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:

Government to Classify Public Enterprises into Two Categories

Government-owned public institutions are to be classified into two groups. Approving the Public Institutions Management and Good Governance Policy, 2025, the Ministry of Finance has decided to categorize the institutions as commercial and strategic. Public institutions that need to compete with the private sector will be classified as commercial institutions. For these institutions, the public procurement process will be simplified. Institutions that implement government programs, fulfill national and international commitments, or provide essential services not offered by the private sector will be classified as strategic institutions.

FATF Says Nepal’s Efforts to Exit Grey List Insufficient

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog on money laundering and terrorist financing, has said that Nepal’s efforts to exit the “grey list” are inadequate. Nepal was placed on the grey list on February 21, 2025. FATF had provided Nepal with an action plan, giving the country two years to meet the targets. Although Nepal has formulated the plan, FATF noted that implementation remains weak.

Plan to Enroll Private Sector Workers in Social Security Fund Stalled

The plan to compulsorily enroll private sector employees into the Social Security Fund from the current fiscal year has been stalled. The government’s plan could not be implemented after the Gen Z movement and a change in government. The policy and program had stated that all individuals employed under any terms and conditions would be compulsorily brought under the contribution-based Social Security Fund, expanding its scope and role.

Nepal’s International Trade Surges by 26 Percent During Festival Season

During the main festive season, Nepal’s international trade witnessed a significant rise. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025/26, international trade reached Rs 540 billion, a 26.04 percent increase compared to the same period last fiscal year (Rs 429 billion). According to the Department of Customs, both imports and exports showed a remarkable surge during the festive season this year.

Power Tariff Dispute Forces Shutdown of Major Industries

Major industries across the country have started shutting down due to disputes over electricity tariffs that intensified after Kulman Ghising became Energy Minister. As the Nepal Electricity Authority began cutting power lines over unpaid dues related to dedicated and trunk lines, several large industries that provided thousands of jobs and paid millions in revenue were forced to close. All Bhairahawa plants were shut down last Friday after their lines were cut.

Number of Bank Deposit Accounts Exceeds 60 Million

Across Nepal, the total number of deposit accounts in banks and financial institutions has exceeded 60.4 million, while loan accounts are close to 2 million. According to Nepal Rastra Bank data for the first two months of fiscal year 2025/26, there were 60,453,593 deposit accounts and 1,993,234 loan accounts. Commercial banks held 51.85 million deposit accounts, development banks 7.57 million, and finance companies 1.02 million.

Government Holds Rs 120 Billion Worth of Development Programs

The interim government has put on hold programs and projects worth Rs 120 billion from various ministries to curb misuse of development budgets allocated through political influence. Budgets for projects lacking prior preparation, excluded from the project bank, or inserted by “top-level orders” have been frozen. Some allocations have been reduced. In recent years, the trend of allocating budgets to satisfy lawmakers and party cadres rather than for high-priority national projects has risen sharply.

Bhairahawa Customs Collects Rs 27.75 Billion in First Quarter

The Bhairahawa Customs Office, Rupandehi, collected Rs 27.75 billion in revenue during the first three months of the current fiscal year. The target for the first quarter was Rs 28.57 billion. In the first month of current fiscal year alone, the office had set a target of Rs 8.84 billion but collected Rs 9.02 billion, achieving 102.05 percent of the target. In the same month last year, only 83.54 percent of the revenue target had been met.

Tourist Influx Continues at North Annapurna Base Camp

The flow of tourists to North Annapurna Base Camp in Myagdi, which started in mid-October, has continued into the last week of October. No one had expected such a large number of visitors this year. Hotels in Mustang, Myagdi, Baglung, and Parbat are fully occupied, making accommodation management challenging. During the long Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath holidays, students, youths, employees, bankers, and Nepalis returning from abroad have made Mustang and the Annapurna Base Camp their top destinations.

Tourist Rush Returns to Antu and Kanyam of Ilam

With the start of the tourist season, Antu and Kanyam in Ilam have again seen a surge in visitors. After remaining quiet following the October 4 floods and landslides, domestic and foreign tourists have started arriving as the weather has cleared. Infrastructure damaged by the disaster has been repaired, boosting tourist arrivals. After the Gen Z protests and the floods, the number of Indian tourists had fallen, but it is now increasing again. Hotels and homestays are fully booked, and locals are hosting tourists in their homes.

Bagmati Province Spends Only 6.19% of Allocated Budget in Q1

Bagmati Province spent only 6.19 percent of its total allocated budget in the first three months of fiscal year 2025/26 — lower than 6.88 percent spent in the same period last year. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning, a total of Rs 4.17 billion was spent in the first three months of this fiscal year.

Authorities Urge Food Company to Begin Paddy Procurement in Kailali

Authorities, including the local administration, have urged the Food Management and Trading Company Limited to immediately begin the paddy procurement process in Kailali. A meeting chaired by Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Lamsal decided to request the company to start procurement by October 28 and increase the quota. Farmers have complained that they are being forced to sell paddy at lower prices because the company has not started purchasing. Paddy is being traded at up to Rs 900 less than the government’s minimum support price, leaving farmers in distress.

Mountaineering Activity Begins in Taplejung

Mountaineering has begun in Taplejung district. Two French climbers successfully scaled the 6,808-meter White Wave Peak in September, marking the first ascent of the mountain. According to Tenji Sherpa of Annapurna Foothills Treks and Expeditions, the climbers were Benjamin Charles Ely Vedrins and Nicolas Paul Aristide of France. Last week, a Chilean climber also successfully summited Pathibhara Himal, located near Kanchenjunga.

Ten Founders of Prabhu Bank to Sell Over 400,000 Shares

Ten founding shareholders of Prabhu Bank have decided to sell their shares after existing founders did not purchase them. The bank has opened public bidding for more than 400,000 founder shares from Monday and has invited interested investors to apply.

SEverest Sugar Chemical Industries’ Sales Drop by 35 Percent

The sales of Everest Sugar Chemical Industries declined by 35 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. The company’s sales decreased from Rs 3.32 billion in 2024 to Rs 2.15 billion in 2025. In 2023, the company had recorded sales of Rs 1.32 billion, and in 2022, Rs 1.37 billion.

NIC Asia Launches Online Auction Portal for Bank Assets

NIC Asia Bank Limited has launched an online portal providing detailed information about the auction of its banking, non-banking, and collateralized assets. Customers can scan the QR code published in auction notices to access property details, including plot numbers, area, photos, maps, and Google Maps location for easy identification.

Gold Price Falls by Rs 2,000 per Tola on Monday

The price of gold decreased by Rs 2,000 per tola on Monday compared to the previous day. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, the price of gold on Monday was fixed at Rs 239,900 per tola, whereas it was Rs 241,900 per tola on Sunday.
Before the Tihar holiday, the price had reached Rs 253,500 per tola. When the market reopened on Sunday, gold prices dropped by Rs 11,600 per tola, and the downward trend continued on Monday.
Similarly, the price of silver also declined on Monday.