Kathmandu: The government has warned major social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) to register in Nepal by mid-April or face a nationwide ban.



Speaking at the 8th National Convention of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FONIJ) on Friday, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said that despite being formally notified two months ago, platforms like Meta have failed to respond.



“If these social platforms fail to register by the end of Chaitra, we’ll shut them down,” Gurung said. He emphasized that the move is necessary to curb scams and unregulated content online. “These companies are registered and pay taxes in countries like India. Why should Nepal be an exception?” he added.



The government had earlier issued a 30-day notice to social media platforms, asking them to comply with regulatory requirements, which include appointing a local point of contact, a grievance officer, and a compliance monitoring officer.



While platforms such as Viber, TikTok, and WeChat have already completed the registration process, Meta, YouTube, and X are yet to comply.



Addressing growing concerns about a possible crackdown on online news portals, Gurung clarified that there are no plans to restrict digital media. “Freedom of the press, as enshrined in our constitution, will be honored,” he said.



The minister also revealed that several new bills are in the pipeline, including a Press Council bill to resolve leadership disputes, a cybersecurity bill aimed at addressing online threats, and a mass communication bill that seeks to better regulate media organizations and ensure fair compensation for journalists.

Government threatens to ban Facebook, YouTube, X over registration non-compliance

Kathmandu: Stakeholders at the NADA Auto Dialogue have urged the government to establish clear standards for electric vehicles (EVs) imported into Nepal, warning that unchecked imports could turn the country into a dumping ground for substandard vehicles.



Speaking at the event, Nepal Bankers’ Association President Santosh Koirala expressed concern over the rapid rise in EV investments without sufficient regulatory oversight. He highlighted the risk of inexperienced businesses entering the EV import market, potentially putting pressure on the financial sector.



“Loans worth Rs 129 billion have been issued for vehicles in the current fiscal year alone,” Koirala said. “Most loans are for 7–8 years, but if EV batteries need to be replaced within 2–3 years, borrowers could struggle to repay.”



Koirala also warned that without proper standards, the financial system could face risks, particularly as battery replacement becomes necessary around the fifth or sixth year of ownership. He stressed that green financing alone is not enough and called for more clarity on EV technologies.



Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr Shiva Raj Adhikari, echoed the call for policy stability. “The government must avoid erratic changes in tax and loan policies related to EVs,” he said. “Frequent shifts can create uncertainty for investors.”



Dr Bim Prasad Shrestha from Kathmandu University raised the alarm over Nepal becoming a potential dumping site for EVs from around the world. He emphasized the need to train technicians and modernize educational curricula to keep pace with evolving automotive technologies.



While stakeholders acknowledged the growing popularity of EVs in both public and private sectors, they stressed that proper standards, skilled manpower, and policy consistency are essential to ensure sustainable growth and avoid long-term risks.

Stakeholders urge govt to set EV standards amid dumping concerns

Kathmandu: The government has scrapped the Nagarik App (Operation and Management) Directive, 2078, according to a Cabinet decision made on Sunday.



Government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, announced the decision at a press briefing held at Singha Durbar on Monday.



The Cabinet has also formed a delegation led by the Director General of the Department of Customs to participate in the upcoming Nepal–India Director General-level customs talks. The talks are scheduled to take place in Kathmandu on April 10 and 11.



In another decision, the Cabinet approved the resignation of Joint Secretary Rajendra Prasad Sharma from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation.



Additionally, the meeting granted approval to table a bill in the Federal Parliament regarding the management of alternative financing mechanisms.

Cabinet scraps directive on Nagarik App management

Kathmandu: Nepal has formally requested the United Nations (UN) to support the development of technology and sustainable tourism in the country. This request was made by a delegation from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) during a meeting with UN tourism officials in Madrid as part of their ongoing Europe trip.



The delegation, led by Binod Prakash Singh, Secretary at Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, acknowledged the support the UN has provided to Nepal thus far. Singh emphasized the need for further collaboration, particularly in advancing technology, such as artificial intelligence and digital innovation, to promote sustainable tourism development.



In a historic first visit to the UN Tourism Headquarters, the delegation met with Harry Hwang, Director of the Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Hwang reaffirmed the UN's commitment to continue cooperating with Nepal and encouraged the country to actively participate in UN tourism initiatives. He also urged Nepal to submit formal proposals outlining its priorities for additional UN support.



Dr. Narayan Prasad Regmi, Director General of Nepal's Department of Tourism, reiterated the nation's commitment to strengthening its partnership with the UN tourism body, focusing on promoting bilateral tourism relations.



The NTB representatives highlighted Nepal’s vast potential for adventure tourism, eco-tourism, and rural tourism. They stressed the importance of UN-led projects to elevate the country's tourism industry and ensure that tourism benefits are distributed equitably across the country.



In addition to the meeting with UN officials, the NTB also organized a promotional event in collaboration with the Nepali Embassy in Spain. The event aimed to enhance tourism relations between Nepal and Spain, and was attended by tourism entrepreneurs and media personnel. During the event, Nepal's Ambassador to Spain, Sanil Nepal, highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two countries.



Khadga Bikram Shah, Senior Manager at NTB, gave a presentation showcasing Nepal's natural beauty, adventurous tourism opportunities, cultural heritage, and hospitality services. He suggested that Nepal could become a major tourist destination for Spaniards, further strengthening tourism ties between the two nations.

Nepal seeks UN support for sustainable tourism and technology development

Kathmandu: Ncell, a private telecom operator in Nepal, has announced plans to shut down its 3G services by 2025 as part of its transition to newer technologies.



Speaking at an event organized by the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) in Kathmandu, Ncell CEO Jabbor Kayumov said that with many South Asian countries already discontinuing 2G and 3G services, Nepal must also phase out outdated technology to make way for advanced network systems.



Kayumov highlighted that around 3.3 million mobile devices in Nepal still run only on 2G technology, which he said is a barrier to adopting modern telecom services.

Ncell to shut down 3G services in Nepal by 2025

Kathmandu: India’s largest telecom firms, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, have signed separate agreements with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink’s satellite internet service to the country, the BBC reported.



The deals come despite past tensions between Musk and the companies and are conditional on government approval. SpaceX has faced regulatory hurdles since 2021.



Jio and Airtel plan to use Starlink’s network to expand broadband services, particularly in rural areas. Analysts say the move follows a policy shift favoring Musk, after India decided to allocate satellite spectrum instead of auctioning it—a stance opposed by Jio and Airtel.



If approved, the tie-ups could give Starlink access to 70% of India’s mobile users, with analysts predicting a potential price drop for satellite internet in the country. Source: BBC

Jio, Airtel sign deals with Musk’s Starlink for India’s satellite internet

Kathmandu: Visa (NYSE: V), the global leader in digital payments, is partnering with Fonepay,a leading payment network in Nepal, to introduce its Scan to Pay solution for international travelers to pay in Nepal using Fonepay’s QR scheme. This collaboration is expected to make cross-border payments by incoming tourists using Visa credentials secure, seamless and convenient.



The Scan to Pay solution by Visa and Fonepay will greatly enhance the shopping experience of people traveling to Nepal by enabling Visa card payments at over 1.5 million QR merchants across Nepal. International travelers who have tokenised Visa credentials in their preferred digital wallet apps will soon to be able to pay using their Visa cards when scanning a Fonepay QR in Nepal.



Sabbir Ahmed, Country Manager, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, Visa said, “We are delighted to partner with Fonepay to enable consumers and tourists in Nepal to use Visa cards to scan and pay digitally anywhere, everywhere. This is a significant milestone in Visa’s partnership with Fonepay, and we eagerly look forward to bringing to the nation, more innovative, simple and secure ways to pay and be paid.”



Diwas Sapkota, Chief Executive Officer, Fonepay said, “This partnership is a significant step in expanding Fonepay’s QR Scheme as the preferred cross border payment scheme in Nepal, bringing seamless and secure digital transactions experience to Visa cardholders around the globe in alternative payment rails like QR payment acceptance. By integrating Visa’s extensive global network with Fonepay’s strong QR payment infrastructure, we are making cross-border transactions more accessible and convenient. This collaboration will further accelerate digital payment adoption, benefiting merchants of all sizes and driving financial inclusion across Nepal.”



QR codes, one of the most popular payment methods in Nepal and across Asia, will make it simple for Visa cardholders to make cashless payments at over a million merchant outlets in the country, reducing transaction time and empowering secure digital payments. The small business and merchant community too will benefit greatly from accepting card payments without a POS (Point of Sale) machine while large retail stores will be able to service faster queues and quicker checkouts with enhanced fraud protection.



Visa has been working closely with banks and partners in Nepal to enhance digital payment adoption and acceptance by consumers and merchants across the country. Enabling consumers to use Visa cards on Fonepay is another significant step in deepening its commitment to digitising Nepal with convenient, secure digital payments for cardholders to pay digitally in Nepal.

Visa enters strategic partnership with Fonepay

Kathmandu: A two-day international conference on digital crime control is set to begin in the capital on Thursday, organized by the Office of the Attorney General. Representatives from 13 countries will participate in discussions on emerging trends in digital crime, investigations, and justice.



The conference aims to facilitate international experience exchange and strengthen institutional capacity in tackling technology-driven crimes. Experts will present working papers on "Crimes of the Digital Age: Anticipation and Response," addressing the rising challenges posed by cyber threats.



Attendees will include researchers, criminologists, AI specialists, prosecutors, legal experts, and judges from Nepal, India, China, Sri Lanka, the UK, and other nations. Key topics of discussion will cover technology-based sexual violence and abuse, cybercrime, cryptocurrency-related offenses, and crimes committed using artificial intelligence.



The event underscores growing global concerns over digital crime and seeks to foster international collaboration in devising effective responses.

International conference on Digital Crime Control begins Thursday in KTM

Kathmandu: Nepal imported 1.229 million smartphones worth Rs 18.98 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY 2024/25), according to the Department of Customs (DoC). The government collected Rs 3.35 billion in customs duty on these imports between mid-July and mid-February.



The latest figures show an increase of 126,000 units compared to the same period last fiscal year, when 1.05 million smartphones were brought into the country. The total import value of smartphones this year is Rs 1.6 billion higher than last year’s Rs 17.38 billion.



Smartphones priced between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 dominate the market, with rising imports indicating a growing number of users in Nepal, according to the DoC.



Despite fluctuations, Nepal recorded its highest mobile phone imports in FY 2020/21, with devices worth Rs 28.38 billion brought in from mid-July to mid-February. In comparison, the country imported mobile phones worth Rs 14.76 billion in 2022 and Rs 12.60 billion in 2020.



Over the past five years, the volume of mobile phone imports has declined, but the total value has increased. In the same seven-month period five years ago, Nepal imported 2.6 million mobile sets, but their customs value was significantly lower at Rs 12.60 billion. The shift from bar phones to higher-priced smartphones has contributed to this trend.

Nepal imports 1.23 million smartphones worth Rs 19 billion in seven months

Kathmandu: The government has launched an online labour permit approval service for Nepali migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The initiative, operational from the Nepalese Embassy in Abu Dhabi, makes it the second diplomatic mission to offer this service after the Embassy of Nepal in Muscat.



Labour, Employment, and Social Security Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari officially inaugurated the service at an event in Dubai on Thursday, the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi confirmed.



Minister Bhandari emphasized that the move aims to streamline services, improve accessibility, and integrate technology to support Nepali migrant workers.



With this provision, workers can renew their labour permits without returning to Nepal, reducing disruptions to their employment and businesses.



The minister further stated that the online service will be expanded to other diplomatic missions.



Acknowledging the significant contribution of foreign employment to Nepal’s economy, he underscored the need for stronger policies to safeguard migrant workers and improve migration governance.



Nepal’s Ambassador to the UAE, Tej Bahadur Oli, reiterated the Embassy’s commitment to protecting the rights of Nepali workers despite challenges posed by limited resources.



The launch event saw participation from diaspora representatives, the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA), and other stakeholders. An interactive session on labour issues was also held.



Minister Bhandari’s visit to Dubai coincided with his participation in the World Government Summit 2025, taking place from February 11-13.

Nepal govt launches online labour permit approval for UAE-based Nepali workers

Kathmandu: Nepal’s export of Information Technology (IT) goods and services has seen a steady rise, reaching over Rs 28.5 billion in the first six months of the Fiscal Year 2024/25, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).



In the five months from mid-July to mid-December, IT exports totaled Rs 22.89 billion. The data indicates a significant monthly increase of Rs 5.16 billion in exports from mid-December to mid-January alone. Meanwhile, IT-related imports during the same six-month period amounted to Rs 3.52 billion.



NRB compiled the figures based on the transactions recorded through banks and financial institutions by individuals and companies exporting IT services from Nepal.



Comparative figures show consistent growth in Nepal’s IT sector. In FY 2023/24, exports of telecommunications, computer, and information services stood at Rs 1.554 billion. The previous fiscal years saw exports worth Rs 15.80 billion in 2022/23 and Rs 14.53 billion in 2021/22, highlighting an upward trajectory in Nepal’s IT exports.

Nepal’s IT services export surpass Rs 28.5 billion in six nonths

Kathmandu: The Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) Education &amp; Sports Committee has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support major sports, fitness, and esports events in Nepal. The agreement, inked in the presence of NCC President Kamlesh Agrawal and Senior Vice President Deepak Malhotra, aims to strengthen Nepal’s esports ecosystem and promote the sports industry.



Under this collaboration, NCC will extend its support to three key events, each planned for five consecutive editions. The 5th Nepal Esports Championship &amp; Expo 2025, organized by the Nepal Esports Association (NESA), is scheduled for April. The event will bring together national and international gamers, game developers, and industry leaders, featuring competitive gaming, an expo on gaming advancements, and workshops on game development and esports careers.



Additionally, the 2nd Nepal Sports Conclave 2025, set for April, will be co-hosted by the Nepal Sports Journalist Forum (NSJF) and MICE International Service. The conclave will focus on policy discussions and challenges in Nepal’s esports sector, gathering government officials, sports federations, industry experts, and athletes. It will include panel discussions, keynote speeches, and networking sessions to drive policy formulation and industry collaboration.



In June, the 2nd Nepal Sports &amp; Fitness Expo 2025 will take place at Bhrikutimandap, showcasing innovations in the fitness and sports industry. Organized by MICE International Service, the expo will provide a platform for businesses in fitness equipment, sports apparel, nutrition, and wellness services, with live demonstrations and expert talks aimed at engaging fitness enthusiasts and industry stakeholders.



Speaking at the MoU signing, NCC Education &amp; Sports Committee Chairperson Rupak Rajbanshi emphasized the importance of fostering a strong sports and fitness industry in Nepal. NESA President Suraj Dangol highlighted esports' growing potential in the country, while NSJF Board Member Niranjan Rajbanshi reiterated sports journalism’s role in shaping policies. MICE International Service Managing Director Deepak Thapa underscored the need for stakeholder collaboration to develop Nepal’s sports industry sustainably.



The partnership reflects NCC’s commitment to enhancing Nepal’s sports, fitness, and esports landscape, with the endorsed events expected to attract both national and international participation. NCC anticipates that the initiative will not only strengthen Nepal’s esports industry but also contribute to the country’s economy by fostering global engagement and investment in the sector.

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