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The government has initiated preparations to prioritize programs in the upcoming fiscal year's budget aimed at addressing the challenges that Nepal could face following its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026.

Concerns have been raised that Nepal’s current benefits in the global market may diminish after graduation. Post-graduation, Nepal will lose certain trade-related intellectual property advantages which could negatively affect Nepali products. However, government officials believe that proactive policy and diplomatic efforts could help mitigate these risks and maintain existing benefits.

In 2021, the UN General Assembly approved Nepal’s transition from an LDC to a developing country, based on the recommendation of the United Nations Committee for Development Policy. 

The Ministry of Finance has been engaging in discussions with relevant agencies to integrate the roadmap for Nepal’s graduation into the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. Intensive consultations have taken place between the National Planning Commission, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and the Ministry of Finance on the issue.

Officials insist that there won’t be much impact from waiver of facilities post-graduation as it would not affect Nepal’s exports to India, its largest trading partner, which accounts for two-thirds of the country’s total trade. As a close neighbor, Nepal enjoys special concessions under bilateral agreements, which will remain intact even after graduation.

Nepal’s exports to China, where it enjoys duty-free access for several products, will also remain unaffected. Although current exports to China are minimal, the northern neighbor holds significant potential as a future export market for Nepal.

However, exports to other markets, such as the United States, the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom—where Nepal currently benefits from LDC privileges—could face problems, according to finance ministry officials. They added that grant assistance could also diminish gradually post-graduation.

The finance ministry has stated that preparations are already underway to formulate new policies to address these issues. The goal is to align the graduation process with the budget’s objectives for sustainable development, a finance ministry official said.

During recent discussions, officials underlined the need to develop policies, plans and programs that will ensure the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26 is both smooth and sustainable and aligns with Nepal’s post-graduation strategies.

The finance ministry plans to support sustainable economic growth and job creation through fiscal policy, stable monetary policy and the effective operation of development assistance. Additionally, trade analysis and enhancing capacity and financial access for high-return projects are also among the ministry’s key priorities.

The criteria for LDC graduation include per capita gross national income, human asset index and economic and environmental vulnerability indicators, among others.

Officials say Nepal is expected to benefit from strengthened access to development and business investments, new trade and economic partnerships, sustainable development, enhanced national image, and increased credibility, among others, post-graduation.

The Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) has made arrangements of water supply from a new distribution network by managing ponds located at 13 different places in the Kathmandu Valley. 

Chief of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project Implementation Directorate, Tika Bahadur Chaudhary, said the new arrangement was made to distribute water brought here from the Melamchi river in Sindhupalchwk in a proportional manner.  Arrangement has been made for turbidity and chlorine testing of water in all the ponds as well as quality measurement. 

Meanwhile, the KUKL has installed automatic electric meter at water taps in Chamati and Anamnagar areas for trial.

A federal judge instructed the Trump administration on Thursday to explain why its failure to turn around flights carrying deportees to El Salvadordid not violate his court order in a growing showdown between the judicial and executive branches, Associated Press reported.

U.S. District Judge Jeb Boasberg demanded answers after flights carrying Venezuelan immigrants alleged by the Trump administration to be gang members landed in El Salvador after the judge temporarily blocked deportations under an 18th century wartime law. Boasberg had directed the administration to return to the U.S. planes that were already in the air when he ordered the halt.

Boasberg had given the administration until noon Thursday to either provide more details about the flights or make a claim that it must be withheld because it would harm “state secrets.” The administration resisted the judge’s request, calling it an “unnecessary judicial fishing” expedition, according to the Associated Press.

Experts and politicians have said that Nepal should learn lessons for the country's economic growth and physical prosperity from China's development initiatives.

At a program organized by Friends of Silk Road Club-Nepal on 'China's Two Sessions 2025: Lessons, Opportunities, and Implications for Nepal' on Thursday, they stated that Nepal can learn lessons and benefit from China's economic rise made in the last four decades.

Standing Committee Member of the CPN-UML and former Industry Minister Karna Bahadur Thapa said we should expand Nepal-China relations and take maximum benefits through partnership for the implementation of sustainable development policies. "For this, we should deepen our diplomatic ties through political level," Thapa added.

Likewise, CPN (Maoist Center) central committee member and Bagmati Province Assembly Member Yubraj Chaulagain called for intensive collaboration on economic issues between Nepal and China adding that rising economic power of China could be beneficial for Nepal's development efforts.

Similarly, Nepali Congress central committee member Madhu Acharya argued that Nepal could advance ahead by taking technical expertise from China adding that China's stride in technological advancement was impressive.

Also speaking at the programme, Executive Director of CEDA of Tribhuvan University (TU) Prof Dr Arjun Kumar Baral and foreign affairs expert Gopal Khanal said that China's strategies on economic growth, industrialization, modernization, good-governance and reforms are the key areas that Nepal should learn from Chinese experiences.

General Secretary of Club Dr Kalyan Raj Sharma stressed the need of investment partnership with China adding that Nepal can bring in a huge amount of FDI from China by further deepening our ties.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova Mihai Posoi held a meeting on Thursday.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova Mihai Popsoi arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday for a two-day visit to Nepal.

According to Minister Bhandari's Secretariat, Minister Bhandari shared his satisfaction with the cordial relations between the two countries since the diplomatic ties in 1993. 

Bhandari stated that the two countries can work in the areas of economic sector, agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, information technology, education and others by exploring new potentials for mutual cooperation.

The two leaders discussed the ways to increase the business volume between Nepal and Moldova.

Likewise, the Moldavian Deputy Prime Minister said that Nepal and Moldova can take initiatives for partnership to send Nepali migrant workers there as there are employment opportunities for Nepali nationals in Moldova.

‘The consumer is the king of the market.’ 

The above quote seems to imply that the consumer holds (almost) tyrannical power over the market.

The quote gives consumer confidence a boost, but not for long against lived experiences, especially in less developed countries and monopoly markets like Nepal where the consumer has remained a paper tiger for long.  

The quote notwithstanding, the situation on the ground is far more sobering in the context of Nepal where consumerism remains an alien concept, where getting cheated in terms of price, quality and quantity has become the norm rather than the exception for the gullible consumer. Here, cartelling, hoarding and black-marketing have become standard business practices and even if one gets caught for resorting to these practices, chances of getting an early release are pretty high, thanks to friends in high places. 

In the name of protecting consumers’ interests, very many organizations have sprouted in Nepal over the decades. But most of these bodies are not independent; they merely are extensions of different political parties. Obviously, they are more interested in pursuing politics in the name of the consumer than taking pains for the protection of consumer rights. 

By the way, what does the Constitution of Nepal, 2015 provide for the (wronged) consumer? 

Article 44 (1) states, in no uncertain terms: Every consumer shall have the right to obtain quality goods and services. 

Article 44 (2) goes: A person who has suffered injury from any substandard goods or services shall have the right to obtain compensation in accordance with law. 

A fitting tribute to consumer rights, right? 

But the consumer needs far more than hollow words, it needs some concrete action to get core concerns addressed. 

For a long time, the conscious consumer has felt the need for a dedicated court to address grievances. The good news is, such a court has finally started operation coinciding with the World Consumer Rights Day (March 15).   

The Consumer Court, established with a mission to expedite legal proceedings and provide swift resolutions to consumer complaints, consists of Kathmandu district court Judge Ram Prasad Sharma as chair and gazetted second-class officers Gehendra Raj Regmi and Ananda Raj Pokharel as members, apart from a registrar for filing cases. 

Now that the long-awaited court has materialized, time has come for the aggrieved people to break the silence and move the court, if need be, for the protection of consumer rights.  

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said Nepal and China had in 2019 signed the agreement on a 'Boundary Management System' to reopen the 14 border points along the Nepal-China border serving as the traditional trade points.  Urai Bhanjyang pass in Bajhang is one of the 14 transit points. 

In his reply to a query from Bhanubhakta Joshi in a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, the Prime Minister said the regulations about providing China entry pass for Nepali citizens of districts adjoining China have been implemented. 

Coordination with the bodies concerned and the efforts at the diplomatic level continue to operate the Urai Bhanjyang. 

Entertaining the legislator's advice to provide services relating to roadways, drinking water, irrigation, river management and infrastructure management in an integrated way, he said local levels have launched an integrated system for some services.  

The government is undertaking continuous efforts to assure that job opportunities are available within the country, the Prime Minister said, adding that the five-year strategic plan has been implemented to develop entrepreneurship and internal employment for building a decent job atmosphere in the country. 

The Vocational and Skill Development Training Academy has been established to offer vocational and skills enhancement training and to verify skills of foreign migrant returnees. 

The Prime Minister further added that 'Employment Programme', the government initiation aiming to guarantee minimum job opportunities, around 800,000 (listed as unemployed) have got employment to date since  the fiscal year 2075/76 ( 2018-19).

The "Internal Employment Promotion Decade" has been announced with an objective of enhancing internal employment opportunities.

This initiation is expected to encourage youths to engage in employment and self-employment activities within the home, according to the Prime Minister. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government was making efforts so that the report of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) jointly formed by Nepal and India would be accepted through the understanding of both sides.

During a question and answer session with the Prime Minister at today's meeting of the House of Representatives, he said the EPG report would be accepted with the understanding and consensus of both the countries.

Responding to the question of lawmaker Buddhiman Tamang, PM Oli said that the issue was raised at the highest level of the Indian government in the previous meetings regarding acknowledging the EPG report.

He said diplomatic initiatives were being taken in other contexts.

The Prime Minister stated that the EPG group had agreed before to submit its report first to the Prime Minister of India and then only to the Prime Minister of Nepal.

"We will work towards both sides' accepting this report through an understanding," he reiterated.

Replying to a question on the issue of Nepal's revised 'pointed' map, he said that the map of the territory under Nepal's control before 1962 AD which is reflected in the current revised map is the reality.

"Until 1960, the map of the country was the same as it is now, but it was changed after that. Nepal's Coat-of-Arms in Schedule 3 of the Constitution was updated through the second amendment to the Constitution on June 18, 2020," he said.