ECF review

Kathmandu: Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), has engaged in discussions with international organisations regarding investment expansion and market access for small countries like Nepal in the evolving economic landscape.



During separate meetings held on the occasion of the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, with Roberto Suárez Santos, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), and Zhang Xiangchen, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dhakal shared his views on Nepal's investment potential, collaboration with both organisations, and Nepal's expectations.



In his meeting with IOE Secretary-General Roberto Suárez Santos, FNCCI President Dhakal highlighted the immediate need for investment to overcome development challenges. He expressed the view that strengthening connections with international partners and exchanging cooperation can help bring best practices utilised in this sector to Nepal.



Dhakal urged Secretary-General Roberto Suárez Santos to help spread the message to the international community that significant investment opportunities are available in Nepal in sectors such as tourism, hydropower and information and communication technology. 



"Nepal has ample investment potential. Located between two giant economies like India and China, Nepal is an ideal location for production and export to a market of 3 billion people. Therefore, I urge international investors to invest in Nepal," he stated. Dhakal expressed gratitude for the continuous support provided by IOE through policy dialogue, social dialogue and institutional capacity building.



He noted that collaboration with IOE has provided Nepali employers with opportunities to present their views on global platforms and has increased access to training and research.



Speaking on the occasion, IOE Secretary-General Roberto Suárez Santos noted that FNCCI is an old and active member of IOE and praised the FNCCI's role and cooperation at the international level. He stated that IOE is always ready for further support and cooperation in the coming days.



Similarly, during the conference, FNCCI President Dhakal also held a separate meeting with Zhang Xiangchen, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. In this meeting, he discussed some structural challenges Nepal faces in the international trading system.



Dhakal welcomed the WTO's decision to maintain duty-free and quota-free access during the interim period, in the context of Nepal's process of graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026. However, he made a special request to the WTO to provide technical assistance based on technology, knowledge and resources to enable Nepal to meet international standards, and flexibility for implementing treaties.



"While LDC graduation is a matter of national pride, there is a possibility that small and medium-sized enterprises will be particularly affected by the loss of benefits such as duty-free and quota-free market access. Therefore, I urge IOE to advocate for a fair and supportive transition on behalf of Nepal in international forums, including the International Labour Organisation and the United Nationn" Dhakal said.



He stated that excessive subsidies provided by developed nations in the agricultural sector put Nepali farmers at a disadvantage in terms of competition.



He also mentioned that Nepali small producers are finding it difficult to meet the high standards outlined in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) agreements under the WTO. "Complex customs procedures, import permits and non-tariff barriers like quotas are still hindering our exports," Dhakal added.



Dhakal also pointed out the need for further support, stating that tariff reductions made in accordance with WTO commitments have reduced government revenue, making it difficult to invest in basic infrastructure, health and education.



On the occasion of the meeting, Zhang Xiangchen, Deputy Director-General of the WTO, stated that the WTO will continue to support Nepal's economic development, promotion of international trade, and capacity building.



Also present at the meeting were Jyotsana Shrestha, Vice President of FNCCI and Chairperson of the Employers' Council, and Babu Kaji Karki, Co- chairperson.

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