Submit your Article

Vote count is underway in Bajhang Constituency 1, Province Assembly (a).

As per the latest update, Nepali Congress (NC) candidate Abhishek Bahadur Singh is leading the vote count by 264 votes.

He has obtained 7,492 votes while his close contender CPN-UML's Daman Bahadur Bhandari got 7,228, informed Chief Returning Officer Sudarshan Lamichhane.

Likewise, CPN (Maoist Center) candidate Janak Bahadur Budha secured 2,895 votes while CPN (Unified Socialist)'s Dil Bahadur Singh obtained 2,102 votes.

So far, the counting of votes in Chhabispathibhera Rural Municipality, Thalara Rural Municipality-9, Khaptadchanna Rural Municipality, Jayaprithvi Municipality and Surma Rural Municipality has been completed.

A total of 30,328 votes or 49.12 percent votes were cast in the by-election in Bajhang Province Assembly (A).

There were 61,748 voters in the constituency.

A total of 11 candidates were in the race in Bajhang by-election.

Vote count of the by-election held in Ilam constituency-2 is underway.

CPN-UML candidate Suhang Nembang is leading in the vote count.

According to the latest update, Nembang has secured 8,898 votes. Similarly, Nepali Congress candidate Dambar Bahadur Khadka has received 6,280 votes. Similarly, Independent candidate Dekendra Singh Limbu Thegim obtained 4, 634 votes while Milan Kumar Yonghang Limbu of Rastriya Swatantra Party garnered 1, 305 votes.

A total of 19 candidates, including 12 political parties and seven independents, are in the fray for the by-election.

Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has asserted that Nepal is an attractive destination for international investment.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Third Investment Summit today, he highlighted the key objectives of the Summit.

According to the Finance Minister, the key objectives of the Summit are: To project Nepal as an emerging destination for private sector investment; to highlight recent reforms in enhancing the investment climate and ensuring regulatory frameworks that support foreign as well as domestic investment, to showcase a wide range of projects across different sectors, including investment-ready projects; to facilitate productive negotiations and come up with a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between investors and stakeholders, advancing project development and management objectives; and to provide a platform for networking opportunities among the policymakers, investors, experts and other stakeholders to share ideas and views as well as encourage joint ventures in areas such as industry and infrastructure development.

The finance minister said there are multitudes of investment opportunities ahead, which will be further enhanced through this summit.

"Nepal has been able to achieve significant progress in recent years. Our macroeconomic indicators remain sound and stable. Nepal's economic landscape is evolving, complemented by a federal system of governance providing ample opportunities to foster growth and innovation," he said, adding that over the years, Nepal has witnessed significant achievements in the areas of clean energy, tourism, IT, agriculture, and agro-based industries as the drivers of its economic progress and prosperity.

Noting that as Nepal embarks on the journey of economic transformation, it is imperative to acknowledge that our existing technology and domestic markets alone are insufficient to sustain the high growth trajectory we hope to achieve, Finance Minister Pun observed that foreign investors in Nepal have made commendable achievements.

"Therefore, Nepal warmly welcomes foreign investment as a catalyst for industrial development, infrastructure development, job creation, export promotion, and knowledge, skill and technology transfer. The government is committed to collaborating with the private sector through private direct investment and various other models of public-private partnership. We are grateful to the development partners for their continuous support in creating an enabling environment for investment," he reiterated.

Stating that various policy reforms have been initiated with a view to improving the business environment and boosting investors' confidence, the finance minister said that these reforms include improving regulatory processes, reducing the time and cost of business, and ensuring transparency and accountability in public sector governance.

"Reform is an ongoing process; it will be continued in the days to come. Ladies and gentlemen, I am confident that this summit will serve as an important milestone for unleashing Nepal's tremendous investment potential and charting a path towards sustainable economic growth. Let us grab the opportunity to forge new partnerships, drive innovation, and create a brighter future for all," he added.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has issued the Ordinance Amending Some Nepal Acts Related to Investment Facilitation, 2081.

The President issued the Ordinance on the recommendation of the Government of Nepal, Council of Ministers and in accordance with the Article 114 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal, stated a communiqué signed by Shailaja Regmi Bhattarai, the Spokesperson at the Office of the President. 

The Ordinance has been issued in the context of the Third Investment Summit that kicked off in the federal capital from today.