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Writer and journalist Akhanda Bhandari has come up with a new novel ‘Bora’. The book was launched at an event held in Kathmandu on Friday. Bhandari said that the novel depicts the behavior of children towards elderly parents in Nepali society and the psychology of an abandoned mother. He said that Bora is based on the story of a mother who is rejected by her children.

Bhandari has previously written the novel ‘Malaya Express’. Bora is a novel based on true events. The subject of the growing injustice, sin and crime in our society is in the novel. “The real situation of his own son finding his mother thrown in a sack has been covered,” he said.

Bhandari said that although the novel is based on a real incident, the characters and environ

ment have changed. However, this novel is also fiction written based on reality. The mother never cries in the novel. Published by PeaceBooks Pvt Ltd, the novel has 470 pages.

Capt Rameshwar Thapa, Chairperson of Annapurna Media Network, said that ‘Bora’ is a successful novel to tear apart social evils and anomalies. “A mother never gets old. A mother never shows that she is old,” he said.

The two-day schedule of the Third Investment Summit going to be organized in Kathmandu on April 28 and 29 has been made public.

As per the information shared by the Investment Board, two special sessions along with the inaugural session would be held on the first day. The two plenary sessions are entitled "Exploring Investment Opportunities in Nepal" and "Success Stories of Investments in Nepal".

On the second day of the Summit, there will be three parallel sessions with each session having three panel discussions, the Investment Board Nepal Office said. The Parallel Session 1 of the second day is on 'Navigating Nepal's Renewable Energy Potential', 'Discussions on Innovative Financing Landscape', and panel discussion on 'Investment Opportunities and Green and Climate Resilient Business in Nepal'.

Similarly, the panel discussions under the Parallel Session 2 are on 'Harnessing Green Finance for Sustainable Investments', 'Investing in Tourism Paradise' and 'Strengthening Nepal's Agro-processing Value Chain for Export Growth'.

The Parallel Session 3 is on 'Driving Innovation and Growth in Manufacturing', 'Enhancing Nepal's Startup Climate and Ease of Doing Business' and 'ICT: a Vibrant Investment Platform'. Session 4 is a panel discussion on 'Leveraging PPP for Infrastructure and Services.'

The event with the theme, 'Emerging Nepal Investment Summit 2024', will be held at Hotel Soaltee in Kathmandu.

Preparations have been made to present about 150 showcase projects in the Summit. The Board had planned to present 125 projects as showcase projects before this and the number has increased with the addition of some projects brought by the private sector, provinces and local levels as well, said Pradyumna Prasad Upadhyay, the Board spokesperson.

According to Upadhyay, there will be separate stalls and their own staff for providing information about the projects of the private sector and the local levels. He added that preparations are being made to set up 22 to 25 stalls at the Summit venue.

With only twelve days remaining for the Conference to commence, preparations are in full swing, said Upadhyay. The Board expects over 260 guests from 31 countries to come to attend the event by Sunday evening.

In the course of Summit preparations, the Board is actively working on drafts of Project Development Agreements (PDAs) for three projects. Negotiations with developers are underway for the Nepal-China Friendship Park, Upper Marsyangdi-2 Hydro Electricity Project, and Kohalpur and Banganga Solar Plants.

Likewise, preparations are in progress for a Project Investment Agreement (PIA) with Dabur Nepal Private Ltd. Before the Summit commences, a meeting of the Board chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will be held.

Nepal plans to issue a call for Expression of Interest (EOI) from potential investors for 20 projects during the Summit. Six projects are earmarked as market-sounding projects, 33 are in the preliminary phase of identification, and 20 are deemed capable of securing financial investment.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) projects Nepal’s economy to grow by 3.6 percent (at market prices) in fiscal year 2024. During the press conference held today to unveil the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2024, a flagship publication of the ADB, it was revealed that Nepal’s economy is expected to rebound from an estimated growth of 1.9 percent in fiscal year 2023.

Arnaud Cauchois, ADB Country Director for Nepal, noted, “A gradual relaxation of monetary policy, combined with improved consumer and investor confidence, is anticipated to spur economic activity in 2024. Moreover, industry is forecasted to experience faster growth compared to fiscal year 2023, driven by increased government capital spending in the latter half of the fiscal year and the commissioning of additional hydroelectric power by the end of fiscal year 2024.”

The service sector is also expected to witness accelerated growth as credit controls ease, interest rates decrease, and tourism revenues expand. Agriculture growth may see a slight uptick from 2.7 percent in fiscal year 2023 to 2.8 percent, though a record rice harvest is offset by a shortfall in winter crops and other agricultural production due to deficient rainfall this winter season, as outlined in the ADB press release.

The report forecasts annual average inflation to drop to 6.5 percent in fiscal year 2024 from 7.7 percent in fiscal year 2023, driven by subdued oil prices and a decline in inflation in India, Nepal’s main import source. “External risks remain relatively contained. The current account deficit may return after registering a surplus in the first half of fiscal year 2024,” clarified the ADB.

According to the ADO, the trade deficit contracted by 4.7 percent year-on-year in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, while workers’ remittances expanded by 22.6 percent year-on-year, resulting in a current account surplus of $1.2bn. However, with higher imports and stable remittance inflows expected in the remainder of the fiscal year, the 2024 current account deficit is forecasted at 0.7 percent of gross domestic product.

ADB Principal Economist for Nepal, Jan Hansen, highlighted potential downside risks to the economic outlook in fiscal year 2024, including a global economic downturn affecting Nepal’s tourism and remittance receipts. “Any intensified geopolitical turmoil could disrupt supply chains, push up global inflation, and tighten global financial conditions. This may necessitate a tightening of domestic monetary policy, potentially undermining investment and consumption, and dragging down growth,” stated the press release. Hansen reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to supporting a prosperous and inclusive Nepal.

Established in 1966 and owned by 68 members, with 49 from the region, the ADB is dedicated to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while continuing efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.

Simrik Air has completed 23 years of successful operation, marking a journey fueled by innovation and determination. The rotary-wing operator, which was established after the government adopted the open sky policy in the mid-1990s, began operations with Mi-17 helicopters. The company initially focused on cargo operations, transporting cargo and passengers to remote and backward districts that lacked road access. 

Over time, Simrik embraced evolution, swapping its older helicopters for sleeker, nimbler choppers, ushering in a new era of aerial prowess. Today, Simrik's fleet boasts the elegant Bell 407 GXP, the versatile Airbus H125 (formerly known as B3e), and the agile Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, each a testament to the company’s commitment to excellence.

Capt Rameshwar Thapa, the visionary at Simrik’s helm, paints a picture of helicopters as the lifelines in Nepal’s challenging terrain. “Overcoming the challenges of the early days, we will continue working to further develop the helicopter industry,” he said on the occasion of the company’s 23rd anniversary. He also hinted at Simrik’s plans to introduce nighttime and other services in the near future.

Over the course of 23 years, Simrik Air has etched its mark across Nepal’s skies, a guardian angel in times of strife and a beacon of hope in the face of adversity. From airlifting the wounded amidst internal conflicts to ferrying food to remote and isolated pockets of the country, from orchestrating swift disaster responses to transporting patients, Simrik has been a steadfast ally.

“During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Simrik Air was the first in Nepal to bring in a biological isolation chamber to transport Covid-19 patients. The service benefited around 250 patients,” the company said in a statement.  Simrik Air was also among the first helicopter companies to conduct aerial surveys and rescue missions in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake. The company also brought a specialized medical team from different hospitals to the US Bangla crash site at the Tribhuvan International Airport in 2018 and successfully evacuated passengers to different hospitals. 

Ever the vanguard of progress and the champion of environmental responsibility, Simrik has also invested in firefighting equipment. It has successfully controlled three major wildfires in the past three years. And now, with aerial construction support technology on the horizon, Simrik aims to rewrite the rules of infrastructure development, a pioneer in the skies.

“Under the ‘easy heli access for all’ campaign, the company has started chartered services based on group booking to join hands with the government to promote internal tourism. Thousands of Nepalis are benefiting from the service,” the company said. And as the sun sets on another year of triumphs, Simrik Air stands on the cusp of history, laying the foundation for Nepal's first heliport, a testament to its commitment to the nation's future.

In celebration of its 23rd anniversary, Simrik Air launched Nepal’s first helicopter magazine. On the occasion, it also felicitated Dr Sanjaya Karki of Nepal Mediciti Hospital’s Emergency Department; Fanindra Raj Khanal, former director general of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation; Chhiring Dhenduk Bhote, Simrik employee; Suraj Paudel, mountaineer and helicopter rescue coordinator; and Karuna Manandhar, Simrik’s senior marketing manager.

‘Link heli rescue operations to insurance’

- Capt Rameshwar Thapa, Chairperson, Simrik Air

Nepal’s rugged topography presents significant challenges to road infrastructure, often disrupted by natural calamities such as floods and landslides, resulting in prolonged shutdowns that impede ambulance services. Since airplanes require airports, they cannot adequately serve emergency medical and rescue needs. Consequently, helicopters, capable of landing without designated infrastructures, stand as the sole option for such operations. To ensure accessible medical services for all Nepalis, it is essential for the government to integrate helicopter rescue operations into medical services and link them with insurance coverage. This approach would facilitate prompt and efficient medical assistance. By implementing this strategy, countless lives can be saved. As a helicopter operator, we are eager to collaborate with the government and insurance companies to realize this plan.