Home

Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation (NACCFL) has been recognized for its outstanding contributions to sustainable development and agricultural practices at the inaugural Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Awards Programme. The awards ceremony took place on April 24, 2023, at FAO’s headquarters in Rome, Italy.

In an effort to acknowledge progress made towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the FAO awards highlighted NACCFL’s exceptional work in enhancing the living standards of local communities, promoting sustainable agri-food systems, protecting biodiversity, and addressing the impacts of the climate crisis. These achievements have positioned NACCFL as the deserving winner of the first-place award.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu commended the collaborative efforts of individuals and institutions, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in achieving a sustainable, food-secure future for all. He noted that such partnerships bring together diverse capacities, foster innovation, and secure resources to uplift those who have been left behind.

NACCFL, in collaboration with FAO, has been diligently working for over a decade to strengthen agricultural systems management in Nepal. The federation comprises 1,139 agricultural co-operative members, providing them with vital access to markets, financial services, and training opportunities aimed at increasing agricultural production.

Through its policy dialogues and active participation in various forums, NACCFL effectively communicates the complex agricultural and economic challenges faced by smallholder farmers to policymakers. By promoting sustainable solutions to address hunger and malnutrition in the country, the federation has garnered recognition for its exceptional ability to bridge the gap between farmers and policymakers.

As a testament to their achievements, NACCFL was awarded €5,000 as the first-place winner. An equal amount was granted to the second-prize winner, the Al-Shouf Cedar Society (ACS) from Lebanon.

The FAO Awards Programme serves as a platform to celebrate organizations and individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable development and the pursuit of the SDGs. Through their outstanding efforts, NACCFL and ACS have become beacons of progress, inspiring others in their respective regions and around the world.

The recognition bestowed upon NACCFL reaffirms Nepal’s dedication to fostering sustainable agriculture and improving the lives of its local communities. It also highlights the importance of collaborative efforts and innovative solutions in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity.

Kathmandu, May 10 – Nepal has reached out to the European Union (EU) for support in ensuring a seamless transition from its least developed country (LDC) status. Minister Ramesh Rijal, responsible for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, made the request during his address at the closing session of the inaugural EU-Nepal Business Forum held in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

In his speech, Minister Rijal expressed the country’s eagerness to receive assistance from Europe in achieving a smooth and irreversible graduation from the LDC status. He highlighted Nepal’s continuous efforts to reform trade and investment policies, emphasizing the government’s openness to suggestions from stakeholders.

The United Nations has already recommended Nepal’s graduation from the LDC status to that of a developing nation, slated to occur after 2026. Minister Rijal further assured attendees of the government’s commitment to addressing short-term challenges encountered during this transition period.

The EU Delegation in Nepal released a statement confirming Minister Rijal’s commitment to mitigating these challenges and reiterated the importance of European support in Nepal’s journey towards graduation. The closing session of the EU-Nepal Business Forum, focused on economic diplomacy, was graced by the presence of EU member state ambassadors and trade representatives. Notably, both in-country and New Delhi-based representatives attended the session, underscoring the significance of the occasion.

EU Ambassador to Nepal, Nona Deprez, hailed the forum as a unique opportunity to showcase European unity and solidarity in supporting Nepal. The EU’s participation signifies their dedication to assisting Nepal in achieving a successful transition and consolidating its position as a developing nation.

As Nepal embarks on its path to graduation, the collaboration between Nepal and the European Union is expected to play a vital role in addressing economic challenges and promoting sustainable growth. With the support of the international community, Nepal is poised to make significant strides towards achieving its developmental goals and improving the well-being of its citizens.

KATHMANDU – Nepal’s tourism industry is experiencing a significant revival as the country welcomed 326,527 foreign tourists in the first four months of 2023. This figure represents a remarkable increase of 132.67 percent compared to the same period in 2022 when 140,336 foreign tourists visited Nepal.

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected Nepal’s tourism sector, leading to a decline in foreign tourist arrivals over the past few years. Prior to the pandemic, Nepal received 420,446 foreign tourists in the first four months of 2019. However, in the subsequent years, the numbers dropped drastically to 220,682 in 2020 and further to 55,447 in 2021.

The recent surge in tourist arrivals and the recovery of hotel occupancy indicate a promising revival of the tourism sector in Nepal. Maniraj Lamichhane, Director of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), stated that tourism is getting back on track, citing factors such as increased inflow of foreign tourists, a rise in mountain climbing permits, and growing mobility of tourists at various destinations. Lamichhane emphasized the importance of rebranding and repositioning destination marketing to make the tourism sector more mobile and attract more visitors.

The current influx of foreign tourists during the first four months of 2023 has nearly matched the numbers recorded in the same period of 2019 before the pandemic, which is a positive sign for the industry’s recovery. The World Tourism Organization has also projected the revival of Nepal’s tourism sector by 80 to 95 percent by January 17, 2023, with global tourism, including Nepal’s, anticipated to recover up to 95 percent. Factors such as the preference for accessible destinations and China’s openness to tourists have contributed to this projection.

The Department of Tourism has reported a significant increase in the number of foreign mountaineers obtaining permits to climb mountains. This spring, a record-breaking 467 climbers from 44 groups, including 98 women and 369 men, obtained permits to climb Mount Everest. The current season has witnessed the highest number of climbers in the 70-year history of Everest expeditions. The issuance of these permits generated revenue of over Rs 660 million.

The recovery of domestic flights is another positive indicator for the tourism sector. Around 300 roundtrip domestic flights have been conducted, with nine airlines and 11 helicopter companies operating within the country. Furthermore, 27 airline companies, including three Nepali airlines, are operating international flights. Out of the 54 airports in Nepal, 36 are currently operational, including three international airports.

Despite the challenges faced by the tourism sector, there is still a setback for hotels, as the current hotel occupancy stands at only 30 percent. Hotel entrepreneurs estimate that a minimum of 38 percent occupancy is required to cover daily operational expenses. The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) revealed plans to expand the market across India, Bangladesh, and China to attract more tourists. The influx of Chinese tourists has been particularly encouraging, with numbers gradually increasing since the reopening of Nepal-China transits and the operation of additional flights.

Tourism entrepreneurs in Nepal are optimistic about the gradual recovery of the industry. There has been an approximately 80 percent hotel occupancy in the Thamel area, which is a popular tourist destination. Stakeholders in the tourism sector emphasize the need for collaboration between the government and the private sector to further enhance the mobility and marketability of Nepal’s tourism industry.

The positive trends in foreign tourist arrivals, mountain climbing permits, and hotel occupancy offer hope for the recovery and growth of Nepal’s tourism sector.

Former lawmaker, immediate home minister, and top officials among those implicated.

KATHMANDU: A major scandal involving the illegal trafficking of Nepali nationals to the United States under the guise of Bhutanese refugees has led to the arrest of several high-profile individuals. The arrests include former lawmaker Indrajit Rai, immediate home minister Bal Krishna Khand, as well as Tek Narayan Pandey, a secretary at the Office of the Vice President. Pratik Thapa, son of former Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, and former Maoist leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and his son Sandeep Rayamajhi, have also been implicated in the racket. Former deputy prime minister and Rayamajhi has been escaped after arrest warning was issued by the police. Despite the search continuing throughout Thursday, the Nepal Police says it is yet to nab CPN-UML secretary Top Bahadur Rayamajhi. Rayamajhi is reported to have gone out of contact since Wednesday evening after the police received a warrant to arrest him and his son Sandeep for their alleged involvement in issuing documents identifying Nepali nationals as refugees to help them go abroad easily. . 

The scandal came to light after the arrest of Sandesh Sharma, Keshav Dulal, Sagar Rai, Sanu Bhandari, and Kumar Gurung on charges of fraudulent activities related to the trafficking operation. The subsequent investigation revealed the involvement of prominent government officials and high-ranking politicians in the elaborate scheme.

According to police sources, the Kathmandu District Court issued an arrest warrant for Pratik Thapa on Wednesday, following a request from the police. Thapa is accused of financial gain through the fraudulent practice of sending Nepalis to the USA as fake Bhutanese refugees. Similarly, arrest warrants were issued against Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and his son Sandeep in the same case. The police uncovered their involvement based on the statements provided by previously arrested individuals during the investigation.

Nepal Police Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kuber Kadayat confirmed the arrest of Secretary Tek Narayan Pandey on charges of fraud. Pandey, who previously held the position of Home Secretary, is accused of colluding with a gang involved in the documentation process of Nepalis as Bhutanese refugees during his tenure at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The investigation into the criminal group behind the fraud began on June 14, 2022, following complaints filed by victims who had been scammed over the past five years. The victims alleged that they were promised opportunities to migrate to the USA as Bhutanese refugees in exchange for large sums of money.

To date, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office has received 17 First Information Reports (FIR) and 123 formal complaints from individuals who claim to have lost millions of rupees to the fraudulent racket. The cases have been forwarded to the Teku-based District Police Range for further investigation, and preparations are underway to arrest approximately six additional suspects involved in the scam.

The preliminary findings of the investigation suggest that victims from various districts, including Kaski, Dang, Morang, Rukum, and others, were deceived by the group. The victims reportedly paid the gang between Rs 1.5 million and Rs 2 million solely for assistance in completing the Bhutanese refugee application forms.

As the investigation progresses, authorities are determined to bring all those involved in the racket to justice and prevent further exploitation of vulnerable individuals seeking opportunities abroad.

London — Foreign Minister of Nepal Narayan Prakash (NP) Saud attended the coronation ceremony of British King Charles III and Queen Camilla last Saturday, and had important meetings with British King, Prime Minister and other senior officials in various programs. At a reception organized by the Nepali Embassy in London on Monday evening, Foreign Minister Saud congratulated and wished the British King on behalf of the government and people of Nepal.

Minister Saud emphasized the centuries-old relationship between Britain and Nepal and praised Britain for supporting Nepal as a friendly international power. “It has been more than 200 years since the Treaty of Sugauli and one hundred years since the Treaty of Friendship. Apart from that, Nepal has many relations with the British government,” he said. “I believe that this goodwill and respect will remain between the two countries in the days to come. The Nepali community in the UK will play a decisive and important role in this work.”

He also urged Nepalese living in the UK to do business and invest in Nepal, as it has an investment-friendly environment. “The constitution has arrived, the conflict has ended and two universally accepted elections have been held. Non-resident Nepalis have the first right to receive returns from the investment-friendly environment. Come to Nepal for entrepreneurship, I want to welcome you on behalf of the Nepalese government,” he said.

Minister Saud assured that the Government of Nepal is determined to ensure citizenship and the rights of non-resident Nepalis through the legal process. “Even though the ambassador is a representative of the state, the citizens are the real cultural ambassadors of the country,” he said. “Nepalese living in the UK have a decisive and important contribution to the development, expansion and honor of the relationship between the two countries.”