Cover Story Interview

“The Covid-19 MSME Fund has received 1,000 applications till date”

We observed the need for short term financial and non-financial support for MSMEs to survive through the pandemic early on. However, the market possessed a pre-existing MSME financing gap where financial institutions lacked adequate motivation or need to offer high-risk collateral free lending for . . . Read more »


“The government hasn't been able to launch meaningful business recovery programmes.”

The Covid-19 crisis has had a restricting impact on achieving the target of developing sustainable micro, cottage and small industries (MCSI) in Nepal. The pandemic has hampered the functioning of economic activities and industrial output has fallen due to the lack of imported raw . . . Read more »


“Nabil Bank has shifted its focus from corporate to SME banking”

Nabil Bank has shifted its focus from corporate to SME banking exponentially ivncreasing lending in the SME and retail portfolio. We have set impressive targets to increase our lending books to support SMEs in the current fiscal . . . Read more »


“The Coivd-19 pandemic has had a major impact on SMEs and the entire value chain.”

The Coivd-19 pandemic has had a major impact on SMEs and the entire value chain. SMEs in Nepal use traditional management practices and do not have proper processes and financial framework to withstand situations such as the ongoing pandemic. . . . Read more »


The pandemic has established agriculture as one the most viable sectors for immediate engagement of village people

The pandemic has established agriculture as one the most viable sectors for immediate engagement of village people

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought agriculture into a vibrant discourse at the political, policy and operational levels, government and non-governmental sectors. As a result of the pandemic-induced . . . Read more »


IMS Group is currently more focused in agriculture

IMS Group is currently more focused in agriculture

Over two decades ago, Nepal was self-reliant in several crops and farm produce. But, Maoist insurgency, migration of youths and over-reliance on remittance has dramatically increased our food . . . Read more »


Creating employment and increasing output are two different topics in agricultural development

Creating employment and increasing output are two different topics in agricultural development

The agriculture sector has long been a scapegoat of ineffective policies. If we look closely at budget of the last 10 years, we can’t see significant changes in government’s priority about . . . Read more »


We are working to end the practice of individuals writing proposals to receive government grants in agriculture

We are working to end the practice of individuals writing proposals to receive government grants in agriculture

Agriculture is a very difficult profession and savings of people engaged in this sector is also very low. Mechanisation makes works easier, but for a transformative change in agriculture, minimum . . . Read more »


“Nepal cannot afford reciprocal and equal treatment to Indian citizens in respect of economic and trade opportunities”

With more than 1800 kms of open border, it is natural for Nepal and India to have greater trade, investment and economic linkages. The dimension of socio-economic relation is multifold. It is not only about the trade and remittance. . . . Read more »


“The use of China’s transit route for our trade can only have strategic value, not commercial value at this moment”

The signing of the Transit and Transportation Agreement between Nepal and China in 2016 is one of the milestones in the history of transit transportation of Nepal; this has been one of the major drives in our diversification of transit . . . Read more »


“Nepal needs effective strategy in logistics infrastructure and human capital development to benefit from its engagement with China”

Traditionally, we have been importing Chinese goods via Indian ports as the trade routes there are easier for us than the routes linking China. However, this scenario is likely to change gradually as China is investing heavily in infrastructure development in the Tibet to increase the region’s economic . . . Read more »


“China aims to maintain itself as a soft power in Nepal using investment as an instrument.”

The interest of China in terms of connectivity with Nepal has been mostly towards Keyrung leaving all other border points. Nepali government officials were hopeful that the full reopening of the Khasa-Tatopani border would be announced during Xi’s . . . Read more »


“Highest level of transparency has been maintained in the procurement of two wide-body aircraft”

“Highest level of transparency has been maintained in the procurement of two wide-body aircraft”

The procurement process was started around two years ago. After the bidding process for the supply of the two wide-body aircraft was finalised about one year ago, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) . . . Read more »


BBIN : Will Sub-regionalism Work?

BBIN MVA is significant because of Nepal’s landlocked status and if we want to look at our comparative and competitive advantages, connectivity beyond India makes more sense. BBIN will basically help us to connect with Bangladesh and Bhutan via . . . Read more »