Roundup of Economic & Business News (Jul 4 - Aug 31)

July 4
Nepal-UAE labor pact to cut recruitment cost (ekantipur.com)
Petroleum supply improves (ekantipur.com)
NAC suggested to add six aircraft (ekantipur.com)
IMF concerned over corruption charge (ekantipur.com)
Signs of revival in handicraft export (ekantipur.com)
Government provides loan guarantee to NOC (nepalnews.com)
Nepse crosses 600 mark (nepalnews.com)
UAE to launch direct flights to Nepal (nepalnews.com)

July 5
Norway, HPL, UNDP provide US$ 3.85 m for mini-hydro (ekantipur.com)
Nepal, Malaysia finalize labor MoU (ekantipur.com)
S Korea extends US$ 3.5m support (ekantipur.com)
Tourist arrivals up by 9.6 pc (ekantipur.com)

July 6
‘Privatize NAC’ (ekantipur.com)
S Korea invites Nepal for labor pact (ekantipur.com)
Garment export reduced to half (ekantipur.com)
Orient begins selling Indian Railways tickets (ekantipur.com)

July 7
14 cinemas close down (ekantipur.com)
Vegetable farmers fail to get good returns (ekantipur.com)
Debate on monetary policy begins (nepalnews.com)
Gautam asks Diaspora to help Nepal for development (nepalnews.com)

July 8
‘Nepal's anti-piracy law enforcement weak’ (ekantipur.com)
Shikhar Shoes’ second showroom (ekantipur.com)
Sanima signs agreement with SCB Mumbai, EBL opens new branch (ekantipur.com)
Construction of 750-MW West Seti hydel to start by year-end (nepalnews.com)

July 9
Economy signals gloomy outlook (ekantipur.com)
Nepal Telecom undertakes biggest mobile expansion (ekantipur.com)
Preferential trading facility sought from China (ekantipur.com)
MoF briefs PM on budget (nepalbiznews.com)
Banknotes likely to be in short supply after Dashain (nepalnews.com)

July 10
Hotels set to raise room rates (ekantipur.com)
New standards law on anvil (ekantipur.com)
‘Inflated budget could strain economy’ (ekantipur.com)

July 11
Economic Survey: Economic, social progress dismal (ekantipur.com)
Forged certificates add to Nepali workers' plight (ekantipur.com)
ADB delegation in Kathmandu to discuss Melamchi project (nepalnews.com)

July 12
Rs 169b budget hikes civil service pay 17 pc (ekantipur.com)
Budget relieves salarymen, consumers, exporters (ekantipur.com)
Experts doubt implementation (ekantipur.com)
Bouquets and brickbats for the finance minister (nepalnews.com)

July 13
Industrial security force imminent (ekantipur.com)
Budget draws mixed reactions (ekantipur.com)
‘Terai problems not addressed in budget’ (ekantipur.com)
Education expo in Pokhara from July 19 (ekantipur.com)
Govt. allocates Rs. 125m for the royal palace (nepalbiznews.com)
Nepse sets all-time high record (nepalbiznews.com)
Yami encouraged by talks on Melamchi (nepalnews.com)

July 14
KTV marks fourth anniversary (ekantipur.com)
Transport strike grips capital again (ekantipur.com)
Renewed effort to promote jute farming (ekantipur.com)
Revenue policy leak hurts customs (ekantipur.com)
Only board can change conditions: ADB delegation (nepalnews.com)
Parliament starts debate on budget (nepalnews.com)
Construction of Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi highway to start within 3 months (nepalnews.com)

July 15
‘Tourists should feel they are welcome in Nepal’ - Prakash Shrestha (ekantipur.com)
UTL starts services in Butwal (ekantipur.com)
Govt to come up with concrete plans to rescue tourism industry (nepalnews.com)
Yami says ADB has given 'green signal' to proceed with Melamchi (nepalnews.com)
NTB vice-chairman resigns (nepalnews.com)

July 16
Parliament to shrink budget session (ekantipur.com)
ADB board to take up Melamchi (ekantipur.com)
NT slashes distance charges (ekantipur.com)
Cabinet okays labor MoU with S Korea (ekantipur.com)
Eight trade unions to unify (ekantipur.com)
Budget draws more mixed reactions (ekantipur.com)
CPN-M affiliated workers shuts down Pokhara businesses (nepalbiznews.com)

July 17
45 pc civil service reservations coming (ekantipur.com)
Spice NepaSpice Nepal slashes post-paid ratel slashes post-paid rate (ekantipur.com)
Maoists to abstain from budget vote (ekantipur.com)
Makwanpur exports rise 52 pc (ekantipur.com)
Birgunj customs shoots past revenue target (ekantipur.com)
Far west to see DDC milk processing center (ekantipur.com)
NRNs discuss establishing new airline (nepalnews.com)

July 18
Bandas in eastern terai have patchy effect (ekantipur.com)
Garbage collection under way in capital (ekantipur.com)
Duty revision to hike car prices (ekantipur.com)
SC quashes Khetan's plea (ekantipur.com)
Guidelines unveiled for ethical drugs promotion (ekantipur.com)

July 19
GMR to lose either Arun III or Upper Karnali (ekantipur.com)
Tax row brings TIA cargo handling to complete halt (ekantipur.com)
NRB extends NBL's mgmt contract (ekantipur.com)
Parliament approves govt decision on West Seti (nepalnews.com)
Private sector advise NRB to bring out flexible monetary policy (nepalnews.com)

July 20
Royals’ electricity dues rise to Rs 36 million (ekantipur.com)
Understaffing hampers services at Nepali missions (ekantipur.com)
NAC plans to lease Bhutanese aircraft (ekantipur.com)
Nepal-Sri Lanka aviation talks fail (ekantipur.com)

July 21
ICCMT terminates Nepal Bank contract (ekantipur.com)
Nepal enjoys trade surplus with B’desh (ekantipur.com)
Agriculture minister dissatisfied with budget (ekantipur.com)

July 22
SC orders Surya Tobacco verdict review (ekantipur.com)
Interview - Surya Bahadur KC (Noodle Industry) (ekantipur.com)
HCMI now in Nepal (ekantipur.com)

July 23
New monetary policy focuses on deprived class (ekantipur.com)
‘Buy aircraft but maintain transparency’ (ekantipur.com)
Ace Finance receives prestigious ICAN awards (nepalnews.com)
Nepal, South Korea sign labour pact (nepalnews.com)

July 24
China asked for more assistance (ekantipur.com)
Farmers demand govt fix jute price (ekantipur.com)
Export sector problems not addressed: CNI (ekantipur.com)
Don't drag Maoist name into labourer-employer dispute, says Mahara (nepalnews.com)
China offers Rs 8 billion line of credit to Nepal (nepalnews.com)

July 25
ADBL aims to lend Rs 17.4b (ekantipur.com)
MoAC unveils commercial agriculture policy (ekantipur.com)
Inflation target unrealistic: NCC (ekantipur.com)
China willing to support Nepal for infrastructure development: Chao (nepalnews.com)

July 26
‘KMC falls short of tax target’ (ekantipur.com)
Monetary policy not ‘export friendly’: FNCCI (ekantipur.com)
Handicraft exports dip (ekantipur.com)
SilkAir set to restart service (ekantipur.com)

July 27
WB warns govt over NBL reform (ekantipur.com)
Strike grounds NAC's domestic fleet (ekantipur.com)
TIA customs releases some halted air cargo (ekantipur.com)
Research hampered at six government livestock farms (ekantipur.com)

July 28
Chilime to cap price for next 4.5 yrs (ekantipur.com)
Phemekhola hydro into operation (ekantipur.com)

July 29
Interview - Mahesh Uttamchandani (Access to credit) (ekantipur.com)

July 30
NAC cancels all int’l flights for a week (ekantipur.com)
Govt revokes passports of defaulters-Freezes fixed assets (ekantipur.com)
Management shuts down Alico offices (ekantipur.com)
Nepal to send labor to S Korea only after signing IA (ekantipur.com)
Names of bank defaulters (ekantipur.com)
Bir Hospital enters its 118th year (nepalnews.com)
Korean language and vocational training a must for Korea jobseekers (nepalnews.com)

July 31
World Bank gets govt’s rebuttal (ekantipur.com)
Excise sticker on beer bottles, cigarette packs (ekantipur.com)
Squeezing pasture access affects sheep, goat rearing (ekantipur.com)
More Nepalis holidaying in Malaysia (ekantipur.com)
New TV channel on the block (nepalnews.com)
Tourism entrepreneurs concerned over cancellation of NAC's flights (nepalnews.com)

Aug 1
Net penetrates rural hinterlands (ekantipur.com)
Differential pricing recommended for LP gas (ekantipur.com)
Foreign employment climbs by 12.5 pc (ekantipur.com)
Nepal concerned over climate change effects on LDCs (nepalnews.com)

Aug 2
‘Flexicurity’ stressed for sound industrial relations (ekantipur.com)
July tourist arrivals up by 25 percent (ekantipur.com)
‘Banks smokescreening bad loans’ (ekantipur.com)
UTL rings in Pokhara (ekantipur.com)
Overseas employment sees a whopping 21 percent rise (nepalnews.com)

Aug 3
Importers liable for food quality: MoICS (ekantipur.com)
VLCC opens center in Kathmandu (ekantipur.com)
Parties urged to focus on economic issues (ekantipur.com)
Agriculture hit hard by floods (ekantipur.com)

Aug 4
Pashmina industry unveils recovery plan (ekantipur.com)
Workers close down another factory (ekantipur.com)
Exports through Birgunj slump (ekantipur.com)
Revenue collection more than targeted: Govt (nepalnews.com)

Aug 5
Interview - Rajesh Kaji Shrestha (Nepal failed to reap benefits from China) (ekantipur.com)

Aug 6
Int'l airlines sell higher fare tickets-NAC flights from next week (ekantipur.com)
NTA allows STM Telecom to expand coverage (ekantipur.com)
Insurance Board directs Alico to resume operations (ekantipur.com)
Nepse makes history again; crosses 700 mark (nepalnews.com)

Aug 7
Insurance Board takes tough actions against Alliance Insurance (ekantipur.com)
New outbound air route proposed (ekantipur.com)
Bandh cripples life in east, organisers burn newspaper vehicle (nepalnews.com)

Aug 8
Water resources strategy falls short of targets (ekantipur.com)
Vegetable prices jump twofold (ekantipur.com)
NRB macroeconomic report-Salarymen, wage earners gain (ekantipur.com)
Lackluster FDI growth (ekantipur.com)
Committee formed to probe NAC (ekantipur.com)
Mid-Marshyangdi to be delayed by two years (nepalnews.com)

Aug 9
Parliament passes budget - Maoist lawmakers walk out (ekantipur.com)
NTA recommends new telecom operator (ekantipur.com)
Alico resumes operation under tight security (ekantipur.com)
Bandhs called by different groups paralyse life in eastern and central Terai (nepalnews.com)

Aug 10
Tobacco procurement price raised by 20 pc (ekantipur.com)
Trade union shuts down Dabur Nepal (ekantipur.com)
Rs 610m welfare fund remains idle (ekantipur.com)

Aug 11
New airlines flock to Nepal as tourism booms (ekantipur.com)
Yarchagumba traders 'evading' tax (ekantipur.com)
Morang-Sunsari corridor to become SEZ (ekantipur.com)
NAC resumes flights (ekantipur.com)

Aug 12
Janakpur Cigarette Factory plans to launch new brands (ekantipur.com)
Rastriya Banijya Bank profits Rs 1.68b (ekantipur.com)
CG Finco opens outlet, Stan Chart opens two new ATM counters (ekantipur.com)
Normal business at Tatopani checkpoint affected (nepalnews.com)

Aug 13
Highways closed 165 times in 7 months (ekantipur.com)
Nepal to sign migration accord with Isreal (ekantipur.com)
Parliament passes NRN bill (nepalnews.com)

Aug 14
Nepal less dependent on major Indian vegetable items (ekantipur.com)
Dabur Nepal to resume operation, ADB/N to issue shares (ekantipur.com)
Local body employees in indefinite strike (nepalnews.com)

Aug 15
NEA’s loss down from Rs 2.47 b to Rs 320 m (ekantipur.com)
Drug manufacturers seek ceiling prices (ekantipur.com)
Govt allows foreign airlines to add flights (ekantipur.com)
NEPSE begins trial electronic trading (ekantipur.com)
Marie Stopes launches oral contraceptive (ekantipur.com)
Maoists announce education, transport strike in Dolakha (nepalnews.com)

Aug 16
Khimti workers intensify stir (ekantipur.com)
NAC management handover planned (ekantipur.com)
Nepal-China trade fair in September (ekantipur.com)
Follow directives, normalize operations: IB tells Alico (ekantipur.com)
Maoist trade union backs off, says it will not shut down media houses (nepalnews.com)

Aug 17
Net pricing fails to stop exploitation by middleman (ekantipur.com)
Forex reserve reaches Rs 166b (ekantipur.com)
Fuel shortages loom as NOC losses increase (ekantipur.com)
Prof Dahal elected new Nepal Economic Association (NEA) prez (nepalnews.com)

Aug 18
60 MW Khimti faces closure (ekantipur.com)
Real estate downslide ends (ekantipur.com)
Excel Bank allots shares (ekantipur.com)

Aug 19
Private garbage collectors stage demo (ekantipur.com)
Tender to be invited for 396 MWs (ekantipur.com)
Interview - Siddhant Raj Pandey (Ace Financial) (ekantipur.com)
Cable operators withdraw agitation (nepalnews.com)

Aug 20
Royal property to be nationalized in 15 days (ekantipur.com)
NOC seeks 1b rupee loan from government (ekantipur.com)
Local leaders say no to bandas (ekantipur.com)
‘Industrial-capitalism is Maoist economy policy’ (ekantipur.com)
Siddhartha bank opens branch in Damak (ekantipur.com)
Parliamentary committee directs NTA to clash rates (nepalnews.com)

Aug 21
Govt forms panel to fix water tariff (ekantipur.com)
WB, NRB agree on two-option scheme for NBL (ekantipur.com)
Unemployed locals close Dabur (ekantipur.com)
Promoters to be allowed to sell shares (ekantipur.com)
Roaming charge on NT's mobile phones to be scrapped (nepalnews.com)

Aug 22
Banda affects valley and beyond (ekantipur.com)
Poultry product prices skyrocket (ekantipur.com)
SC clears way for action against Pun (ekantipur.com)
Govt prepares to ask India for 2nd transit point (ekantipur.com)
Dabur resumes operations (ekantipur.com)
Medicine entrepreneurs go on strike (nepalnews.com)

Aug 23
Transport strike on highways banned (ekantipur.com)
11 hrs daily power cuts in offing (ekantipur.com)
Economy slows but corporates pay more tax (ekantipur.com)
Employment Permit System (EPS) office for Korean jobs this week (ekantipur.com)
Improve quality of pashmina to promote exports: Experts (ekantipur.com)

Aug 24
Govt to get tough on non-performing hydro licensees (ekantipur.com)
Insurance scheme forwarded to MoF (ekantipur.com)
Cold storage being built with Indian help (ekantipur.com)
Code of conduct to check petroleum adulteration (ekantipur.com)
FM concerned at stock market volatility (ekantipur.com)

Aug 25
Vegetable prices soar amid floods, landslides (ekantipur.com)
Suryadarshan is 77th finance company (ekantipur.com)

Aug 26
Massive hike in hydro license fee this week (ekantipur.com)
Interview - Dr Til Chandra Bhattarai (Poulty Industry) (ekantipur.com)
Partial effect of bandh in Terai; Squatters' agitation blocks highway in Far West

Aug 27
Buddha Air flight cancellation irks passengers (ekantipur.com)
Petrol shortage deepens (ekantipur.com)
Foreign job seekers rise by 16 pc (ekantipur.com)

Aug 28
Labor MoU delayed as Malaysia not responding (ekantipur.com)
Additional duty hits pipe exports (ekantipur.com)
Fuel consumption up after four years - NOC incurs Rs 3.12 billion net loss in 2006/07
PAC directs NAC to bring aircraft on lease (nepalnews.com)

Aug 29
NAC to resume flights (ekantipur.com)
Indo-Bangladesh pact to affect Nepali garments (ekantipur.com)
SAARC transport ministers to push for greater connectivity (ekantipur.com)
Medicine entrepreneurs end their protest (nepalnews.com)

Aug 30
Insurance Board to probe Alico's financial status (ekantipur.com)
Business community deplores growing insecurity (ekantipur.com)

Aug 31
‘Hike fuel price or give money to NOC’ (ekantipur.com)
Market capitalization crosses Rs 200b mark (ekantipur.com)
Postal service disrupted as employees go on strike (nepalnews.com)
(nepalnews.com) (ekantipur.com)