KATHMANDU: Welcome to Nepal News’ Evening Economic Brief—your go-to source on key financial updates in Nepal. Stay informed with concise insights on market trends, economic indicators, and policy shifts. Here are today’s top economic news highlights.

NEPSE Index Rises for Third Consecutive Day, Surpasses 2660 Points: The stock market has been on a continuous upward trend for the past three days. On Tuesday, the NEPSE index surged by 28.91 points. Earlier, the market had risen by 26 points on Sunday and 9 points on Monday. With Tuesday’s increase, the NEPSE index has reached 2660. Alongside the rise in the index, the trading volume also climbed. While the total transaction amount was Rs 6.38 billion on the previous day, it increased to Rs 7.03 billion today. Out of the listed companies, share prices of 217 went up, while 31 saw a decline. Most sectoral indices posted gains. The Investment group witnessed the highest growth, up by 2.38 percent.

Nepal Airlines Enters 67th Year Amid Financial Struggles and Limited Fleet: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC), the national flag carrier, has entered its 67th year of service, having evolved from operating a 28-seat Douglas DC-3 Dakota in 1958 to flying Airbus A330 and A320 aircraft on major international routes across Asia and the Gulf. Despite continuing domestic flights to remote areas with two Twin Otter planes, NAC’s local market presence has weakened due to a limited fleet, while mounting debt—now around Rs 50 billion from loans taken for wide-body aircraft—remains a major hurdle to financial recovery and growth.

Ministry of Finance Directs SEBON to Approve IPOs Only After Thorough Financial and Managerial Study of Companies: The Ministry of Finance has instructed the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) to approve Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) only after a comprehensive study of all financial and managerial aspects of the issuing companies. This directive comes about one and a half years after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) recommended such measures. Recently, controversies regarding IPO approvals have been increasing. On June 23, the Ministry of Finance sent a letter to the SEBON directing it to also ensure effective rating and premium price determination of companies issuing IPOs.

Concerns Grow Over NAC Losing Passenger and Cargo Ground Handling Services: Concerns are increasing that Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) may lose the passenger and cargo ground handling services it has provided for international flights since its establishment. The issue of making this service competitive has become a subject of intense debate and policy preparation recently. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has repeatedly expressed the desire to end NAC’s monopoly and introduce competition in providing ground handling services. The latest draft of the government’s aviation policy includes provisions to introduce competition in the ground handling services currently held exclusively by NAC, causing anxiety within the corporation.

Draft of Nepal’s First ‘Personal Data Protection Policy – 2025’ to Be Released: For the first time, Nepal is set to bring its entire digital data system under legal and policy management with the draft of the ‘Personal Data Protection Policy – 2025,’ which was made public on Tuesday. The draft policy was prepared by the E-Governance Board under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and is being published to solicit feedback and suggestions. The Board claims that some provisions included in the draft are new and institutionally necessary in the Nepali context.

Dubai Airfare Drops Sharply Due to ‘Visit Visa Case’ Controversy: Following the recent ‘Visit Visa Case’ controversy, the airfare to Dubai, UAE—a major Gulf destination—has seen a significant reduction. Opposition parties have been protesting in Parliament, alleging Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s involvement in the case. Although the government formed a high-level investigation committee, opposition groups continue to criticize it as a cover-up. The visa case and UAE’s tightening of visa issuance for Nepali nationals have together led to a notable drop in airfare prices to Dubai.

Customs Department Collects Rs 440 billion Revenue from Foreign Goods Import: The Customs Department has collected Rs 440 billion in revenue from the import of foreign goods in the current fiscal year. This is a 14% increase compared to last year’s Rs 386 billion revenue. While internal revenue has increased by an average of 9%, customs revenue growth has outpaced that figure. Total imports increased by 13%, while revenue collection rose by 14%. Fifteen specific goods and commodities have contributed more than 47% of this increased revenue.

Rs 3.9 billion Needed for Flyover and Tunnel Construction at Koteshwor: To address the heavy traffic jams at Koteshwor Chowk, preliminary estimates suggest an investment of NPR 3.9 billion is required for infrastructure development. With loan assistance from Japan, preparations are underway to build two flyovers and a half-cut tunnel (a tunnel partly underground and partly above ground) at Koteshwor Chowk. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a ‘preparatory survey,’ which indicates that land acquisition and related costs will require an investment roughly equal to this amount.

Goods Worth Rs 434.26 billion Imported Through Birgunj in 11 Months This Fiscal Year: Goods and commodities worth Rs 434.26 billion have entered Nepal through the Birgunj border checkpoint from neighboring India in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year. According to Customs Chief Deepak Lamichhane of Birgunj Customs Office, 76.80% of total imports through this checkpoint come from India.  The highest volume of import-export trade through this checkpoint is with India, making it a critical hub for Nepal-India foreign trade.

Humla District Connected to National Road Network, Fulfilling Long-Awaited Dream: Humla district has finally been connected to Nepal’s national road network, fulfilling a long-standing dream of its residents. Among the country’s 77 districts, Humla was the last to be linked to the national highway system in 2082 BS (circa 2025 AD). Although the construction of the Bailey bridge over Chuwa Khola in Kharpu, Kharpunath Rural Municipality-5, is complete, its official inauguration has yet to take place. The bridge is scheduled to be inaugurated on Asar 21 (July 5). Meanwhile, large trucks and tippers have been regularly crossing the bridge.

70% of Milk Produced in Self-Reliant Kavre Supplied to Kathmandu and Other Districts: Among the milk produced in Kavre, which has become self-reliant in dairy production, about 70% is supplied to the federal capital Kathmandu and some neighboring districts. Data shows that approximately 149,280 metric tons of milk are produced annually in the district. The District Livestock Service Office confirmed this annual milk production figure.

Seed Potato Production Using Aeroponics Started in Sindhupalchok: Potato Crop Development Center in Nigal, Sindhupalchok has started producing seed potatoes using soilless ‘Aeroponics’ technology. This initiative began on the occasion of the center’s silver jubilee. Established in 1975, the center has been producing high-quality nucleus seed potatoes and distributing seeds and technology to farmers across the country since its inception.

Women’s Cooperative in Palpa Exports 14.5 Tons of Processed Ginger to Germany: Galdha Social Entrepreneur Women’s Cooperative in Palpa has exported 14,560 kilograms (about 14.5 tons) of processed dried ginger seeds to Germany this year. The cooperative, which has been exporting ginger for the past three years, shipped the ginger harvested and processed from 272 farmers of Nisdi Rural Municipality-5, Galdha. Manager Dil Maya Saru informed that the processed ginger was exported at the rate of NPR 493.90 per kilogram, amounting to NPR 7,191,184 in total. The ginger produced by these farmers is organically certified, processed, and exported to Germany.

Low Rainfall Delays Rice Transplanting in Mahottari: Due to the lack of timely rainfall, rice transplanting in Mahottari district has been low. By early July, shortage of prepared seeds and water has delayed transplanting. Out of around 71,000 hectares of cultivable land, rice farming typically covers 45 to 50 thousand hectares. This year, delayed nursery preparation and water scarcity have pushed back rice transplanting, according to the Agricultural Knowledge Center.

Buddha Air to Resume Flights to Kolkata from September: Private airline Buddha Air will resume flights to Kolkata, India, starting this September, company spokesperson Dipendra Karna informed. This marks Buddha Air’s second attempt to operate Kolkata flights. The airline had launched flights before the COVID-19 pandemic but had to suspend them due to the outbreak.

Nepal Bank Limited Employees and Customers to Get Special Discounts at Let Me In: An agreement has been signed to provide special discounts on treatment fees at Let Me In Pvt. Ltd., located in New Baneshwor, for employees of Nepal Bank Limited and its account holders. According to the agreement, employees and customers of Nepal Bank Limited will receive discounts ranging from 8 to 15 percent on various aesthetics-related treatments provided using Korean technology by Let Me In Pvt. Ltd.

Him Star Energy Company to Launch IPO for General Public from July 8: Him Star Energy Company will open its Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public starting Ashad 24 (July 8). The first phase of share allocation was completed for foreign employment workers and locals affected by the project. NIC Asia Capital, the issue manager, announced that applications for the IPO can be submitted until Ashad 27 (July 11).

Three Businesspersons Nominated as Executive Members of FNCCI: Three businesspersons have been nominated as executive members of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). According to the FNCCI bylaws, President Chandra Prasad Dhakal has nominated Rajkumar Neupane, Saraswati Rai, and Kamal Kumar Shrestha as members. Neupane, who has been nominated as a member, is a former president of Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Shrestha is a former central executive member of FNCCI. Rai is the chairperson of the Nepal Herbs and Herbal Products Producers Association.

Muktinath Capital and Rising Hydropower Sign Agreement to Provide IPO Issuance: Muktinath Capital and Rising Hydropower have signed an agreement to provide IPO issuance and institutional advisory services. The agreement was signed by Kabindra Dhwaj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of Muktinath Capital, and Shankar Bahadur Ghimire, Chairman of Rising Hydropower. Under institutional advisory services, Muktinath Capital has been offering comprehensive consulting to companies from their establishment stage through to issuing an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the general public.

 Gold Price Rises by Rs 2,400 per Tola on Tuesday: On Tuesday, the price of gold increased by Rs 2,400 per tola. The Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Traders Association fixed the gold price at Rs 190,500 per tola, up from Rs 188,100 the previous day. However, compared to two weeks ago, the gold price has fallen by Rs 7,000 per tola, as on Asar 2 (June 16), gold was priced at Rs 197,500 per tola. Meanwhile, the price of silver rose by Rs 5 per tola, reaching Rs 2,155 from Rs 2,150 the previous day.