AIESEC Nepal hosted Action for SDGs

AIESEC – earlier an acronym of Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales – in Nepal hosted an event ‘Action for SDGs’ today,
The event – powered by Coca-Cola, co-sponsored by Cathay Pacific, Plan International and associated by Khalti, Raleigh International, Restless Development, VSO and United Nations (UN) – brought 300+ young people with their amazing ideas and more than 20 companies together for helping and guiding them to transform their ideas into products and more than 10 experts sharing their experience of contribution, struggle, and learning which inspired and motivated them to never give up. The event created a platform for young people who aim to create change in the society through their ideas, products or services focused on SDGs. The 5 focused SDGs were Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Peace, Justice and Strong Institution and Partnership for Goals.
On the occasion, managing director of Bottlers Nepal Ltd Pradip Pandey shared that the company is pleased to support young people on their journey towards leadership through the provision of fundamental life and business skills as well as effective networks. “We will continue to support this important initiative and nurture the positive changes it will make in the communities we co-exist in,” he said, adding that it is always so inspiring to see young, energetic and enthusiastic youth come together to work towards making greater impacts in the communities we live in. “The Final top 3 ideas were selected 60 per cent by the above-mentioned speakers and 40 per cent by the audience via Khalti polling system.”
The top 3 winners Navraj Khanal, Imisha Pokhrel and team and Kritika karki received seed funding amount and 6 months of mentorship from AIESEC to bring their idea into reality by the end of June.
AIESEC is a global youth run organisation present in over 120 countries with a vision to achieve peace and fulfillment of human kind’s potential. Through its various platforms they seek to inspire, engage and mobilise young people to take ownership of their thoughts and actions so as to make a difference and contribute to a better society.

Industrial Promotion Board approves foreign investment in Super Madi hydro, capital injection in Bottlers Nepal

The Industrial Promotion Board (IPB) today approved foreign investment in Super Madi Hydropower Project and Bottlers’ Nepal’s proposal to increase Rs 3 billion capital.
The 44MW-Super Madi hydel project – being developed by Himal Hydro and General Construction – is planning to bring investment from Costal Project Ltd India, whereas Bottlers Nepal (Terai) is planning to increase production capacity of its Chitwan-based plant.

The Bottlers Nepal (Terai) – that has a paid up capital of 121-million – will increase its paid up capital to Rs 3.12 billion. It has Bottlers Nepal as its majority shareholder and remaining share is with the public.  
Bottlers’ Nepal (Balaju) – with 76.16 per cent share of Coca Cola Sabco of South Africa, 22 per cent share of Gurkha Brewery and rest with public – has a paid up capital of Rs 195 million. Bottlers’ Nepal (Terai) and Bottlers’ Nepal (Balaju) both are listed companies at the Nepal Stock Exchange. The shares of Bottlers’ Nepal (Balaju) and Bottlers’ Nepal (Terai) are being traded at around Rs 1,680 and Rs 1,320 per unit, respectively.
Coca-Cola was first introduced into Nepal in 1973, when it was imported from India, but local production began in 1979 only, with the establishment of Bottlers Nepal Ltd (BNL). Coca-Cola Sabco acquired bottling rights from Coca-Cola Company for Nepal in 2004.

The 205^th board meeting chaired by minister for Industry, and Finance Shankar Prasad Koirala, approved the capital increment of the Coca-Cola as it had sought the permission to increase its paid up capital and expand the production. Coke is also planning to buyback share of Gurkha Brewery, and start production of juices in Nepal.
Bottlers Nepal is the manufacturer of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite in Nepal.
Likewise, Kaski-district based run-of-the-river Super Madi hydro that had sought government’s approval to bring foreign investment, has also been approved to bring foreign investment from Costal Project Ltd India, though the amount has not been mentioned.
According to a press release of Industry Ministry, the total capital of Super Madi hydro project is Rs 6.35 billion.
Costal Projects India has a majority share holding of 82.21 per cent in Nepal Jalabidyut Prabardhan Tatha Bikas Ltd, which has 78 per cent stake in Himal Hydro – according to the company – that is planning to develop 44MW Super Madi hydel project.

Industrial Promotion Board approves up gradation of hydel projects

The Industrial Promotion Board (IPB) has approved up gradation and capital increment of some hydropower projects with conditions.

The board meeting today also directed the concerned authorities to form committees for detailed studies before forming a policy on cooperatives, and Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer, besides the gutkha industry.

"The board approved up gradation and capital increment of Kabeli 'A' Hydropower Project (37.5 MW) — promoted by Kabeli Energy, a subsidiary of Butwal Power Company (BPC) that is estimated to cost $92 million — 120-MW Lekhu – a developed by Green Ventures that has committed Rs 16.18 billion investment – and 50-MW Balefi Hydropower – promoted by Balefi Jalbidhyut Company and estimated to cost Rs 5.88 billion apart from approving Himal Hydro's request to invite foreign investment and loan agreement of Sino-Hydro from China Exim Bank," according to a source.The board also approved the capacity upgradation request of Bottlers Nepal Tarai Ltd. The three hydropower – Kabeli, Lekhu and Balefi – and Chitwan-based plant of Bottlers Nepal Tarai have pledged Rs 31 billion investments. Bottlers’ Nepal had asked permission from the Department of Industry a month ago for upgrading the plant’s capacity 203,000 kl per day from the current 8,850 kl per day capacity. The company will pump in around Rs 2.70 billion in the plant. Bottlers Nepal has invested Rs 55 million in its Chitwan-based plant till now.

The meeting chaired by Industry Minister Shanker Prashad Koirala also asked the concerned departments to form committees before bringing a policy on cooperatives that has lately been in the news for all the wrong reasons, gutkha industry that has been banned in India lately and is waiting for a policy to enter Nepal, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Technology Transfer Act to promote foreign direct investment in the country, the source said, adding that the board has been working on to create an investment friendly policy that will help boost manufacturing growth in the country.

The country has been witnessing a slowdown in manufacturing growth due to continued power shortage, labour problems and strikes, but the board's decision today will help generate electricity for industries, according to the source, who expects such policy clarity will encourage investors.

Coca-Cola tops Global Brands 2012 rankings

Coca Cola topped the best Global Brands 2012 ranking making it to a 13^th in the row, according to the survey of the Interbrand, a brand consulting company owned by the Omnicom Group.
Coca Cola — is valued at $77.8 billion — followed by Apple ($76.5 billion), IBM ($75.5 billion), Google ($69.7 billion), Microsoft ($57.8 billion), GE ($43.6 billion), McDonalds ($40.0) billion), Intel ($39.3 billion), Samsung ($32.8 billion) and Toyota ($30.2 billion) in top 10 the list that is dominated by the technology.
"Coca Cola excels at keeping the brand fresh while maintaining a powerful sense of nostalgia that unites generations of Coke lovers and reinforces consumers’ deep connections to the brand,” the survey stated, estimating its brand value at $77.8 billion, up by eight per cent from the 2011 report. The company is planning to increase its revenue to $200 billion in 2020, from $95 billion in 2008.
Every year Inter Brand assesses the challenges and by surveys the accomplishments of the world’s most valuable brands and carefully rank the top 100. The report ranks what it deems the 100 most valuable brands on criteria that include financial performance, the role the brand plays in influencing the choices made by consumers and the brand’s ability to help its parent’s earnings.
Some eight of the remaining top nine brands changed ranks from last year, Interbrand reported, including Apple, that rose to No 2 from No 8, and Samsung, which rose to No 9 from No 17.
Two brands, also dropped out of the top 10; Disney, which fell to No 13 from No 9 last year, and Hewlett-Packard, which fell to No 15 from No 10.
Year after year Coca-Cola has quantified and confirmed the enormous measurable value of its brand, said the company, adding that its name is more universally recognised than any other across the globe. "Coca-Cola may be 126 years old, but with more than 50 million fans on Facebook, 1.8 billion Coke products consumed daily and 3,500 beverages in its diverse portfolio, said the Coca-Cola Company that has remained a global force to be reckoned with.
Bottlers Nepal Ltd (Balaju) and Bottlers’ Nepal (Terai) Ltd — both listed companies at the Nepal Stock Exchange — are the bottlers of Coca-Cola in Nepal. Bottlers Nepal Ltd (Balaju) has listed 1,948,887-unit shares and Bottlers’ Nepal (Terai) Ltd has listed 1,210,000-unit shares and their shares were traded at Rs 1,680 and Rs 1,018 per unit share last time.

Nepse sees highest number of listed firms' trading

After more than one-and-a half decade of its operations, the secondary market today witnessed over 100 listed companies trading, though the total number of shares traded stood at less than one per cent of the listed shares.

Three hydropower companies among the four listed hydel project, three hotels among the four listed hotels, some 16 finance companies among 72 listed class C financial institute, some 23 commercial banks among the 26 listed class A financial institutions, along with Nabil promoter share and Everest Bank's convertible shares, some 35 development banks among the 72 listed ones, some 16 insurance companies among the listed 21 listed ones, Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) and Bottlers Nepal (Terai) among 18 listed manufacturing and processing companies, Nepal Doorsanchar among the two listed companies under others sub group saw their trading at the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) today. However, the market did not see any trading of the trading sub group, the only sun group among the nine sub-groups.

Of the nine sub groups, two — hydropower and hotels sub group — lost, whereas six sub groups gained to push the Nepse up by 4.85 points or 1.19 per cent to close today's market at 412.48 points.

Nepse has listed a total of 1,580,175,077 units of stocks including, ordinary, promoters and one bank's convertible shares, one mutual fund, debentures and government bonds. But some 213,831 units worth Rs 78,467,607 shares of some 101 listed companies were traded at the Nepse today.