NEPAL MAY LIFT BAN ON HOUSEMAIDS BOUND FOR MALAYSIA

NRB TO LIQUIDATE SAMJAHANA FINANCE

Kathmandu, 30 March: Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) Tuesday filed an application at Patan appellate court to liquidate Samjhana Finance Company after the central bank board decision.
The company was declared crisis-ridden 10 June 2010.
NRB has also liquidated Nepal Development Bank.
Share prices in tumbled in the secondary market coinciding with the liquidations.
Nepse index tumbled 18.53 points in three days of trading from Sunday.
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US EFFORT TO IMPROVE BUSSNESS CLIMATE


Kathmandu, 30 March: USAID has launched a two and half year Nepal Economic, Agriculture and Trade (NEAT) project to improve the business climate in Nepal, US embassy said,
The programme was launched with a panel discussion Tuesday.
“ NEAT programme is an important new endeavour that seeks to improve the business environment work with the government to strengthen fiscal and trade policies ,encourage competitiveness and exports, enhance food security and increase the access to financial services ,”US Ambassador Scot DeLisi said in a statement.
Altogether $30 million will be invested in the programme.
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NEPALIS TO BENEFIT FROM RELAXED SOUTH KOREA VISA RULES

Kathmandu, 30 March: South Korea’s justice ministry has relaxed visa regulations for nationals from 11 South Asian and Southeast Asian nations from the coming week, The Korea Herald said..
Citizens from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Laos, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Myanmar will benefit.
Nationals from these countries will be issued double-entry visas allowing them to return to South Korea in six months.
“Tourists will also be required to submit fewer documents to prove their financial credit and employment status,” a statement said.
Multi-entry visas enabling holders to freely re-enter South Korea for three consecutive years will be issued to persons who have a Korean university graduate degree and families of immigrants married to a Koran spouse.
Family members of multi-party entry visa holders will automatically enjoy the same benefits.
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NEPALI WOMAN INVOLVED IN ESCAPE OF PAKISTANI CONVICT
Kathmandu, 30 March: Police have made a breakthrough in the investigation of a Pakistani convict who escaped from the hospital while undergoing treatment, The Himalayan Times reports.
Punam Thapa, 32, wife of Arun Gupta, who is in the Cenral Jail on charge of possessing fake Indian currency, together with the cops guarding Mohammad Jamil, 43, in Bansbari-based Sahid Gangalal Heart Center, had planned his escape.
She was caught yesterday [Monday] based on mobile phone call details of five cops.
“The Pakistani frequently made calls to Punam over mobile phones belonging to the cops. ASI himself directed the cops to give concession in this regard,’ said a source.
Police have not divulged details of the conversation between Punam and Jamiil.
She had received Rs. 152,000 sent from Pakistan. Three persos were also detained based on her statement.
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MALAYSIA MAY BE REOPENED FOR NEPALI HOUSEMAIDS

Kathmandu, 30 March: As Malaysia faces shortage of housemaids, Nepal has been mulling to lift a three-year-old ban on its supply of domestic help, Om Astha Rai reports in Republica.
The Nepali embassy in Malaysia has drafted a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which basically ensures a reasonable minimum pay apart from provisions of insurance, day-off and over-time work for Nepali housemaids to this effect.
Although it is yet to give an official nod to the draft, the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management appears positive.
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