Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) enters 10th year

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 18 Nov: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Tuesday entered its 10th year as it helps to promote tourism, the mainstay of the economy.
“The Board is an excellent example of public, private initiative that has been emulated in other countries,” CEO Prachanada Man Shrestha, Nepal’s former top negotiator for the country’s entry into WTO said.
Shrestha also ably handled the Mountaineering Section at the Ministry of Tourism; the section oversees foreign climbing activities in Nepal Himalaya famed for its tallest world peaks, including Mount Everest.
Five representatives from the private sector have resigned from the Board to five Tourism Minister Hishila Yami a free hand.
Rajesh Babu Shrestha, Nima Sherpa, Mukti Pandey, Rameshwor Sapkota and Basu Tripathi resigned.
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NRB profit increases

Kathmandu, 18Nov: Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) profit increased in the first three months of the current fiscal year 2008/09 to Rs 370.43 million.
The increase is 130 percent compared to the same period the previous year.
The bank earned a profit of Rs 1.77 billion in the fiscal year 2007/08.
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Rs 56b investments of Nepali commercial banks in jeopardy

Kathmandu, 18 Nov: Because of the worldwide financial crisis, Rs 56 billion of investments in foreign currency in foreign banks of 12 out of 25 commercial banks is in jeopardy.
According to Nepal Rashtra Bank, Nepal Bank Ltd, Rashtriya Banijya Bank, Standard Chartered, Nabil, Nepal Investment Bank, Nepal SBI, Nepal Bangladesh Bank, Credit and Commerce, Agriculture Development Bank Ltd, Lumbini Bank, Nepal Industrial and Commercial Bank and NMB Bank have investments in foreign banks,
The investments are disallowed.
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Govt. bans sale of alcohol and tobacco through unauthorized outlets

Kathmandu, 18 Nov: Emulating India, government from Tuesday banned the sale of tobacco items and alcohol through unauthorized outlets amid protests of shopkeepers.
Only authorized outlets have been permitted to deal in the products.
Sale to underage is banned and is a punishable crime.
The implementation has to be seen.
Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai first announced the restricted sale in his September budget speech.
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Has details of conditions of rebel terai groups for talks

Kathmandu, 18 Nov: Some terai rebel groups have proposed pre-conditions for formal talks with government to resolve southern demands.
Terai Cobra demanded ministers Renu Yadav, the only woman from the terai in government, and Ram Chandra Jha, charged for being an Indian, were described as anti-terai elements should be replaced in the three-member government negotiating team.
Team coordinator Janardhan Sharma Prabhakar held informal discussions Monday with four groups in the terai separately assisted by a Maoist contact man.
Sharma instructed security personnel in the south Monday to scale down operations against rebels to create an environment for negotiations.
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Govt. told to continue aid to flood victims

Kathmandu, 18 Nov: The government has requested the World Food Programme (WFP) ao continue food assistance for the flood victims of Saptakosi River for three more months as the deadline of the current assistance expires 1 December, The Kathmandu Post reports.
‘We have received the request to provide food assistance for next three months,” said Richard Regan , County Director of WFP said.
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