wanna shoping in nepal

Do you want enjoy shoping in Kathmandu
United World Trade Centre (UWTC) is one of the largest shopping complex built in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu. It’s located right opposite to Dasarath Stadium.

The complex provides a number of services like department stores,electronic and clothing brand stores,banks, party palace, bowling club, health club and heated swimming pool on the top most level.
Bhat-Bhateni
In just 25 years Bhat-Bhateni has grown from a ‘single shutter’ 120 sq. ft. cold store to become the leading supermarket and departmental store chain in Nepal, and the highest tax payer in the sector for the last five consecutive years with more than 10,000 customers daily.

There are currently two stores conveniently located in central Kathmandu and Maharajgunj, and a further four stores are due to open in Kathmandu and across Nepal by 2011.
Bhat-Bhateni offers a full range of 100,000 products from 600 local and international suppliers, including a wide range of groceries, fresh fruits and vegetables; a broad range of leading international liquor, toiletries and cosmetics brands; and an extensive choice of kitchenware, clothing, sports, toys and electrical items. Furthermore, both premises include excellent value jewellery stores that offer a wide range of gold and silver ornaments in both traditional and modern styles.

Trade talks with Bhutan next week

KATHMANDU, May 18: Nepal and Bhutan are holding joint-secretary level trade talks on May 24-25 in Thimpu, aiming to promote bilateral trade and share experiences and best practices in hydropower and tourism sectors.

“We are exploring the possibility of expanding our exports to the South Asian neighbor,” said Toya Narayan Gyawali, joint secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), who will lead Nepali in the talks.


The ministry is presently consulting with traders and exporters to give the final touch to its trade agenda. Nepal presently enjoys comfortable trade surplus with Bhutan.
Apart from trade, the Nepali officials will also seek to learn from Bhutan´s experience in attracting foreign investments in hydropower and tourism sectors. Nepal at the moment is suffering from severe energy crisis, which has affected economic activities at a time when the nation is celebrating Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

The two South Asian neighbors have no formal bilateral trade agreement. However, both the countries are signatories to the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) -- a regional trade agreement that aims for intra-regional trade growth through easy mobility of goods among member countries.

Bhutan has emerged as a potential export destinations for Nepal. Nepal enjoyed all time high trade surplus of Rs 1.42 billion with Bhutan in 2009/10. According to MoCS, Nepal exported goods worth Rs 1.55 billion to Bhutan during the period. Its import stood at Rs 133 million.

Nepal´s exports to Bhutan in 2008/09 stood at just Rs 194 million, whereas import from the Druk kingdom was recorded at Rs 352 million. Exports to Bhutan made up around 3.5 percent of the country´s total exports to SAARC countries in 2009/10. Nepal´s total exports to SAARC countries during the fiscal year stood at Rs 45 billion.

Nepal has been exporting industrial products, such as electricity transformers, noodles and handicrafts to Bhutan and importing fruits, tomatoes and other agro-based products from there.

Experts say Nepal should utilize the trade talks to learn from Bhutanese experience in hydropower and tourism sectors. “Bhutan has made tremendous progress especially in the hydropower sector, which has become a key to the growth in export-based industry there. We can hold talks with Bhutan for exporting electricity to the power-starved Bangladesh,” said Gyanedra Lal Pradhan, hydropower expert.

Surendra Bir Malakar, immediate past president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, also said Nepal should explore the possibility of exporting agriculture goods, handicraft and other products to Bhutan.

Banks are safe:Governor Khatiwada

KATHMANDU, MAY 18 -
Governor Yubraj Khatiwada on Wednesday said main indicators of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are in a satisfactory state. According to Khatiwada, capital adequacy ratio, non-performing loan, liquidity and credit to deposit ratio are sound.

The governor’s statement has come at a time when bad corporate governance has hit the country’s financial sector.

According to the central bank, commercial banks’ capital adequacy ratio and non-performing loan (NPL) level are at 13 percent and 2 percent, respectively, and the credit-to-deposit ratio (CD Ratio) stands at 81 percent. “All these indicators show that banks are in a sound health. Therefore, banks are safe,” said Khatiwada at a press meet here.

Khatiwada admitted that the banking system is still going through liquidity crunch. He expressed concern over declining deposits in banks. “The provision of income source disclosure might have hit deposit collection,” said Khatiwada.

Although Khatiwada said that major economic indicators were sound, the country’s economic growth is behind the target and balance of payment (BoP) is still huge. Despite initial target of 5.5 percent, economic growth is expected to shrink at 3.47 percent this year. “One can term this year as less effective in terms of economic growth,” said Khatiwada.

Upper Tamakoshi hydel Project: PM Khanal lays foundation stone

DOLAKHA, MAY 18 -
The formal laying of the foundation stone of the country’s largest hydro power project so far took place on Wednesday. Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal laid the foundation stone of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project (UTKHEP) in Lama Bagar, Dolakha, amid a function.

With this, the 456 MW project has formally entered into the construction phase. The power generated from the project is expected to be linked with the national grid within next four years. What makes this project special is it is the first large-scale hydropower project being constructed through domestic financial resources and its early completion will provide relief from ongoing power crisis.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 35.29 billion and is expected to be completed by 2015. The project completed its financial closure last week following the signing of a loan agreement between Nepal Telecom (NT) and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Four domestic institutions—Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Nepal Telecom (NT), the Citizen Investment Trust (CIT) and Rastriya Beema Sansthan (RBS—have signed loan agreements with the project. EPF, NT, CIT and RBS are lending Rs 10 billion, Rs 6 billion, Rs 2 billion and Rs 2 billion, respectively. The government has also pledged Rs 11.8 billion.

Of the total project cost, 70 percent will be covered from loans and the rest will be distributed as shares to all shareholders of the project. According to the project, 10 percent of the shares will be provided to Dolakha locals and 15 percent to general public. The project has also already completed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) which has 41 percent stake in the project.

As per the PPA, NEA will buy electricity at an annual average rate of Rs 3.50 per unit, considering 2010-11 as the base year of the project construction. However, it will have to purchase electricity at Rs 5.30 per unit in 2016 when the project completes.

Addressing the foundation stone laying programme, PM Khanal said arrangement of such a huge amount for the project in the domestic level was a big step forward and also shows a good indication for other possibilities in future. “A successful completion of this project will open new doors for domestic financing for other big projects,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the project is a milestone as it received support from all and is a role model for the country’s energy sector. He added the government will also attract foreign investment. “But we will give priority to domestic investors for making the country self-reliant.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara assured full support from his party UCPN-Maoist, as the project is a model of local investment. Energy Minister Gokarna Bistra urged the political parties to keep aside political interests while working for the development of the power sector. He also committed to complete the project in stipulated time by working round the clock to avoid any possible fiascos like that of Middle Marsyangdi Project.

Top level government officials, including Information Minister Agni Sapkota attended the programme.

Nepal receive 3,220 fresh job contracts in Korea

KATHMANDU, MAY 18 -
Nepal has received 3,220 fresh job contracts in South Korea. It's for individuals under the Employment Permit System (EPS) The contracts are for individuals from the list of 2008 and 2010.

With this, the number of individuals in the waiting list has come down to 1,200. A total of 4,096 EPS aspirants from last year’s list and 300 individuals of 2008 were in the waiting list. Since January, some 2,000 have left for Korea after receiving the contract.

Mahesh Acharya, chief of EPS Nepal Office, said they expect an additional 1,200 job contracts. “Individuals in last year’s list in the job roster have started to leave for Korea since January,” he said.

EPS Korea has already started work on hiring Nepali workers under the quota provided for 2011. This time, Korea is taking 7,100 workers from Nepal. A total of 57,751 individuals had applied for the Korean Language Test conducted recently.

Taxi fare goes up17 percent

KATHMANDU, MAY 18-
The government Of Nepal hiked the taxi fare on Tuesday. Acording to the government officals taxi fare by 17 percent following pressure from taxi entrepreneurs and a rise in fuel prices.

Now, the public will have to pay Rs 27 per kilometers. It's up from the Rs 23 per km earlier.

The Department of Transport took the decision after receiving approval from the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management. The department said the new fare will come into effect from Tuesday.

The government already increase the pub vehical last month.

Bluebird Supermarket become Bluebird Mart

KATHMANDU, MAY 17 - 

BLUEBIRD Supermarket, the country’s first department store, has reopened after remaining shut for three months in a new avatar as Bluebird Mart. Bluebird Mart opened its doors on Sunday and will be formally inaugurated on Tuesday.

Situated on the second floor of the Bluebird Complex at Tripureshwor, Bluebird Mart is spread over an area of 8,200 sq ft. “The closure of Bluebird was an inconvenience to customers as there were no such stores in the area,” said Arjun Bhandari, managing director of Bluebird Mart. “Hence, we’ve decided to reopen it with improved services and more products.” According to Bhandari, Bluebird Mart will now focus on quality of service and products.

The mart has an inventory of more than 40,000 products including daily commodities, liquors, electronic appliances, kitchen appliances, plastic ware, linen and bedding, sea foods and frozen meats, among others. The company has invested Rs 20 million in the mart and provides direct employment to 25 people.