Future of compassion in the context of Artificial Intelligence and Technology

Artificial intelligence is a method of calculation and not a being and hence no element of experience, according to a monk.
In a series of debates and talk programmes designed to stimulate thinking and get the ideas and knowledge flowing, a joint event was organised by the French Embassy in Nepal and beed Knowledge Center on the ‘Future of Compassion in the context of Artificial Intelligence and Technology’ in which the French Buddhist monk and writer Matthieu Ricard – who was in conversation with economist Sujeev Shakya – highlighted that a common platform, even before religion, is goodness and a good heart which is most needed for people to come together despite the challenges of technology. In Ricard’s point of view, artificial intelligence is a method of calculation and not a being and hence no element of experience.
During the conversation, Ricard also admired the resilience of Nepali people as they get through everything in life. “There has not been lasting hatred and believes that it is a part of the Nepali culture,” he added.
Sujeev, on the occasion, emphasised that, technology has encroached our life in an unprecedented level, resulting a conflict with our notion of a shared world and a shared future. For Sujeev, a lot of evolution has taken place over the years and although Buddhism and science have evolved to come together, it has always been about the human mind and people. 
The conversation started with the French ambassador to Nepal François – Xavier Leger giving the opening remarks in the event, where the attendees included heads of Mission and representatives from various embassies, researchers, students and people from the private sector.

Beed invest brings new schemes

beed invest – one of the leading portfolio management companies – has launched various schemes to encourage investors to take advantage from the capital market.

beed has introduced ‘Lagani Briddhi Plus’, ‘Sanchaya Plus’ and ‘Expor Plus’ designed for individual clients, and ‘Paramarsha Plus’ and ‘Salaaha Plus’ for institutional clients.

The products are expected to cater to the investment needs of customers, according to the beed that has claimed that Lagani Briddhi Plus is for customers with a high risk appetite and Sanchaya Plus is for customers with a lower risk appetite. "Expor Plus is for clients, who already have an existing portfolio with beed invest."

The portfolio management company helps investors cash in on the stock market but who do not have any idea. It will purchase and sell stocks on behalf of its clients and manage their investment portfolio.

Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) has licenced 15 merchant bankers to operate as portfolio managers. The Portfolio Management Directive requires portfolio managers to only take up clients who can invest a minimum of Rs 300,000. They can act as the consultants to clients. However, very few are actively involved with the investors also due to lower clientele base.

beed bags consulting contract in Rwanda

A premier management consulting and financial advisory services firm – beed management (beed) – has won a global bid to work on a consulting contract with the Government of Rwanda.
beed will be preparing a business plan for a cable car project on Mt Karisimbi along with undertaking a visioning and planning exercise for an Ecotourism Project, it said, adding that the project involves establishing a cable car project on the highest peak in Rwanda Mt Karisimbi at a cost of $35 million. “The ecotourism corridor envisages establishing a 260 sq-km area to promote eco-tourism so as to make Rwanda the premier eco-tourism destination in Central and East Africa and will attract investments of $2 billion.”

Chief executive of the beed Sujeev Shakya described the feat as a proud moment for the Nepali firms as it is be able to win global bids and take their expertise outside the boundaries of Nepal. “Our dreams of going international has begun, apart from remittance dollars, Nepal can now earn foreign exchange in the knowledge business also,” he said, explaining that beed was introduced to Rwanda by a globally known Nepali scientist working in the field of climate change and atmospheric gases Prof Arnico Pandey, who is leading a team from MIT to establish a Climate Observatory in Rwanda.

In 2012, beed had conducted the pre-feasibility study of the project.
The beed team also includes architects and engineers, who have worked in the Manakamana Cable Car Project and ex-chief executive of Nepal Tourism Board Prachanda Man Shrestha.

Rwanda is currently regarded as one of the most attractive foreign investment destinations in Africa and their $400 million Eurobond received a response of $3.2 billion in April.

A country that is just half the size of Bhutan with a population of 10 million has rebuild itself post genocide in 1994 in a manner that has become a role model for many developing countries.

“It is similar to Nepal in terms of topography and terrain, but stand out in their firm determination to make things happen," Shakya added.

beed, established in 2008, has served over seventy clients across different sectors in the past five years. It has also partnered with Bank of Kathmandu in managing the $14 million IFC SME Venture Fund, Business Oxygen.