KING GYANENDRA AND QUEEN KOMAL, following the Dhaka SAARC Summit, are scheduled to leave for Riyadh on their way to Tunis where King Gyanendra is scheduled to address the World Summit on Information Society. The royal couple will then leave for Burundi where they will inspect the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) peacekeepers. After that the royal couple will visit some African nations like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Egypt before returning home on December 2.
THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT IS ASSISTING in the development of Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic Institute in Hattimuda of Morang district at the cost of Rs 280 million. The institute is being built in the land of 5 hectares made available by the Manmohan Memorial Institute. Indian ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee laid the foundation of the institute amid a function last week. Mukherjee said that no two countries in the world had as extensive and cordial relations as Nepal and India. He expressed commitment to give continuity to this aspect of relations. “What is in the interest of Nepal is also in the interest of India,” he said. After the completion of the construction of the institute building, India would also provide equipment and specialists for the initial five years. Indian embassy has hoped that the institute would play crucial role in human resources development in Nepal. According to reports, the institute would provide courses on mechanical, electronics and electrical studies. He added that India has assisted with Rs 14 billion in 112 projects in 62 districts.
IN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF 2005, the total garment exports of Nepal have declined by 39 percent. During this period, garments valued at $47.1 million were exported to the United States compared to $77.6 million during the same period in 2004. The rapid decline was witnessed after the end of Multi Fiber Agreement (MFA). The fall in garment exports has affected the total export scenario of the country. The garment exports occupy almost 40 percent of total exports. Although many LDCs have been similarly affected by the end of MFA and its quota-based system, developing nations like China and India have profited. While China’s garment exports have increased by 50 percent, India also has increased its exports by 15 percent. The share of garment (exports of other countries excepting India and China) in the US market has decreased from 22 to 8 percent.
PRIVATE SECTOR PETROLEUM DEALERS have asked the government to set up an independent “Petroleum Board” as a regulatory authority to ensure healthy competition in petroleum transactions. Petroleum Dealers’ Association has made this demand at a time when the government is planning to involve private sector in the transaction of petroleum products by ending the monopoly of state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). The Association has rejected the government’s proposal of ‘partial liberalization’ of the sector and has called for its ‘full liberalization.’ “The board should review the prices of petroleum products by adjusting it regularly with international market price and maintain healthy competition among private companies as well as monitor quality,” said Sharad Kumar Bhandari, general secretary of the Association. He added that the Board should have representatives from the government, private sector, independent experts and consumers.
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT has decided to support the project “Assistance and Protection Activities in Nepal 2005” of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with a co-financing amount of 300,000 Euro (approx. 26 Mio. NPR). The assistance comes in response to an application by the External Resource Division of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The aim of the grant is to assist the ICRC delegation in Nepal to protect civilians from the effects of the conflict, to monitor the living conditions and the treatment of detainees, to assist the wounded, displaced or other civilians affected by the conflict and to support the National Society’s efforts to strengthen its capacity as a neutral humanitarian organisation.
RIGON TASHI CHOLING mONASTERY was opened amid a grand function in Pharping in November 11. Chief Guest Pinor Rinpoche opened the monastery by cutting ribon following which consecration ceremony and chants were performed by monks. The monastery is located in Shesh Narayan VDC and was constructed at the cost of Rs 100 million. According to Nawang Lopsang, media coordinator of the monastery, 150 monks can stay in the monastery. Terton Namkha Drimed Rabjan Rinpoche will stay as the head of the monastery. During the opening ceremony various Buddhist leaders, monks, former ambassadors, foreigners and former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa was present.
