Submit your Article

An Indian Delegation led by Dr Umesh Hangalore Hebbar, Chief Scientist & Head of Food Engineering Department CSIR to Nepal met NICCI President Sunil KC at NICCI Secretariat, Ace Apartments, Narayan Chaur, Naxal in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

NICCI President KC welcomed the Indian delegation at NICCI Secretariat and briefed about the NICCI as it is the Non-profit Making Binational Chamber of Commerce in Nepal which is particularly working on the area of enhancement of Nepal-India Bilateral Economic relation, Promotion of Indian Investment to bring in Nepal.

The three-member delegation was accompanied by Garima Nautiyal, Second Secretary (Political & Development Partnership) at Embassy of India, Kathmandu.

Dr Hebbar shared the purpose of visit to NICCI was to apprise about CSIR-CFTRI’s expertise and contributions in the area of Food Science and Technology focusing on the areas of development of food processing technologies, products and machineries for processing; capabilities and Human Resource Development, Skill development and Training, especially for farmers, FPOs and MSMEs, reads a statement issued by NICCI.

Additionally, to understand the requirements of Nepal in the areas of food science and technology industry and explore probable areas of future collaboration between various enterprises of Nepal and CSIR-CFTRI.

As the CSIR is the Government Entity of India, the technology advancement is the key area of their engagement and wish to collaborate with Nepalese industries and association for the advancement of food industries in Nepal providing their knowledge, workings and also to collaborate exclusively with the industries in Nepal as per the specific requirements of the industries.

NICCI and CSIR both have agreed for future collaboration organizing interactions with the members and other stakeholders in Nepal.

Ravi Kumar Rayavaram, Vice President of NICCI, Mukesh Upadhyay, President, NICCI Biratnagar Chapter, Ganesh Shah, Former Minister of Science and Technology, Ram Saran Timalsina, Deputy General Manager of Muktinath Krishi Company, Samikshya Rai, Founder of Pack My Lunch, Mingma Tamang, Director, Makusse Nepal, Prof. Dr. ML Sharma of TU, Prof. Rameshwor Adhikari of RECAST, TU, Mohan Thapa, Head of Admin, Salt Trading Corporation, Niruta Dahal, Business Promotion Manager at Himalayan Vista Pvt. Ltd. and Marshal Rathour, Deputy Director of NICCI accompanied the NICCI team.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has drawn the world's attention to address the problems of climate change and poverty.

Addressing the high-level session organized by Kyrgyzstan in the course of ongoing COP29 in Baku, today, President Paudel viewed that climate change sufferers should be ensured justice, an integrated approach is essential.

"The youths from mountainous countries have migrated elsewhere due to climate change impact, while the poor, women, children and elderly ones are suffering worse. The programs to alleviate poverty and climate change would be launched together to address these twin issues."

He further reminded that the climate change is largely caused by the activities of carbon emissions by the developed countries, but the poor people from mountainous countries are bearing the brunt. "I hope the COP29 will be successful to guarantee justice to the victims," President Paudel mentioned in the session.

As the climate change indicators are breaking records every year, the people in the mountain countries are bound to live in the harshest condition, he said, adding that more than 35, 000 households of mountainous Thame village of Solukhumbu district were displaced due to GLOF (glacial lake outburst floods) in Nepal last August. Similarly, the floods and landslides that occurred in the monsoon took the lives of over 500.

"The suffering and trauma the disasters caused in enduring. Proper evaluation and further preparedness are imperative to minimize the loss and damage," he said.

According to him, as both Nepal and Kyrgyzstan are mountainous countries, they both share similar plights when it comes to climate change.

The event was also addressed by the President of Kyrgyzstan, President of Mongolia and Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, among others.

Earlier, President Paudel had addressed the COP29 on Monday.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 14. 12 points to close at 2,734.83 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 5. 08 points to close at 483. 69 points.

A total of 15,362,206-unit shares of 308 companies were traded for Rs 7. 91 billion.

Meanwhile, Saptakoshi Development Bank Ltd (SAPDBL) and Shrijanshil Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SHLB) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Kutheli Bukhari Small Hydropower Limited (KBSH) was the top loser with its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 35 trillion.

Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML have formed a two-party mechanism in the Koshi Province for systematic and effective operation of provincial government.

Unveiling the decisions of the mechanism made on Tuesday, Sherdhan Rai, UML's Koshi Province Committee In-Charge, said that the mechanism was formed to ensure political stability and good-governance.

The mechanism will function as a watchdog to accelerate developmental works and to prevent irregularities of all kinds, said Rai, assuring that it will change citizens' despair into hope.

The mechanism will hold a broad discussion on November 29 with all the provincial ministers in a bid to make the public service delivery effective and enhance the systematic and effective operation of the provincial government, shared Rai, also member of the three-member mechanism.

Likewise, another member and also Chief Minister of Koshi Province Hikmat Kumar Karki expressed his confidence that the mechanism would serve as an additional catalyst to the provincial government to deliver well.

Similarly, another member of the mechanism, Uddhav Thapa of Nepali Congress believed that the mechanism would be helpful for the provincial government in its effective functioning.

The two-party mechanism formed in the Koshi Province includes Sherdhan Rai, Hikmat Karki and Ghanashyam Khatiwada from CPN-UML while Uddhav Thapa, Bhupendra Rai and Umesh Thapa are from NC.

It may be noted that the ruling parties UML and NC have recently formed a two-party mechanism with four members from each party in the federal level to ensure smooth functioning of the government.

The mechanism is being extended to provincial and district level as well including Koshi Province.

The German government has decided to extend assistance for the reconstruction of Dhulikhel Drinking Water Project which was damaged by the disaster two months back.

The German Embassy in Nepal is offering Rs 14.5 million via its aid agency, GIZ, to reconstruct the damaged water supply system, according to Mayor Ashok Byanju.

During a recent meeting with Dhulikhel Municipality Mayor Byanju, German Ambassador to Nepal Dr Thomas Prinz had vowed to provide monetary support to the municipality so that it would be able to reconstruct the damaged drinking water project.

The amount would be released immediately after a bilateral agreement on assistance, according to Byanju.

However, the municipality has estimated that it would cost over Rs 35 million for the reconstruction of the drinking water project.

With the damages of essential service, the people from ward no 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 in the municipality have bearing the brunt.

With the onset of snowfall in the northern hemisphere, the wetlands in Kailali and Kanchanpur district have started receiving increasing numbers of migratory birds lately.

Birds flock to wetlands in Nepal and other lower mountainous areas primarily in search of safe habitat, food as well as hatching, as snowfall starts in regions like Siberia, said Hirulal Dagaura, member of Birds Conservation Nepal.

Duck and other birds of various species such as Maalak duck, duck with green head, Kajijure duck, Suirepuchhre duck, Kharakhare duck, Kal duck, Thulo Jalewa and Chakhewa among others are seen in the wetlands, he shared.

Wetlands here temporarily house migratory birds from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan among others to escape growing cold there, he added.

According to him, migratory birds have reached Ghodaghodi Taal in Kailali, river basin area in Karnali, Puraini Taal, Kalikich wetland area, ponds within the Shuklaphanta National Park, Rani Taal, Sikari Taal, Mahakali, Chaudhar river basin areas.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana is set to leave for Beijing on November 28.

Minister Rana is leaving for Beijing to prepare for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s official visit to China from November 17.

Foreign Minister Rana will welcome the Prime Minister in Beijing on November 17.

The Foreign Minister’s press adviser Ekraj Pathak informed that Minister Rana is leaving for Beijing for the preparation of Prime Minister Oli’s visit to China.

Though Foreign Minister Rana is preparing for a formal visit to China, the invitation has not come yet, Pathak said.

A source at the Prime Minister's Office, however, said that Foreign Minister Rana will reach Beijing on November 13.

The source said that Minister Rana is leaving for Beijing via Tokyo.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 400 per tola (11.66 grams) in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the gold is being traded at Rs 162,200 per tola today. It was Rs 162,600 per tola on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1, 940 per tola.