TOP CHINESE OFFICIAL ARRIVING TO PREPERE PREMIER WEN'S NEPAL VISIT

FIVE-DAY NEPAL-TIBET TRADE FAIR STARTS WEDNESDAY,

Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: A five-day Nepal-Tibet tare begins at Bhrikuti Madap Wednesday.
A 69-member Chinese team is in the capital to participate in the fair to promote trade between Nepal and neighbouring Tibet.
Nepal is Tibet’s largest trading partner.
Nnnn

TOP CHINESE OFFICIAL ARRIVING TO ARRANGE PREMIER WEN JIABAO’S VISIT

Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: As part of preparations for the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Nepal in the near future, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPN), Lu Qi, is arriving on a four-day visit to Nepal on November 5, a published report said Wednesday.
Another military delegation is all set to arrive from Tibet immediately after Liu’s departure.
nnnn

INDIAN AMBASSADOR REVEALS WHY DTAA WASN’T SIGNED DURING PM BHATTARAI’S INDIA VISIT

Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad Tuesday revealed why a double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) wasn’t signed during the just concluded India visit of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
…… the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) could not be signed during Bhattarai’s visit after Nepal side demanded a separate letter of exchange to deal with the issues of tax disclosure, The Kathmandu Post said quoting Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad.
Asked about the Indian side’s proposal of information exchange in the DIAA, to which Nepal side is said have had reservations, Prasad said the provision was to check illicit transfer of money.
He said there was no difference of opinion on the ext of the agreement.
Responding to another question on India’s proposal to build a consulate In Nepalgunj, Prasadi sad the Nepali side did not want to go ahead with it at the present political juncture.
nnnn



,
THE DOUBLE TAXATIOB VOIDANCE
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT UPGRADATION HIT

Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: With an increase in air traffic, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) — with the an assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) — had been planning to upgrade infrastructure of the only international airport since long but project could not take off as was planned, The Himalayan Times reports.

“We have started the first phase of the master plan on Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) upgradation,” director general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Ram Prasad Neupane said, adding that a Japanese Design Consultant is currently doing the preliminary study.

“We are going through the first phase of our master plan,” said general manager of Tribhuwan International Airport Ratish Chandra Lal Suman.

CAAN had prepared a master plan 2010-2028 for the upgradation of TIA. “But due to some problem Phase I A (2010-12) of the master plan started late and will end late, though it was supposed to be finished by 2012,” he said.

ADB had under its Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project approved $70 million in 2009 for Tribhuwan International Airport’s airfield side infrastructure reconfiguration and upgradation to international safety standards, including provision or construction of about 1,400 meters of new main taxiways and link taxiways, runway end safety area and extension, runway approach lights, an instrument landing system localiser, an uninterrupted power supply system for essential airfield and security area lights, air traffic communication (ATC) equipment, additional international and domestic aircraft parking apron area, and upgradation of rescue and fire fighting system.

According to him, the Phase I A plan includes run way extension, apron extension, lightening system enhancement, terminal building, baggage collection built modification, and ATC automation.”Among them, ATC equipment automation system is key,” Suman said, adding that they are also more focused on runway safety margin extension and risk fire fighting enhancement and surveillance enhancement.

The total project cost for

the first phase was estimated to be at $60 million in the

earlier study but according

to revised cost, it has been estimated to cost $128.9 million.

“Increment in the cost has also created some problem in implementing the project,” he said, adding, “due to the increment in the project cost, we are bound to set priority list among the plans and hold another round of talks.

“Among the different construction plans of Phase I, extension of North Runway and construction of new Apron cost a lion’s share of total project cost,” he informed.

“To construct the north runway, it takes 500 truck loads of soil daily. But yet the site to get soil and place to unload could not be identified delaying the project,” he added.

Tribhuwan International Airport — situated 5.56 km east of Kathmandu city — which was designed to handle 1,300 passengers per hour, now sometimes has to process over 2,000 passengers.

According to the Tribhuwan International Airport, it has currently no more landing time to give permission to the new airlines forcing it to make round the clock operational. Currently, it is operational for 18 hours a day but with increasing air traffic, Tribhuwan International Airport is also preparing to operate for 24 hours.
Nnnn

CASINOS OPERATING ILLEGALLY
Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: Most of the casinos are operating ‘illegally’, according to Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation as they have not renewed their licences, The Himalayan Times reportsm.

“Only Casino Shangri-La has renewed its licence so far,” joint secretary at the ministry Ranjan Krishna Aryal said, adding that other casinos are operating without any legal status as they have failed to renew licence according to the law.

A casino has to pay Rs 20 million at the beginning of the fiscal year to renew its licence. It can also renew the licence within the three months of the fiscal year after paying fine.

“Home Ministry should close the casinos, as they are operating illegally, he said, adding that it is the jurisdiction of Home Ministry to check whether casinos are operating legally or not. “And Home Ministry should close down those casinos, which are operating illegally.”

Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation regulates only one casino — Casino Shangri-La — at present, since it is the only legal casino operator, he clarified.

Casinos that are in operation have breached Financial Act, according to Aryal. He also expressed his discontent over dillydallying of Home Ministry to close casinos that have not renewed their licence.

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has already informed Home Ministry and Economic and Labour Relation Committee under Legislature Parliament about the legal status of the casinos, Aryal said.

But the ministry has not yet received any information whether Home Ministry has taken action against the illegal casinos that have failed to renew their licence or not. “If Home Ministry has not taken any action, it’s their inefficiency to enforce law and order,” he further said.

There are 10 casinos in Nepal — Casino Royale at Hotel & Yeti, Casino Venus at Hotel Malla, Casino Rad at Hotel Radisson, Casino Grande at Hotel Pokhara Grande, Fulbari Casino at Hotel Fulbari, Casino Nepal at Hotel Soaltee, Casino Anna at Hotel de’l Annapurna, Casino Everest at Hotel Everest, Casino Tara at Hotel Hyatt and Casino Shangri-La at Hotel Shangri-La. Of the total, two casinos are in Pokhara and rest are in the Kathmandu Valley.

Among them, four casinos also have Rs 326.18 million outstanding royalty dues.
nnnn

FIVE-DAY NEPAL-TIBET TRADE FAIR STARTS WEDNESDAY,

Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: A five-day Nepal-Tibet tare begins at Bhrikuti Madap Wednesday.
A 69-member Chinese team is in the capital to participate in the fair to promote trade between Nepal and neighbouring Tibet.
Nepal is Tibet’s largest trading partner.
Nnnn

TOP CHINESE OFFICIAL ARRIVING TO ARRANGE PREMIER WEN JIABAO’S VISIT

Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: As part of preparations for the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Nepal in the near future, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPN), Lu Qi, is arriving on a four-day visit to Nepal on November 5, a published report said Wednesday.
Another military delegation is all set to arrive from Tibet immediately after Liu’s departure.
nnnn

INDIAN AMBASSADOR REVEALS WHY DTAA WASN’T SIGNED DURING PM BHATTARAI’S INDIA VISIT

Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad Tuesday revealed why a double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) wasn’t signed during the just concluded India visit of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
…… the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) could not be signed during Bhattarai’s visit after Nepal side demanded a separate letter of exchange to deal with the issues of tax disclosure, The Kathmandu Post said quoting Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad.
Asked about the Indian side’s proposal of information exchange in the DIAA, to which Nepal side is said have had reservations, Prasad said the provision was to check illicit transfer of money.
He said there was no difference of opinion on the ext of the agreement.
Responding to another question on India’s proposal to build a consulate In Nepalgunj, Prasadi sad the Nepali side did not want to go ahead with it at the present political juncture.
nnnn



,
THE DOUBLE TAXATIOB VOIDANCE
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT UPGRADATION HIT

Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: With an increase in air traffic, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) — with the an assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) — had been planning to upgrade infrastructure of the only international airport since long but project could not take off as was planned, The Himalayan Times reports.

“We have started the first phase of the master plan on Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) upgradation,” director general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Ram Prasad Neupane said, adding that a Japanese Design Consultant is currently doing the preliminary study.

“We are going through the first phase of our master plan,” said general manager of Tribhuwan International Airport Ratish Chandra Lal Suman.

CAAN had prepared a master plan 2010-2028 for the upgradation of TIA. “But due to some problem Phase I A (2010-12) of the master plan started late and will end late, though it was supposed to be finished by 2012,” he said.

ADB had under its Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project approved $70 million in 2009 for Tribhuwan International Airport’s airfield side infrastructure reconfiguration and upgradation to international safety standards, including provision or construction of about 1,400 meters of new main taxiways and link taxiways, runway end safety area and extension, runway approach lights, an instrument landing system localiser, an uninterrupted power supply system for essential airfield and security area lights, air traffic communication (ATC) equipment, additional international and domestic aircraft parking apron area, and upgradation of rescue and fire fighting system.

According to him, the Phase I A plan includes run way extension, apron extension, lightening system enhancement, terminal building, baggage collection built modification, and ATC automation.”Among them, ATC equipment automation system is key,” Suman said, adding that they are also more focused on runway safety margin extension and risk fire fighting enhancement and surveillance enhancement.

The total project cost for

the first phase was estimated to be at $60 million in the

earlier study but according

to revised cost, it has been estimated to cost $128.9 million.

“Increment in the cost has also created some problem in implementing the project,” he said, adding, “due to the increment in the project cost, we are bound to set priority list among the plans and hold another round of talks.

“Among the different construction plans of Phase I, extension of North Runway and construction of new Apron cost a lion’s share of total project cost,” he informed.

“To construct the north runway, it takes 500 truck loads of soil daily. But yet the site to get soil and place to unload could not be identified delaying the project,” he added.

Tribhuwan International Airport — situated 5.56 km east of Kathmandu city — which was designed to handle 1,300 passengers per hour, now sometimes has to process over 2,000 passengers.

According to the Tribhuwan International Airport, it has currently no more landing time to give permission to the new airlines forcing it to make round the clock operational. Currently, it is operational for 18 hours a day but with increasing air traffic, Tribhuwan International Airport is also preparing to operate for 24 hours.
Nnnn

CASINOS OPERATING ILLEGALLY
Kathmandu, 2 Nov.: Most of the casinos are operating ‘illegally’, according to Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation as they have not renewed their licences, The Himalayan Times reportsm.

“Only Casino Shangri-La has renewed its licence so far,” joint secretary at the ministry Ranjan Krishna Aryal said, adding that other casinos are operating without any legal status as they have failed to renew licence according to the law.

A casino has to pay Rs 20 million at the beginning of the fiscal year to renew its licence. It can also renew the licence within the three months of the fiscal year after paying fine.

“Home Ministry should close the casinos, as they are operating illegally, he said, adding that it is the jurisdiction of Home Ministry to check whether casinos are operating legally or not. “And Home Ministry should close down those casinos, which are operating illegally.”

Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation regulates only one casino — Casino Shangri-La — at present, since it is the only legal casino operator, he clarified.

Casinos that are in operation have breached Financial Act, according to Aryal. He also expressed his discontent over dillydallying of Home Ministry to close casinos that have not renewed their licence.

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has already informed Home Ministry and Economic and Labour Relation Committee under Legislature Parliament about the legal status of the casinos, Aryal said.

But the ministry has not yet received any information whether Home Ministry has taken action against the illegal casinos that have failed to renew their licence or not. “If Home Ministry has not taken any action, it’s their inefficiency to enforce law and order,” he further said.

There are 10 casinos in Nepal — Casino Royale at Hotel & Yeti, Casino Venus at Hotel Malla, Casino Rad at Hotel Radisson, Casino Grande at Hotel Pokhara Grande, Fulbari Casino at Hotel Fulbari, Casino Nepal at Hotel Soaltee, Casino Anna at Hotel de’l Annapurna, Casino Everest at Hotel Everest, Casino Tara at Hotel Hyatt and Casino Shangri-La at Hotel Shangri-La. Of the total, two casinos are in Pokhara and rest are in the Kathmandu Valley.

Among them, four casinos also have Rs 326.18 million outstanding royalty dues.
nnnn