KATHMANDU: Nepal News presents today’s snapshot of Nepal’s economic activities. Get quick updates on major market movements, policy shifts, and financial developments shaping the economy of Nepal. Here are the key economic highlights for today.

NEPSE Dips Amid Low Trading Ahead of Dashain

On the last trading day of the week, Thursday, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) fell by 2.35 points, bringing the NEPSE index down to 2,652 points. Trading volume also declined, reaching Rs 326 million compared to Rs 412 million the previous day. The slowdown is attributed to the Dashain festival, as investors were reluctant to trade—buyers were concerned they would not receive shares in their Demat accounts before Dashain, while sellers feared not getting payments in their bank accounts. Today, the share prices of 107 companies rose, 139 fell, and 5 remained unchanged.

Government Aims to Save Rs 120 Billion Through Austerity
To manage expenses in necessary areas and ensure austerity in public spending, the Cabinet has made several important decisions. According to the Ministry, the decision on re-prioritizing projects and cutting unproductive expenditures targets extensive improvements in both capital and recurrent expenditures. The government estimates that around Rs 120 biillion will be saved from this decision. The government plans to mobilize the saved amount in national priority sectors and elections.

Nepal’s Public Debt Reaches Rs 2.743 Trillion
Nepal’s public debt has surpassed Rs 2.743 trillion. According to the Public Debt Management Office, this figure was reached by mid-September in the current fiscal year. At the end of the previous fiscal year (mid-July 2025), public debt stood at Rs 2.674 trillion. As of mid-September, internal debt accounted for Rs 1.281 trillion, while external debt stood at Rs 1.461 trillion.

SEBON Employees Accuse Finance Ministry of Attacking Autonomy
Employees of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), the capital market regulatory body, have accused the Ministry of Finance of attacking the board’s autonomy. In a joint press release, both employee unions active at the board said that micromanagement by the ministry has caused serious problems. They claimed that the ministry’s order to cut off employee facilities legally provided since the establishment of the board and to recover previously provided amounts, is illegal, flawed, and impractical.

20 Projects, Including Cable Cars, Listed as National Priority
The government has listed 20 projects, including six cable car projects, under national priority projects. According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, the Cabinet has listed industrial villages, industrial zones, special economic zones, dry ports, petroleum pipelines, and cable car projects operated by the private sector as national priority projects.

14 Construction Companies Blacklisted
The Public Procurement Monitoring Office under the Prime Minister’s Office has blacklisted 14 construction companies. The office issued a notice today stating that the companies were blacklisted based on written recommendations from various government bodies. The notice stated that construction companies failing to complete assigned projects on time were blacklisted under Section 63 (1) of the Public Procurement Act, 2006. Companies were blacklisted for periods ranging from six months to one year.

Immigration Department to Provide Services During Dashain Holidays
The Department of Immigration has announced that it will continue providing services during the Dashain public holidays. Except on the day of Bijaya Dashami (October 3), the department’s tourist visa and agency branches will remain open on all other days. Services will be provided from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the holidays, except on Bijaya Dashami, according to the department.

Government Sets Timetable for Fertilizer Distribution
The government has set a timetable for fertilizer distribution to speed up the supply system. Newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr. Madan Pariyar fixed the distribution schedule to make the fertilizer supply effective. A timetable has been set for cooperatives to collect fertilizer so that it can be distributed conveniently to farmers. Due to mismatch between demand and supply in the market and failure to distribute fertilizer stored in warehouses on time, farmers have faced shortages.

Investors Show Rising Interest in Bonds
Whenever investors make investments, they assess returns and risks. In Nepal, private sector companies are still not in a position to issue financial instruments like bonds to raise capital. However, banks and financial institutions have been mobilizing resources through bonds as sources of long-term investment and supplementary capital. Although banks and financial institutions have issued many bonds, the bond trading market has not expanded as expected.

Vegetable Prices Surge After Highways Blocked by Landslides
Vegetable prices have started rising after landslides blocked highways. With the Nagdhunga–Narayangadh road obstructed by landslides at Jawang Khola in Dhading and Tuin Khola in Chitwan, adequate vegetables have not been entering the Kathmandu Valley, leading to price hikes. According to the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, around 700 tons of vegetables should be supplied daily during this season, but current arrivals are very low.

Kathmandu Sees Large Supply of Goats and Sheep for Dashain
With Dashain approaching, goats, rams, sheep, and chyangra (mountain goat) have been brought to Kathmandu’s goat market. As demand rises during Dashain, supplies of goats, rams, and chyangra from different parts of the country increase in Kathmandu. This year, sheep and chyangra have been brought from Himalayan districts Manang and Mustang. Similarly, goats have been brought from Sindhuli, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari, Bara, Parsa, Makwanpur, and other Terai-Madhes and hill districts.

Banks Sign Agreement to Invest in Dudhkoshi-2 Hydropower Project
Under the leadership of Laxmi Sunrise Bank Limited in Kathmandu, banks and financial institutions signed an agreement with Dudhkoshi Hydropower Nepal Pvt. Ltd. to invest in the 70 MW Dudhkoshi-2 (Jaleshwor) Hydropower Project. The semi-reservoir project will be constructed on the Dudhkoshi River in Solukhumbu district with an estimated cost of Rs 15 billion. Of the total project cost, 70 percent (around Rs 10.5 billion) will be financed by banks and financial institutions.

Koshi Province Spends RS 35 Million on Personal Aides of Lawmakers
The Cabinet meeting held on Sunday issued a press release on reducing unproductive expenses and maintaining austerity. The statement also mentioned removing all personal aides of lawmakers. According to the Koshi Provincial Assembly Secretariat, in the last fiscal year alone Rs 37.47 million was spent on personal aides. Compared to all provinces, the annual expenditure for one personal aide per provincial lawmaker amounts to Rs 451,386.

179 Vehicles Stranded at Birgunj Customs
A total of 179 four-wheeled vehicles have been stranded at integrated checkpoints and the dry port under Birgunj Customs Office. According to Birgunj Customs Office, the vehicles have been held up due to lack of customs clearance. Chief Customs Administrator Bishnu Prasad Gyawali said 75 vehicles are stranded at the integrated checkpoint, while 104 vehicles are stuck at the dry port customs office, awaiting clearance.

Large Cardamom Exports Up by 43.90 Percent
Exports of large cardamom from Mechi Customs Office increased by 43.90 percent in the first two months of the fiscal year 2025/26. According to office data, cardamom worth Rs 859.6 million was exported during this period. 522 metric tons of cardamom were exported in the two months. In the same period of fiscal year 2024/25, cardamom worth Rs 597.3 million had been exported.

154 Bags of Subsidized Fertilizer Seized in Siraha
Near Golbazar water tank in Siraha, 154 sacks of government-subsidized fertilizer hidden in a warehouse by a businessman were seized. Based on complaints that subsidized fertilizer, which is not allowed to be sold outside agricultural cooperatives, was being sold at high prices, a joint monitoring team of the District Administration Office, Siraha, found the stock on Wednesday. The stock included 96 sacks of DAP, 36 sacks of urea, and 6 sacks of potash.

Bagmati Province Collects Rs 2.76 Billion Revenue in Two Months
Bagmati Province collected Rs 2.76 billion in revenue within the first two to three months of the current fiscal year. The province has set a target of Rs 67.47 billion in revenue for the year. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning, the collection was Rs 106.9 million higher compared to the same period last fiscal year. In the current year, Bagmati collected Rs 2.08 billion through revenue sharing.

Hamro Patro Restarts Remittance Service from US
The mobile application Hamro Patro has resumed its money transfer service from the United States to Nepal under the brand ‘Hamro Patro Remit.’ Now, Nepalis living in the US can easily, quickly, and securely send money to their relatives in Nepal. Especially targeting the major festival Dashain, Hamro Patro Remit has also introduced attractive offers for its users. On the occasion of Dashain, users transferring $1,000 or more through Hamro Patro Remit will not be charged any additional fees.

Over 52,000 Tourists Enter Nepal via Belahiya in Eight and a Half Months
More than 52,000 tourists from 94 countries entered Nepal through the Belahiya border point in Rupandehi during the first eight and a half months of 2025. According to the Immigration Office, the highest number of tourists came from Sri Lanka, followed by Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, and Vietnam. Statistics show that 6,793 tourists entered in January, 17,871 in February, 20,720 in March, 3,941 in April, 1,279 in May, 613 in June, 1,406 in July, and 6,611 in August.

 Food Company Begins Sales Through Municipalities
The Food Management and Trading Company has signed MoUs with municipalities across the country and has started selling food items through some municipalities. With the goal of providing food at subsidized rates nationwide, the company has signed agreements with 101 municipalities so far and has already started sales through three municipalities.

Guras Laghubitta Announces 15 Percent Dividend
Guras Laghubitta has decided to distribute a 15 percent dividend to its shareholders. In its board meeting held on September 24, the company decided to propose 14.25 percent bonus shares and 0.25 percent cash dividend for tax purposes. The dividend has been proposed from profits earned in the last fiscal year.

Gold and Silver Prices Decline Slightly Today
Gold and silver prices fell slightly on Thursday. Compared to Wednesday, hallmark gold decreased by Rs 1,700 per tola. Accordingly, on Thursday hallmark gold was traded at Rs 221,300 per tola, while on Wednesday it was Rs 223,000 per tola. Meanwhile, silver prices also went down.