May 25, 2006
Nepal Mountain News
Russian and UN official have shown interest in Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road (KHFTR). The road has become more significant in the context of Nepal being developed as a transit point between India and China. Prof Hocor B, senior official at the UNESCAP office located in Bangkok, while talking to the Nepali entrepreneurs in Russia recently said, “For Nepal’s economic development, the UN is very much interested in supporting it.� It has shown interest in feasibility study of the Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road (KHFTR), which needs to be developed through public-private partnership approach to make it sustainable. Kush Kumar Joshi, second vice-president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), who led the delegation to Russia informed that Russian investors had shown interest in investing in our Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road project.
Joshi led 25-member delegation of businessmen associated with Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). During the visit of Nepali businessmen in Russia, Joshi said, the discussion was held at length with Russian businessmen to develop and declare Makwanpur district as an Industrial district as it has huge potential. Russian businesspersons had also shown interest to invest in Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road to make easy access to Makwanpur and fuel investment opportunities, Joshi informed. Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road is taken as one of the components of Asian Highway, in which UNESCAP had shown interest, according to the participants. Dipak Prasad Shrestha, president of MCCI said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Ivanov Region of Russia in an attempt to boost trade and economic activities between the two countries. As per the agreement, both chambers are authorised to take up the issues of bilateral trade and economy with their respective governments. Pre-feasibility studies of KHFTR have already done by Switzerland, Italy, Japanese and Finland. Feasibility study is yet to be done despite its huge scope, said businesspersons. Upendra Mahato, president of Non-Resident Nepal (NRN), International Coordination Committee also present during the meeting.
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Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road Gets Response
Russian and UN official have shown interest in Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road (KHFTR). The road has become more significant in the context of Nepal being developed as a transit point between India and China. Prof Hocor B, senior official at the UNESCAP office located in Bangkok, while talking to the Nepali entrepreneurs in Russia recently said, “For Nepal’s economic development, the UN is very much interested in supporting it.� It has shown interest in feasibility study of the Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road (KHFTR), which needs to be developed through public-private partnership approach to make it sustainable. Kush Kumar Joshi, second vice-president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), who led the delegation to Russia informed that Russian investors had shown interest in investing in our Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road project.
Joshi led 25-member delegation of businessmen associated with Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). During the visit of Nepali businessmen in Russia, Joshi said, the discussion was held at length with Russian businessmen to develop and declare Makwanpur district as an Industrial district as it has huge potential. Russian businesspersons had also shown interest to invest in Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road to make easy access to Makwanpur and fuel investment opportunities, Joshi informed. Kathmandu-Hetauda Fast Track Road is taken as one of the components of Asian Highway, in which UNESCAP had shown interest, according to the participants. Dipak Prasad Shrestha, president of MCCI said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Ivanov Region of Russia in an attempt to boost trade and economic activities between the two countries. As per the agreement, both chambers are authorised to take up the issues of bilateral trade and economy with their respective governments. Pre-feasibility studies of KHFTR have already done by Switzerland, Italy, Japanese and Finland. Feasibility study is yet to be done despite its huge scope, said businesspersons. Upendra Mahato, president of Non-Resident Nepal (NRN), International Coordination Committee also present during the meeting.
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- Maoists grilled over donations: "You accuse us of corruption. And, you are the same ones who demand 10 percent of development project budgets as donation," said government employees raising a series of questions at an interaction organized at Ramechhap district headquarters by the Maoists. "We have to prepare fake documents to adjust the amounts provided to you in the budget. What's your opinion on such matters? Is it corruption or not?" they asked without hesitation. The Maoist leaders of the Okhaldhunga-Ramechhap district committee remained evasive throughout the intreaction. "We were in a war. Some of our activities might have been wrong and could have left a bad impression," said a district leader of the Maoists, Bigul, in a defensive tone. However, the officials stressed that realizing their mistakes was not enough. Bigul then promised to return the seized property of public employees. The government employees also sought answers from the rebel leaders on issues including forcible donations, demanding of shelter, creating hindrances in the running of community forests, health facilities and schools, and destruction of government establishments. However, the leaders by and large evaded the questions. The Maoist leaders at the program were speechless when CDO Mohan Prasad Wagle ordered other employees not to provide any donations to the rebels in future. However, even after listening to all the questions and comments for hours, Maoist leader Bigul did not change his stance and stated that they would be collecting donations and asking for permission before entering the villages.
- Nepali Hotel voted to Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List 2006: Le Meridien Kathmandu Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa has been voted to Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious HOT List 2006. A press statement issued by Nepal Tourism Board said, in the most recent Condé Nast Traveler’s HOT List survey, the magazine’s global network of editors and field reporters reviewed the newest hotels that opened in the past year incognito, and came up with the HOT list consisting of 130 top new hotels around the world spanning 54 countries on 6 continents. “It is great to receive this recognition to affirm what our guests are telling us – our stunning location, great services and premier facilities, certainly make us one of world’s top hotels. We are proud of Le Meridien’s associates who have worked hard and made sure all guests have the best experiences in Nepal,� the statement quoted Patanjali Sharma, the General Manager of Le Meridien Kathmandu Forest Golf Resort & Spa as saying.
- Hindu activists close down Birgunj: The southern industrial town of Birgunj remained closed on Wednesday in protest of the proclamation of the reinstated House of Representatives to turn Nepal into a secular state by deleting references to the country as a Hindu kingdom. Thousands of Hindu activists marched in the streets of Birgunj today denouncing the HoR proclamation and demanding that Nepal be declared a Hindu nation once again. Until last Thursday, Nepal used to be the only Hindu kingdom in the world. Along with clipping powers of the king and bringing the army under the purview of the parliament, the seven party alliance declared Nepal as a secular state. Jurists and lawyers have already raised questions regarding the legal and constitutional status of the proclamation. Ethnic communities and Buddhist and Christian population in the country have welcomed the HoR proclamation saying that it will end what they call all sorts of discrimination in the name of religion. Over 80 percent of the country’s 27 million population is Hindu, according to the central bureau of statistics.
- HAN demands immediate relief package: The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has asked the government for an immediate relief package to rescue the hotel industry, which has suffered a lot during the 10-year long conflict. A delegation led by president of HAN Prakash Shrestha, met with finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and apprised him of problems faced by overall tourism sector and hotel industry in particular. Among the demands that HAN has put forth include freezing of principal amount and interest of loan taken by hotels for at least six months to two years. Shrestha said that the government should make arrangement for a concessional current account loan till the next tourist season and freeze value added tax (VAT) and electricity bills for at least six months.