Submit your Article

The price of gold has increased by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday. 

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the gold is being traded at Rs 155,400 per tola. 

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,830 per tola today.

A significant portion of financial transactions by Chinese tourists in Nepal is bypassing the national tax system, raising concerns about lost revenue. Restaurants in Thamel and other areas catering to Chinese tourists often accept payments through WeChat Pay, a China-based digital payment service.  

Although the app uses Nepal’s internet connection, the transactions are processed in China, leaving no record in Nepal’s national accounts. As a result, these transactions are not reflected as foreign income, and the government of Nepal cannot impose taxes on them.  

Moreover, Chinese business operators in Nepal have reportedly used WeChat Pay to repatriate their earnings to China without paying any local taxes. This issue led to a ban on WeChat Pay in Nepal in 2019. However, the ban was lifted in 2020 after the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) granted the app permission to operate within the country.  

Despite regulatory approval, the problem persists, with substantial amounts of money being transacted through the app by evading Nepal’s tax system. Experts and officials are now urging stricter monitoring and enforcement to ensure that such digital transactions contribute to the national economy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has continued its diplomatic efforts for the safe release of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali citizen believed to be held captive by Hamas.

These efforts follow reports that Hamas is releasing 34 captives, including women, children and the elderly.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has been requesting countries, which are reported to be in contact with Hamas and are mediating for a ceasefire, to intensify their initiatives for Joshi's release.

Today, Minister Rana had a telephonic conversation with Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, requesting him to take special initiatives for Joshi's freedom.

She acknowledged Qatar as a longstanding friend of Nepal.

During the conversation, Dr Khulaifi, the key mediator for the peace talks with Hamas on behalf of the Qatari government, said progress was being made in bringing Hamas to a ceasefire with Israel.

He highlighted the Qatari government's ongoing initiatives for the release of those kidnapped by Hamas.

He further said they have also prioritised advocating for the release of the Nepali youth Joshi, adding that Joshi would be included in the first phase of the release of the captives, which focus on women, children and the elderly.

If not, he assured that Joshi would be prioritised in the subsequent phases of negotiations.

Last week, Dr Rana met with ambassadors of Israel, Egypt, Qatar, seeking their governments' assistance in securing Joshi's release.

In response, Ambassador of Israel to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass informed that the Israel government had sent a list of captives to Hamas a few months ago, urging the group to release elderly, women and children, and those in critical health conditions in particular in the first phase, and that preparations were underway for their release.

Joshi was among those who were kidnapped during the Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023, which led to the killing of more than a thousand people, including 10 Nepalis.

Since then, the Government of Nepal has continued its diplomatic efforts for Joshi's release. Dr Rana has continuously raised the issue at national and regional forums, including the United Nations, and through bilateral meetings for Joshi's safe release.

KATHMANDU: President Ramchandra Paudel has urged all to move ahead being united by resolving the existing problems of the country.

At a tea reception organized at Sheetal Niwas today on the occasion of Maghi festival, President Paudel said good governance, development and peace are aspiration of Nepali people.

The main objective of our constitution and federal democratic republic governance system is also to establish good governance, development and peace in the country, he argued.

The President expressed the belief that several festivals celebrated by various communities would contribute to unite and strengthen national unity by enhancing mutual love, brotherhood and harmony among all the Nepalis.

Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire, National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal, former Presidents Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Bidya Devi Bhandari, former Prime Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers and parliamentarians were present on the occasion.

 A total of 17,691 adolescent girls in Bhaktapur are expected to get the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer.

According to Shantiram Khatiwada, Chief of the District Public Health Office Bhaktapur, girls aged 10 to 14 in the district will be vaccinated under the HPV vaccination nationwide campaign that will commence on February 4.

Of four municipalities in the district, 4, 162 girls in the Suryabinayak, 6, 742 in the Bhaktapur, 4, 203 in Madhyapur Thimi and 2, 584 in the Chagunarayan will be vaccinated against the cervical cancer.

Of them, 16, 628 from grade six to 10 will be picked from schools and 1,063 who are out of schools will also be covered in the vaccination drive.

He said that the vaccine typically causes no side effects.

However, in the rare event of any issues, the Bhaktapur Hospital, Khwopa Hospital, Surya Binayak Municipal Hospital, Changunarayan Municipal Hospital and Nepal Korea Friendship Municipality Hospital are prepared to respond.

The government will be launching the campaign targeting 1,688,900 girls across the country, coinciding with the World Cancer Day on February 4.

It will conclude on February 18. Studies show that the HPV vaccine can prevent up to 90-95 per cent cervical cancer cases.

Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in Nepal, followed by breast cancer. 

Annapurna Media Network (AMN) has launched its annual subscription campaign, “Jasle Padchha, Awasya Parchha”, from Monday.

Readers renewing their subscription or becoming new annual subscribers to Annapurna Post and The Annapurna Express will receive guaranteed gifts upon subscribing.

The annual subscription fee for both newspapers is set at Rs 3,400 each. “Subscribers will receive gifts immediately upon subscribing,” said Krishna Bhakta Shrestha, Head of the Sales and Circulation Department at AMN.

According to Shrestha, annual subscribers will receive a voucher worth Rs 1,500 for Wonderland, where they can enjoy thrilling games, as well as a movie voucher from INI Cinemas.

Alternatively, subscribers can opt for scratch cards offering cash discounts ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3,400, along with INI Cinemas movie vouchers and tickets for Annapurna Cable Car.

The campaign also offers exciting weekly and monthly prizes. Weekly lucky draw winners will receive OPPO mobile phones and Rs 5,000 vouchers for Tranquility Spa.

Monthly winners will be rewarded with washing machines and Rs 5,000 Tranquility Spa vouchers. The campaign, which is valid nationwide, will run for four months.

On July 4, the government set the support price for paddy: Rs 3,410.51 per quintal for coarse paddy and Rs 3,580.62 per quintal for medium-grade paddy. Hearing this news, Devi Chaudhary, a farmer from Lamki Chuha-4, Kailali, was delighted. Having cultivated paddy on almost eight bighas of land, Chaudhary was hopeful for a good income this year. The government’s announcement of a support price higher than the Rs 3,100 per quintal being offered by traders brought joy to Chaudhary and many other farmers.

However, the government’s announcement didn’t translate into tangible benefits for Chaudhary. The government’s paddy purchasing centers, run by the Food Management and Trading Company Limited, were not accessible to him. As a result, Chaudhary had to sell his paddy to private traders for Rs 200 less per quintal than the government-set price. Adding to his disappointment, Chaudhary said he incurred further losses by storing the paddy at home for nearly two months, hoping for better prices. “I was thrilled when I heard the government had announced a support price,” Chaudhary said. “But the purchasing centers were far away, and the transportation cost was too high. That’s why I had to sell my paddy to private firms at a lower price. On top of that, storing the paddy at home for two months resulted in additional losses.”

Chaudhary explained that his stored paddy suffered losses due to drying, rodent damage, and birds. Initially, he had been cultivating paddy on three bighas but expanded to eight bighas this year by leasing additional land. Favorable weather, timely wedding, adequate fertilizers, and irrigation resulted in a harvest of over 200 quintals. Despite this, selling his paddy for Rs 200 less per quintal than the government’s price left him disheartened. He believes the government’s support price is merely a popular slogan. 

“The government should ensure that it buys paddy from farmers easily if it announces a support price,” Chaudhary said. “If farmers don’t benefit, it’s just a cheap slogan.” He added that while the government declares a minimum support price before planting begins, common farmers are unable to benefit due to a lack of designated purchasing centers, limited quotas for government procurement, and the inaccessibility of these centers.

Farmers engaged in large-scale commercial farming manage to arrange seeds and fertilizers on their own. However, average farmers face challenges and often take seeds and fertilizers from traders on the condition of selling their paddy back to them. Many even take cash advances. 

Farmers who take seeds and fertilizers on credit from traders for nearly four months are compelled to sell their paddy back to these traders at a lower price. “We’ve been buying seeds from private firms and selling our paddy to the same trader for years,” said Puran Pandey, who was unaware of the government’s support price. “The relationship with the trader and the credit taken for seeds and fertilizers means we continue to sell our paddy locally, even at a lower price.”

The lack of access to the Food Management and Trading Company’s designated purchasing centers has further deprived common farmers of the benefits of the support price.  

“From May and June, traders start investing in seeds, fertilizers, and even cash for farmers,” said food trader Raghu Upadhyay. “Since traders invest upfront, they expect some profit. There are risks, too—whether farmers will produce a harvest or repay the amount. That’s why traders buy paddy at a price lower than the support price. Additionally, government purchasing centers are far from farmers’ reach.”

Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI) welcomed the outcome and urged for speedy implementation of the India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on Trade, Transit, and Cooperation to Combat Unauthorised Trade that was held in Kathmandu on January 10-11.

A meeting of the Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit, and Cooperation to Combat Unauthorised Trade at the level of Joint Secretary had earlier held on January 12-13, 2024 in Kathmandu.

The Nepali delegation was led by Secretary Gobinda Bahadur Karkee, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal and the Indian side by Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. Apart from secretaries senior officials from different Ministries and relevant departments of both the countries, including the Embassy of India in Kathmandu took part in meeting.

NICCI welcomed the outcomes of the IGC, a bilateral mechanism aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties, that did a comprehensive review of the whole gamut of bilateral trade and economic relationship, including mutual market access issues, IPR and duty related issues, reads a statement issued by NICCI.

NICCI is hopeful of renewed enthusiasm in trade and transit as the IGC also discussed on review of the Treaty of Transit and the Treaty of Trade, proposed amendments to existing agreements, the harmonization of standards and the synchronized development of trade infrastructure including the electrification of the Raxaul-Birgunj rail line.

NICCI also welcomed Indian decision to supply 200,000 MT wheat that was requested by Nepal. 

In the meeting, the Indian side agreed that as per prevailing regulations of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, maximum axle weight of 18.5 tonnes for two axle vehicles and 28 tonnes for three axle vehicles may also be applicable to Nepali vehicles with respect to the cargo-in-transit on Kakarbhitta (Nepal)-Banglabandha (Bangladesh) via Phulbari (India) route, which is a welcome step, according to NICCI. 

Likewise, in response to Nepali side’s requests, the Indian side informed that Sal Seeds and Chayote have been included in the Plant Quarantine Order of India. The request for Jatamasi - Root extract; Sugandhkokila berry extracts; Sugandhwal Rhizome extract and Timur berry extracts into the list of Processed Items (Plant Products) has also been accepted, which is also welcome move by the India.

During meeting, at the Indian side’s request, Nepali side expressed openness to reviewing the documentation regarding the reclassification of products like EPAQUE and POLYHIDE 28 in their technical systems. The Indian side highlighted the problems faced in milk exports to Nepal. The Nepali side agreed to consider the request of Indian side positively for milk products not adequately produced in Nepal such as whey and cheese.

NICCI finds it positive that the meeting welcomed bilateral initiatives aimed at reinforcing the seamless cross-border connectivity between India and Nepal including through construction of new Integrated Check Posts and railway links. Both sides expressed a commitment to taking forward bilateral connectivity, reflecting the shared vision of prosperous bilateral trade. Both sides agreed to form a Joint Working Group for discussion on the acceptance of Online CoO with Nepal and SAFTA.

NICCI is of the view that India as the largest trade and investment partner for Nepal, its contribution to Nepal will further fortify the economic and commercial linkages between the two countries.