Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Asian infrastructure needs exceed $1.7t per year: ADB

Infrastructure needs in developing Asia and the Pacific will exceed $22.6 trillion through 2030 – or $1.5 trillion per year – if the region is to maintain growth momentum, according to a new flagship report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) published today.
"The estimates rise to over $26 trillion – or $1.7 trillion per year – when climate change mitigation and adaptation costs are incorporated,” reads the report, 'Meeting Asia's Infrastructure Needs', that focuses on the region's power, transport, telecommunications, and water and sanitation infrastructure. It comprehensively examines current infrastructure stocks and investments, future investment needs, and financing mechanisms for developing Asia.
"The demand for infrastructure across Asia and the Pacific far outstrips current supply," said ADB president Takehiko Nakao. "Asia needs new and upgraded infrastructure that will set the standard for quality, encourage economic growth, and respond to the pressing global challenge that is climate change."
Infrastructure development in the 45 countries covered in the report has grown dramatically in recent decades, spurring growth, reducing poverty, and improving people's lives. “But a substantial infrastructure gap remains, with over 400 million people still lacking electricity, 300 million without access to safe drinking water, and about 1.5 billion lacking access to basic sanitation,” the report reads, adding that many economies in the region lack adequate ports, railways, and roads that could connect them efficiently to larger domestic and global markets.
Nakao said that ADB pledges to work with member countries and use our 50 years of experience and expertise to meet infrastructure needs in the region. "As the private sector is crucial to fill infrastructure gaps, ADB will promote investment friendly policies and regulatory and institutional reforms to develop bankable project pipelines for public-private partnerships.”
In Nepal too, the ADB is helping set up Public Private Partnership (PPP) Centre at the National Planning Commission (NPC) to encourage the private sector in infrastructure construction.
Established in 1966, ADB is celebrating 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members, 48 from the region.

Report Highlights:
- Of the total climate-adjusted investment needs, $14.7 trillion will be for power and $8.4 trillion for transport.
-Investments in telecommunications will reach $2.3 trillion, with water and sanitation costs at $800 billion
- South Asia will account for 8.8 percent of climate-adjusted investment needs through 2030.
-The $1.7 trillion annual climate-adjusted estimate is more than double the $750 billion ADB estimated in 2009.
-Currently, the region annually invests an estimated $881 billion in infrastructure
-Multilateral development banks (MDB) have financed an estimated 2.5 percent of infrastructure investments in developing Asia. 

Monday, February 27, 2017

South Korea increases quota for Nepalis more than threefold

South Korea – the most lucrative destination of Nepali migrant workers – has increased quota for Nepali migrant workers for 2018 by more than three fold compared to this year.
Korea – which is taking 3,100 Nepali migrant workers through Employment Permit System (EPS) in 2017 – has decided to increase the quota to 10,200 for 2018.
According to EPS Center, the Korean Human Resource Department has informed that the Korean government will take 10,200 Nepali migrant workers in 2018. Among the 10,200 workers, Korea has been seeking 6,200 workers for the agriculture sector and 4,000 for production sector.
The Centre also informed that it is planning to open applications for Korean language test from March 22 to March 31 and conduct the exam by mid-June.
According to the Centre, the candidates can apply online from this year. Because of the online facility, the candidates do not have to stay in queue for hours to submit their application like earlier years.
South Korea has been taking Nepali migrant workers every year through EPS. Nepali youth have been taking Korean Language Test to get listed in the roaster, from where the Korean Human Resource Department selects them in various sectors.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Stop politicisation of development projects: ADB

One of Nepal's important development partners has asked the government to stop politicisation in development activities.
Addressing the first Tripartite Portfolio Review Meeting (TPRM) of the year 2017 country director of ADB Nepal Resident Mission Kenichi Yokoyama today asked the political parties to refrain from or abandon "the practice of so-called 'bhagbanda' – division of spoils – by all means, to ensure timely project execution."
Saying that the ADB-funded projects have shown notable improvement in the year 2016, he attributed the success to project readiness, project leadership and human resources, procurement, contract management, safeguards, and addressing complex local issues. "Nevertheless, we must also say that the progress is just half way through, compared with our target of making annual execution – contract awards and disbursement – at par with annual lending – new commitment – level of $300 million in recent years,” he said, highlighting the critical importance of having competent project directors.
"Specifically, there is very high correlation between the strong project leadership and the performance of the project, ie, project performance is stronger where it is led by a competent project director," he added. "The rapid progress of flagship projects such as Melamchi and SASEC power and transport projects are testament to this."
He also asked the two-day TPRM to discuss and agree on critical issues related with high-attention projects, like ensuring timely completion of the Melamchi and Kathmandu water distribution projects to deliver water to Kathmandu by October 2017, while advancing reforms of Kathmandu Uptyaka Khanepani Ltd (KUKL) and addressing environmental concerns and bringing the problem projects like Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) that is under deep trouble despite urgency of completing the works amidst heavy air traffic congestion, back on track; among others.
In 2016, ADB's Nepal portfolio's financial performance in terms of contract award totaled $359 million and disbursement totaled $202 million, both highest in ADB's operational history in Nepal.
"Enhanced readiness of new projects and strong project leadership in some projects has contributed to this achievement," DDG at the ADB South Asia Department Diwesh Sharan said on the occasion.
ADB's portfolio in Nepal is growing; and as of end 2016, cumulative assistance, since its operation in 1969 in Nepal, stands at $4.9 billion and the active net portfolio stands at almost $2 billion for 34 investment projects. "Clearly, Nepal's portfolio performance has improved. However, challenges remain," he said, adding, "Of the active portfolio, 44 per cent or $883 million is uncontracted and $1.3 billion remains undisbursed."
It is the lowest as a percentage of the active portfolio (66 percent), and compares well with the ADB average (for 2015) of 44 per cent and 64 per cent, respectively, he added.
The corresponding contract and disbursement ratios were 30.5 per cent and 16.1 per cent, respectively. "However, given the pending amounts to be committed and disbursed, we are all here to collectively and very specifically, identify the issues project by project, and agree on actions to improve project implementation," Sharan added.
Nepal's performance has improved steadily in recent years but challenge remains, he said, asking stakeholders to focus on efforts to ensure higher readiness, further improvements in procurement documents and evaluation scrutiny, stringent contract management to contain high implementation and fiduciary risks, and sound safeguard management, including environmental management, such as dust control.
Likewise, he also highlighted the slow progress of some of the flagships projects, including Earthquake Emergency Assistance, Tribhuvan International Airport, Gautam Buddha Airport, SASEC Power and Road. Though Melamchi Water Supply Project is expected to deliver water to Kathmandu by October of this year, he asked the bank's officials to very closely monitor the progress and measures to accelerate as needed, to ensure target can be met for this much anticipated major accomplishment.
Addressing the programme, as the chair of the inaugural session, finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi said that the better performance does not happen by accident. Asking the development partners to join hands with ministries in monitoring the projects, he asked ADB officials to brainstorm for two days and bring out doable solutions to expedite the projects.
Likewise, chief of International Economic Cooperation and Coordination Division of the Finance Ministry Baikuntha Aryal, listed some of the problems including project readiness, procurement problems, weak implementation capacity, lack of interagency coordination, resource constraints, social and political issues, project reports, monitoring and supervision, and also problems with development partners as factors that have hold the development projects back.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

IPPs to receive 5 million

The government is going to implement its incentive scheme for the hydropower developers.
The then government through the fiscal budget of 2014-15 had announced to extend incentive worth Rs 5 million per megawatt (MW) to the developers of generation projects that start commercial operation by 2022-23. However, due to the delay by the Finance Ministry in providing its consent to the Energy Ministry to implement this decision, the announcement had been stalled for long.
The Independent Power Producers (IPPs) had long been lobbying with the government for the prompt execution of the facility following the announcement made by the budget.
The Finance Ministry had delayed in bringing this provision into force for quite some time as the country’s economy was shattered by the earthquake and the months-long border blockade, which had affected revenue generation, according to Energy Ministry.
"The finance ministry has finally agreed to implement the incentive scheme that was announced for the private sector developers," it said, adding that Finance Ministry agreed to implement this provision looking at the momentum in power generation in the last one yea.
The private sector developers contributed 105 megawatts of electricity to the national grid in 2016.
The Energy Ministry has also included provision of incentive in the ‘Energy Crisis Prevention and Electricity Development Decade’ – a vision document of the government to harness 10,000 megawatts of electricity in 10 years – and sought consent from Finance Ministry to execute incentive package announced by the fiscal act.
“Though, it took quite a long time to obtain the consent of the Finance Ministry, we will soon execute this package through a guideline that needs to be approved by the Cabinet," joint spokesperson for Energy Ministry Gokarna Raj Pantha said.
"After the guideline is endorsed from Parliament developers can submit their applications with the evidence of project completion within the aforementioned period to avail the facility," he said, adding that the ‘Energy Crisis Prevention and Electricity Development Decade’ launched last year has also mentioned about extending the incentive for 10 years, which means it would have been in effect till fiscal 2024-25. "But the Finance Ministry has clearly said that the facility will be extended to projects that are completed in between 2014-15 and 2022-23."
The IPPAN – umbrella association of the private sector hydropower developers in the country – has said that if the government had not delayed in implementing this announcement it would have been a lot better. "Though late, it will help motivative the private sector developers," president of IPPAN Shailendra Guragain said.
"As a large quantum of electricity from the independent power producers is going to be added within a few years, the project developers will benefit from this facility,” he said, adding that the power developers had sought exemption on value added tax (VAT) for the hydroelectricity projects to encourage developers so that the energy crisis could be addressed, but the fiscal budget 2014-15 addressed our demand in a different way.
As the government has announced the incentive, it will more or less be equivalent to exemption of the VAT amount.

Friday, February 24, 2017

Nepal needs to amend 50 laws by 2018

Nepal needs to amend some 50 laws within next two years to abide by its international commitment to fight against the flow of dirty money.
The laws also need to be amended to help the country stop funding for criminal activities. If these laws are not amended, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will put Nepal in the black list, unlike in the 2014 when it was in the watch list only.
The FATF removed Nepal from the watch list in June, 2014, indicating that the international body that creates standards for fighting financial crime is satisfied with efforts made by the country in combating money laundering and terror financing. The decision was taken by the plenary meeting of the FATF held in Paris.
Though removal of Nepal from the watch list helped enhance the country’s image as a financially disciplined country, the country has a lot to do in preparing and amending the laws, according to a high ranking official of the Finance Ministry.
FATF removed Nepal from the watch list after the parliament ratified the amendment to several acts including the Money Laundering Prevention Act, Proceeds of Crime (Confiscating, Seizing and Freezing) Act, Mutual Legal Assistance Act, Organised Crime Control Act and Extradition Act that are  related to anti-money laundering and combating terror financing.
Blacklisting by the FATF would make the country’s financial institutions unable to collaborate with international financial institutions, add extra transaction costs as the country’s goods are put under scanner, and dispel foreign investment and aid like in the case of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The FATF – the global standard setting body for anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) – today identified Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) for its strategic deficiencies for anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism regime, and the serious threat this poses to the integrity of the international financial system. It has also called on its member countries to apply counter-measures to protect the international financial system from the on-going and substantial money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/FT) risks emanating from the DPRK.
Likewise, it will continue to engage with Iran and closely monitor its progress, adds the FATF press note. "The review in Paris today also listed nine countries for their strategic deficiencies in combating the flow of dirty money,” it added.
If laws are not amended by 2018, to update them and give teeth to the country’s fight against money laundering and terror financing, Nepal this time runs the risk of falling back into the black list unlike earlier, the official added.
The FATF will review Nepal’s case again in 2019, the official said, adding that anti-money laundering rules not only include drug money, human trafficking money or terrorism transfers and illegal weapons deal but also compliance with cross-border transactions and paying taxes.
Though Nepal is not a direct member of FATF, it is under the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) that ensures the adoption, implementation and enforcement of internationally accepted anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards as set out in the FATF Forty Recommendations and some Special Recommendations.
The APG is helping Nepal in enacting laws to deal with the proceeds of crime, mutual legal assistance, confiscation, forfeiture and extradition; providing guidance in setting up systems for reporting and investigating suspicious transactions and helping in the establishment of financial intelligence units.
There are currently 37 members of the FATF – 35 jurisdictions and 2 regional organizations. Financial Information Unit (FIU) under the central bank is Nepal’s financial intelligence unit. The national agency responsible for receiving, processing, analysing and disseminating financial information and intelligence on suspected money laundering and terrorist financing activities to the Investigation Department, other relevant law enforcement agencies and foreign FIUs is working with various agencies including Finance Ministry, Foreign  Ministry, Home Ministry and Law Ministry to  amend the laws before  the FATF review in 2019.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

अरुण तेस्रोमा लगानी जुट्यो

भारत सरकारले एसजेभिएन (सतलज) लिमिटेडलाई बजेट विनियोजन गरिदिएपछि दुई दशकअघि राजनीतिक कारणले रोकिएको अरुण तेस्रो जलविद्युत् आयोजना बन्ने भएको छ।
नयाँदिल्लीमा प्रधानमन्त्री नरेन्› मोदीको अध्यक्षतामा बुधबार बसेको मन्त्रिपरिषद् अन्तर्गतको अर्थ समिति बैठकले ५७ अर्ब २३ करोड भारतीय रुपैयाँ (नेपाली रुपैयाँ ९१ अर्ब ५७ करोड ९५ लाख ) सतलजलाई विनियोजन गरिदिएपछि नौ सय मेगावाटको बहुप्रतिक्षित परियोजनाका लागि वित्तीय स्रोत व्यवस्था भएको हो।
भारतीय सञ्चारमाध्यमका अनुसार बैठक निर्णयबारे जानकारी दिँदै ऊर्जामन्त्री पियुष गोयलले आगामी पाँच वर्षभित्र सो परियोजना निर्माण गरिसक्ने बताएका छन्।
अरुण तेस्रोलाई भारतको केन्› सरकार र हिमाञ्चल प्रदेश सरकारको साझेदारीमा खोलिएको एसजेभिएनले (सतलज विद्युत् निगम) निर्माण गर्न लागेको हो। एसजेभिएनले नेपालमा अरुण तेस्रो जलविद्युत् आयोजना निर्माण गर्न आफ्नो शतप्रतिशत लगानीको सहायक कम्पनी एसजेभिएन–अरुण तेस्रो कम्पनी दर्ता गरिसकेको छ।
परियोजनाको सर्भे लाइसेन्स ९ वर्षअघि पाएको एसजेभिएनले ४ वर्ष लगाएर अनुसन्धान काम सकेको थियो। त्यसपछि ३ वर्षअघि डिपिआर समेत तयार पारिसकेको यस आयोजनाले हालसम्म करिब १ अर्ब २९ करोड रुपैयाँ मुआब्जा पनि बाँडिसकेको छ। आयोजनाले २ सय ६५ परिवारको घर तथा जग्गा अधिग्रहण गर्ने तयारी गरेको छ।
२०७१ मंसिर ९ गते लगानी बोर्डसँग सतलजले आयोजना विकास सम्झौता (पिडिए) सम्पन्न गरी दुई वर्षपछि निर्माण कार्य सुरु गर्ने सहमति भएको थियो। अरुण तेस्रो जलविद्युत् आयोजना निर्माणमा करिब एक हजार रोपनी जग्गा अधिग्रहण गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ। सम्झौता अनुसार आयोजनाले प्रभावित परिवारलाई ३० युनिटका दरले विद्युत् निःशुल्क उपलब्ध गराउनेछ। यो घरजग्गा अथवा दुवै प्रभावित परिवारले पाउने छन्।
पिडिएमा सरकारले एक वर्षमा निजी जग्गा र २१ महिनामा सरकारी जग्गा उपलब्ध गराउने प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गरेको थियो। यो आयोजना बिजुली उत्पादन सुरु भएको २५ वर्षपछि सतलजले नेापाल सरकारलाई हस्तान्तरण गर्ने सम्झौता छ।
प्रतिमेगावाट लागत १० करोड ५७ लाख रुपैयाँ हुने अनुमान गरिएको यस परियोजनाको  'फाइनान्सियल क्लोजर' आउँदो असोजसम्म गर्नुपर्ने थियो। तर, बुधबार भारत सरकारले यस परियोजना र लगानी पारित गरेपछि अब अरुण तेस्रो परियोजनाको निर्माणले गति लिने एसजेभिएन लिमिटेडका अध्यक्ष तथा म्यानेजिङ डाइरेक्टर आर एन मिश्राले पिटिआईलाई जानकारी दिएको भारतीय सञ्चार माध्यमले जनाएका छन्।
सम्झौता अनुसार अरुण तेस्रोले अबको ५ वर्षमा उत्पादन सुरु गर्नुपर्ने छ। आयोजनाले पहिलो कामअनुसार पाथीभराको छिरिन्टेमा २० मिटर अग्लो बाँध बाँधी चार सय ६६ मिटर लामो टनेल बनाएर पानी फर्काउन हाइटेन्सन टनेल निर्माण गर्ने र फ्याक्सिन्दामा पानी खसाल्ने बताएको छ। दोस्रो कामका रूपमा ड्याम र सुरुङ निर्माण गरिने आयोजनाले जनाएको छ।
संखुवासभा जिल्लामा पर्ने अरुण तेस्रो जलविद्युत् आयोजनाको कुल अनुमानित लागत एक खर्ब ४ अर्ब रुपैंयाँ रहेको छ।
सम्झौता अनुसार अरुण तेस्रो जलविद्युत आयोजनाबाट उत्पादित कुल विद्युत्को २१ दशमलब ९ प्रतिशत अर्थात् १९७.१ मेगावाट बिजुली नेपाललाई निःशुल्क उपलब्ध गराउनुपर्ने छ।
आयोजनाबाट २५ वर्षमा नेपाललाई ३ खर्ब ४८ अर्ब  रुपैयाँ प्राप्त हुनेछ। त्यस्तै एक अर्ब १६ अर्ब रुपैयाँ रोयल्टी, एक खर्ब ६६ अर्बको निःशुल्क विद्युतु र ८० अर्ब आयकर नेपालले पाउने बताइएको छ।
कम्पनीले व्यावसायिक उत्पादन सुरु भएपछि १० वर्षसम्म शतप्रतिशत नै आयकर छुट पाउनेछ। त्यसपछिको थप पाँच वर्ष नेपाल सरकारले ५० प्रतिशत आयकर छुट दिनुपर्ने छ।
आयोजनाका लागि आयात गरिने सिमेन्ट, रड तथा स्टिलजन्य सामग्री खरिद गर्दा भन्सारमा ५० प्रतिशत छुट दिइने व्यवस्था पनि सम्झौतामा छ। यस्तै, परियोजना सम्पन्न भएपछि नेपालले पाउने निःशुल्क ऊर्जाबाहेक अरुण तेस्रो र माथिल्ला कर्णालीको विद्युत् भारतमा निर्यात हुनेछ।

NTB, Chengdu Radio and TV sign MoU for tourism promotion

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Chengdu Radio and Television (CDRTV) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting Nepali tourism in China.
Chairman of the executive committee of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and tourism secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari and vice president of Chengdu Radio and TV He Tao signed the MoU on behalf of respective institutions today in Chengdu of China.
"The main objective of the MoU is to promote mutual understanding and friendship among the people of Nepal and China by making public exposure of splendid Nepali culture and tourism resources to Chinese audience," a statement issued by NTB reads.
According to the MoU, Chengdu Radio and TV will send its media persons to Nepal for making programmes on Nepal’s tourism, and Nepal Tourism Board will provide logistic support in Nepal.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Adhikari said the MoU would explore new avenues in promoting Nepali tourism in China. He also sought the cooperation from Chengdu Radio and TV for the same.
Highlighting the historical tie between Nepal and China and Chinese commitment for reconstruction of Kathmandu’s heritage sites, he said there has always a good relation between the two governments. "Now it is the time to strengthen the relation between the people of the two countries by visiting each other," he added.
Likewise, Tao, on the occasion, spoke about the CDRTV saying that this MoU would further allow CDRTV to work closely with Nepal Tourism Board in wider range of promotional activities. He said that CDRTV has nine television and three radio channels with a reach to more than 30 million people.
He also expressed willingness to allow other subsidiary companies of CDRTV like digital media, travel agencies, and multimedia promotional platform for promotion of Nepali tourism.