Nepali workers in UAE rise by three-folds

By Vijaya Babu Khatri

KATHMADNU, Feb 17- Flow of Nepali workers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has increased by about three-folds within the last seven months after the UAE government banned the entry of labourers from Asian subcontinent, excluding Nepal.

According to Department of Labour, the number of workers flying to UAE on legal basis has increased by three-folds after the UAE denied visa to labourers from the countries of Asian sub-continent, other than Nepal.

Following the ban on labourers, the Department puts the number of labourers flying to the UAE at over three thousands. While there were just over one thousand registered Nepali labourers working in this oil-rich Gulf country earlier. However, Foreign Employment Agencies say there were over twelve thousand workers staying there illegally.

The Foreign Employment Agencies also agree that the employment of Nepali workers has increased in UAE after the ban. Krishna Adhikari, Manger of The Gorkha Re-employment says, "The ban on the workers from Asian sub-continent has come as a boon to Nepali workers, which has already increased by over three folds."

The demand for Nepali workers from UAE have been increasing since then, said he. Since UAE offers one of the highest wages to the foreign workers among the Gulf countries, it has remained as a focal point of attraction to foreign job seeker lower class Nepalese.

Over 56 percent of the foreign employees working in the UAE are from India and 36 percent are from Pakistan. Similarly, the total number of workers from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan constitute about two-third of the total population. Reportedly, the UAE banned the entry of workers from these countries taking into account the long-term threats to its national security.

Jaswant Singh, Indian Minister for External Affairs is learnt to have visited the UAE some months back and requested to lift the ban. However, the UAE government is yet to respond to his request.

Agencies say representatives from His Majesty’s Government should also visit the UAE and initiate to open up embassy to promote employment in this Gulf country. "If the government takes proactive initiations to promote employment in the UAE, the number can rise to over 50 thousand within a few years," says Adhikari.

Nepali workers mainly work in supermarkets, factories, and hotels in the UAE. However, according to the Foreign Employment Agencies, recognizing their sincerity much recently, Nepali workers have also been recruited in Abhudhabi City Police. The Agencies say, over 500 Nepali workers have already been inducted in Abhudhabi Police.

South Asia Print Congress to be held in Kathmandu

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb 17- Nepal Printers Association is organizing the second South Asia Print Congress and Exhibition from March 1-4 in Kathmandu.

This was informed in a press conference organized here today by the association. Suresh Malla, Chairman of the Print Congress organizing committee informed that over 500 delegates from South Asia are expected to participate in the Congress cum-Exhibition. Malla also informed that about 30 experts on print technology from Nepal, Australia, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, UK and USA will also deliver presentation on various aspects of the revolutionizing print industry.

The event will demonstrate latest trends and technologies in the print industry and will also provide opportunity for exploring possibilities for investment, said Malla.

Although the event is primarily organized for the benefit of the people in the region, it is designed in such a way that the experts as well as the manufacturers from almost all parts of the world assemble together and take up the strategies for improvement of their products and profession, said he.

Though the Congress was initially scheduled for 1998, it could not take place due to various reasons. First South Asia Print Congress was held in India three years back.

Talks on Nepal-China trade imbalance

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb 17 - Chen Xinhua, Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of the People’s Republic of China has urged to bridge the gap of trade imbalance between Nepal and China.

Xinhua expressed the view at an interaction programme organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) here Thursday, according to an FNCCI press release issued today.

He opined that Nepal should concentrate on reducing trade imbalance by increasing export to China. He assured of assisting Nepal for extending economic activities at the programme.

A delegation of Chinese businessmen led by Xinhua is in the capital to discuss on the possibility of enhancing trade and business activities between the two neighbouring countries.

He urged Nepal to up investment by improving infrastructure and conducive environment, among others. He also showed his delegation’s interest to invest in the sectors like hydropower, infrastructure, telecommunications, textile, medicine, communication, and others. He said that Nepal-China joint ventures were doing well.

Since Nepal and China have age-old diplomatic relations, Xinhua hoped that bilateral visits open door for new opportunities for investment and trade which will benefit both the countries. He assured that he would render help to FNCCI from his Ministry through the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC).

Asked about the possibility of joining hands with Chinese investors, Xinhua replied: "There is a great opportunity for joint venture for which Nepal has to carry out feasibility study on the project."

Present on the occasion were immediate past president of FNCCI Anand Raj Mulmi, former president of FNCCI Indra Bhakta Shrestha, First Vice-President of FNCCI Rabi Bhakta Shrestha, Third Vice-President Binod Bahadur Shrestha, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhing Xuyong, and other executive members of FNCCI. 

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Nepal Stock Exchange
Singhadurbar Plaza, Kathmandu

17 February , 2000

Trading Information                            Trading Price

Paid-up value of S. N. 8 is 57.
Paid-up value of S. N. 11 is 10.
Paid-up value of S. N. 22 is 50.
Paid-up value of S. N. 21 is 65.

NEPSE Index : 295.06 (3.29) Base : 12th. Feb, 1994 = 100