Nepal to Host Investment Summit in March 3
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IBN DISPATCH | YEAR: 3 | ISSUE: 11 | VOLUME: 35 | KARTIK 2075 (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2018) 1 MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER OF OIBN DISPATCH IBN YEAR: 3 | ISSUE: 11 | VOLUME: 35 | KARTIK 2075 (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2018) NEPAL TO HOST INVESTMENT SUMMIT IN MARCH 3 TRIP TO HONGSHI FOR JOURNALISTS 5 “WE LACK REALISTIC DATA FOR OIBN PARTICIPATES IN 4 SHANGHAI EXPO EFFECTIVE PLANNING” INTERVIEW WITH HONORABLE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION 6 OIBN-CANADIAN DELEGATION MEET 10 OIBN CEO GIVES PRESENTATION IN QATAR 11 2 IBN DISPATCH | YEAR: 3 | ISSUE: 11 | VOLUME: 35 | KARTIK 2075 (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2018) I INVESTO GRAPH TOP EMPLOYMENT GENERATING SECTORS FROM FDI IN NEPAL (Projects approved during FY2074-075 by Department of Industry) 1 TOURISM 3952 2 NO. OF EMPLOYMENTS SERVICES 3797 NO. OF EMPLOYMENTS 3 MANUFACTURING 3483 NO. OF EMPLOYMENTS 4 IT 788 5 NO. OF EMPLOYMENTS ENERGY 674 NO. OF EMPLOYMENTS Data Source: www.doind.gov.np IBN DISPATCH | YEAR: 3 | ISSUE: 11 | VOLUME: 35 | KARTIK 2075 (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2018) 3 NEPAL TO HOST INVESTMENT SUMMIT IN MARCH KATHMANDU: The 33rd meeting of the Investment Speaking on the occasion, Right Honorable Prime Board Nepal (IBN) was held under the chairman- Minister stated that the government was committed ship of the Right Honorable Prime Minister and IBN to improving the environment for investment. He chairman Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli on November 26. The also instructed relevant government agencies to sin- meeting at the Office of the Investment Board Nepal cerely works and execute large-scale infrastructure (OIBN) in New Baneshwor decided to form a direc- and other development projects in time. The Right tive committee headed by the Honorable Finance Honorable Prime Minister also asked concerned Minister and Vice-chair of IBN Dr. Yubaraj Kha- agencies to expedite the process of drafting the tiwada to facilitate the organization of the ‘Nepal Public Private Partnership and Investment Act and a Investment Summit’ in the last week of March, 2019. guideline on the construction of project infrastruc- The meeting also directed relevant agencies to com- ture. plete the tasks of introducing and amending neces- OIBN CEO Mr. Maha Prasad Adhikari provided sary laws and policies for attracting foreign direct updates on the implementation of IBN-facilitated investment. It also decided to mobilize Nepali dip- projects. lomatic missions abroad to ensure Other dignitaries present at the meet- greater participation of interna- IBN 33RD MEETING ing, were Honorable Finance Minister tional investors in the Summit. In and Vice-chair of IBN Dr. Khatiwada, an effort to make IBN more vibrant, the meeting, in Honorable Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil line with the ‘Investment Board Act 2011’ decided to Aviation Mr. Rabindra Adhikari, Honorable Minister form a team of advisors led by the Vice-chairman of for Forest and Environment Mr. Shakti Bahadur Bas- IBN. The team will comprise of experts and innova- net, Honorable Minister for Federal Affairs and Gen- tive personalities in the development sector. eral Administration Mr. Lal Babu Pandit, Honorable The meeting also allowed Dolma Fund Manage- Vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission ment to conduct surveys for implementing the Grid Dr. Pushpa Raj Kandel, Nepal Rastra Bank’s Gover- Connected Solar Photo Voltaic Project plus Battery nor Mr. Chiranjibi Nepal, IBN members representing Storage Project under the Public Private Partnership private sector (Ms. Bhawani Rana, Mr. Hari Bhakta (PPP) approach. The projects generates solar energy Sharma, Mr. Rajesh Kaji Shrestha and Mr. Balkrish- of 150 MW in Lomathang of Mustang and 125 MW na Sibakoti) and secretaries of relevant ministries of in Chilime of Rasuwa districts. the Government of Nepal. ♦ 4 IBN DISPATCH | YEAR: 3 | ISSUE: 11 | VOLUME: 35 | KARTIK 2075 (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2018) I OIBN PARTICIPATES IN SHANGHAI EXPO KATHMANDU: OIBN participated at the first houses, and senior government officials also visited China International Import Expo (CIIE) held from the pavilion. The event provided a great platform November 5 to 10 in Shanghai. OIBN officials were to reach out to a significant number of people in a part of a high-level delegation led by the Honorable single spot and put Nepal on the international stage Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Mr. as an attractive investment destination. Matrika Yadav that took part in various promotional The Nepali delegation also visited General Motors events including the expo. Other agencies from Ne- China Inc. and SIASUN Robot and Automation pal included the Trade and Export Promotion Cen- Company to discuss business opportunities in Nepal ter (TEPC) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The for these companies. Similarly, OIBN officials gave a six-day fair pulled in over a million people from 172 presentation on ‘Investment Climate and Opportuni- countries, regions, and international organizations. ties in Nepal’ at an investment promotion event joint- Officials from OIBN gave a presentation at the Nepal ly organized by the Embassy of Nepal, Beijing along Pavilion on projects ready for investment in Nepal. with the Honorary Consulate of Nepal, Shanghai, They interacted with a number of potential investors. and China Association for International Economic The impressive presence of investors at the Nepal Cooperation. The program was attended by Minis- Pavilion showed the business interest in Nepal. Mr. ter Yadav and Ambassador of Nepal to China His Juan Carlos Varela, President of Panama was among Excellency Mr. Leela Mani Paudyal. The OIBN team the dignitaries who observed the Nepal Pavilion. also held discussions with the Chinese Honorary Mr. Varela showed immense affection for Nepal Consul to Nepal His Excellency Mr. Wu Jianming in and Nepali people during a brief conversation with Shanghai on strengthening mutual collaboration for the Nepali delegation. Similarly, high profile busi- promoting foreign direct investment into Nepal. ♦ ness people, representatives from various corporate IBN DISPATCH | YEAR: 3 | ISSUE: 11 | VOLUME: 35 | KARTIK 2075 (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2018) 5 TRIP TO HONGSHI FOR JOURNALISTS NAWALPUR: The Office of the Investment Board and production technology. During the visit, journal- Nepal (OIBN) organized a trip to the Hongshi ists got an opportunity to interact with senior project Shivam Cement Project site for economic journal- officials and project beneficiaries. On the occasion, ists from October 30 to 31. A total of 17 journalists the company’s Managing Director Weipeng Lai and representing leading TV channels and online news Deputy General Manager Gaurav Goel informed portals participated in the two-day trip. The proj- journalists about the progress and problems being ect located in Binay-Triveni Rural Municipality of faced by the company during the project implemen- Nawalpur district of Gandaki Province is a Chinese tation process. joint venture with the largest cement production ca- The journalists participating in the trip were Mr. pacity in the country. The project developer Hongshi Diwakar Pant and Mr. Prabin Gyawali of Kantipur Shivam Cement Pvt. Ltd. is investing Rs. 36 billion TV, Mr. Rabin Thakuri and Mr. Surendra Maskey into the project. The company commenced commer- of AP1 TV, Mr. Pradip Chapagain and Mr. Shiva cial production of cement from June 2018. It has the Pangeni of Nepal TV, and Mr. Shambhu Pokharel initial capacity for producing 6,000 tons of cement and Mr. Chaman Koirala of Business TV. Similarly, per day. As per the IBN Act 2011, OIBN has been Mr. Pushpa Dulal of clickmandu.com, Mr. Bishnu facilitating the Project Investment Agreement (PIA) Prasad Devkota of Deshantar Weekly, Mr. Shankar which was signed in 2017. Pandit and Mr. Diwakar GC of ‘Arthako Artha’ news The visit was arranged to share the experience of the program, Mr. Sabin Dhamala of GM Media News company in project implementation, the economic Agency, Mr. Rabindra Shahi of setopati.com, Mr. significance of the project, the company’s Corporate Dambar Prasad Acharya of onlinekhabar.com, Mr. Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, and the state- Rishkesh Dahal of bizmandu.com, and Mr. Ramraja of-art technology applied in the project. The visit Shrestha of bizkhabar.com. From OIBN, Mr. Prabha- provided an opportunity for media people themselves kar Ghimire, Mr. Ganesh Acharya, and Mr. Khemraj to observe the project progress, its CSR initiatives, Ghimire participated in the trip. « Continued to Page 8 ... 6 IBN DISPATCH | YEAR: 3 | ISSUE: 11 | VOLUME: 35 | KARTIK 2075 (OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2018) I PROF. DR. PUSPA RAJ KADEL Honorable Vice-Chairman, National Planning Commission WE LACK REALISTIC DATA“ FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING Prof. Dr. Puspa Raj Kadel is the Honorable Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC). Dr. Kandel took the helm of the NPC, the apex policy formulating body of the government, at a time when the country was em- barking on a full-fledged federal system. A key mandate of the NPC is to establish effective ordinationco among local, provincial, and federal governments in planning and implementing development projects. The NPC has already started preparations to formulate the 15th Plan that will start next year. Dr. Kandel, who is also a member of the Investment Board Nepal, talked to IBN Dispatch about the role and vision of the NPC in steering the country towards economic prosperity and institutionalizing federalism. Could you tell us about the NPC’s role in materializ- ning. The 15th five year plan is a part of our long term ing the slogan – ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’? approach for economic development. We have started th We have been deliberating the slogan ‘Prosperous Ne- the process of formulating the upcoming 15 plan. We pal, Happy Nepal’, introduced by the current govern- have corresponded with relevant ministries to propose th ment and widely liked by the Nepali people. First, we their approaches for the 15 plans and some of them need to clearly define the spirit of this slogan. Indicators have sent us their responses.