Briefs (Spotlight Weekly)

King Gyanendra and Queen Komal offering their prayers at the temple of Lord Shree Krishna in Imadol

THE COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS (COE), a group of commerce joint secretaries of the seven member states of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), would meet in Islamabad on May 3 to discuss on the rules of origin, negative list and so on for the sake of implementing the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). While the SAARC Summit held early this year in Pakistan adopted SAFTA, details regarding rules of origin, negative list, revenue compensation and technical assistance are yet to be worked out.

BRITISH GURKHA SOLDIERS ARE PROVIDING training to the future officers of the Afghan National Army in war-torn Afghanistan. Since most Gurkha soldiers can communicate in Urdu language, which they understand since it is similar to Nepalese language, and since they are capable, Gurkha soldiers have been given the duty of building a national Afghan army out of ragtag bunch. Over 200 Gurkha soldiers have been active in this duty for the last five months. Earlier, when coalition army used to provide training, there was a high rate of drop-outs but now after the Gurkhas have taken over the charge, there has been encouraging response, reports say.

CHAUDHARY GROUP, A LEADING BUSINESS HOUSE, has launched its Joint Venture with a British Biosys Limited to float Chaudhary Biosys Nepal Limited. The new company, which will engage in production of herbal medicines, essential oils and other useful products out of the huge herbal resources lying untouched in Nepal, was inaugurated amid a function by Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa. PM Thapa has said that it is encouraging to note that private sector investment has come to extract benefit from the biodiversity of Nepal. “Such ventures could be useful in reducing rural poverty,” he said. Basanta Kumar Chaudhary, managing director of the company, said that they can provide jobs to over 10,000 people within 2010 and could also export products worth US$ 10 million. “This will also bring in improvement in the living standards of rural people,” Chaudhary said.

THE HOME MINISTRY HAS STATED THAT encouraged by huge response to its surrender call and requests for more time, it has decided to extend the deadline for surrendering up to mid-July. The ministry has stated that till now, around 890 Maoists have already given themselves up before the government forces in different parts of the country after it announced amnesty to surrendering Maoists.

A MONTH-LONG RANIPOKHARI FESTIVAL HAS kicked off on New Year’s Day on Tuesday (April 13) opening it for the first time to public. The Ranipokhari premise remains closed for public all the year round except one day in Tihar when it is opened for devotees who want to pay homage to a temple inside. The Ranipokhari, situated in the heart of capital, was built by then King Pratap Malla three hundred years ago in order to provide solace to his wife who was in a grief over the death of her son. The festival has been organized by ward number 1, 30 and 31 of Kathmandu metropolitan city. Food stalls, shops and boating facilities have been arranged for the festival.

PRIME MINISTER SURYA BAHADUR THAPA has expressed apology for the police atrocities against journalists last week in capital. “The government is concerned for the inconvenience caused to journalists and the Nepali press society,” PM Thapa said in a statement. “It could have happened due to the failure of the security personnel to differentiate between the agitators and the journalists,” Thapa said, adding, “More caution is the need of the hour.” PM Thapa expressed his commitment to democracy, human rights and press freedom. “The government will work to ensure that news can be gathered and disseminated freely.” He also urged the press to exercise restraint and maintain professional dignity, norms and values.

THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH IS planning to formally open the land port at Banglabandha on May 22. The new port is expected to be quite significant for Nepal not only in terms of bilateral trade but also in terms of using it for export and import from third countries. Nepal has been allowed to use the Phulbari route through India to make use of alternate transit facilities from Bangladesh. But due to poor infrastructure in Banglabandha port, it could not be used extensively. Experts expect that the newly developed port will be beneficial to Nepal. The Banglabandha land port is located come 52 km from Kakarvitta of eastern Nepal.

A FOUR MEMBER DELEGATION LED BY THE president of Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (FWEAN) Shanti Chadha visited Bangladesh to attend a two day (March 22-24) Regional Conference of SAARC Women Entrepreneur Council (SWEC). The delegation included MP of Upper House Yankila Sherpa, first vice president of FWEAN, Pramila Rijal, second vice president and Chhaya Sharma, president of WEAN Lalitpur. The conference discussed and agreed on setting up a SAARC village by incorporating the concept presented by FWEAN. The federation is an apex body for women entrepreneurs in trade, industry, commerce and tourism sectors.

A delegation lof FWEAN in Dhaka