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 Falls by 11.29 Points Amid Rs 5.42 Billion Turnover

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) declined by 11.29 points on Thursday. The total share trading amounted to nearly Rs 5.42 billion. Among the traded companies, 165 saw a decline in share prices, 77 companies experienced a rise, while the share prices of 9 companies remained unchanged. Among Thursday’s trades, sellers of Darmakhola Hydro Energy earned the highest profits, whereas sellers of Sampada Laghubitta Financial Institution incurred the largest losses.

ADB Loan of Rs 28.39 Billion for Municipal Development Fund Stalled

Following the dissolution of the House of Representatives after the Gen Z movement, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s proposed loan assistance for the Municipal Development Fund has been stalled. Although the Ministry of Urban Development had made the necessary policy arrangements to receive the loan, the absence of a functioning House has left the loan assistance in limbo, as the arrangements cannot be legally validated. ADB had proposed $200 million (approx. Rs 28.39 billion) under a policy-based loan (with conditional policy adjustments) to support economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

NTA Forms Valuation Committee for Smart Telecom Assets

About two and a half years after taking control of Smart Telecom, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has formed a ‘Valuation Committee’. The five-member committee is coordinated by Chartered Accountant Rajesh Parajuli. The committee was formed under the Telecommunications Service Provider Asset Management Regulations, 2022, to determine the value of assets belonging to service providers whose licenses are not renewed.

Simkot Airport Expansion Delayed Due to Pending DPR Approval

The expansion and land acquisition work for Simkot Airport has stalled. Although the budget for this fiscal year has been allocated and a detailed project report (DPR) prepared, the work cannot move forward because the DPR has not yet been approved. According to Tek Kumar Regmi, Chief District Officer and Chair of the Land Acquisition Committee, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had prepared the DPR, but without its approval, the necessary expansion work is facing delays.

DPR for 220 kV Chamelia–Jouljibi Cross-Border Transmission Line Prepared

The detailed project report (DPR) for the 220 kV Chamelia–Jouljibi cross-border transmission line has been completed. During the 12th Joint Director-Level Committee meeting held in New Delhi on February 12, 2025, Nepal and India agreed to move forward with the construction of the project. Following this agreement, both countries have prepared the DPR for their respective sections of the transmission line. The DPR was presented at the Nepal–India Joint Technical Team meeting held in Pokhara. Both sides have agreed to prepare a joint DPR within the next month.

13 Industries Still Without Power Due to Unpaid Premium Charges

Thirteen industries have not yet had electricity reconnected due to unpaid premium charges for consumption through dedicated and trunk lines. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) had disconnected power to 23 industries on October 21 and 24, of which 13 remain without supply. Out of a total of 25 industries required to pay outstanding dues, two had already shut down. According to the NEA, during Tihar, power was restored to Gharana Foods and Goyanka Foods after they paid the first installment of their dues.

ADB, World Bank, and SDC to Support Nepal in Climate Resilience Projects

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Development Association (IDA) under the World Bank Group, and the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) will jointly support Nepal in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and resilient infrastructure development. According to the World Bank office in Kathmandu, the three development partners signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday for assistance over the next three years. As per the tripartite agreement, priority will be given to climate risk assessment, strengthening information systems, and climate risk management.

Nepal-Bangladesh Trade Imbalance Needs Cooperation: Chamber President

President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal, has said that mutual cooperation and a favorable trade environment are essential to reduce the huge trade imbalance between Nepal and Bangladesh. During a meeting with Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Nepal, Mohammad Shafiq Rahman, at the Chamber building on Thursday, Agrawal emphasized this issue. According to him, Nepal imports goods worth about USD 30.88 million annually from Bangladesh, but exports only goods worth USD 3.33 million, showing a significant trade deficit.

Chandragiri Cable Car to Resume Service from November 8

The Chandragiri Cable Car will resume operations from Saturday (November 8). Chandragiri Hills Pvt. Ltd. issued a notice stating that services will resume after the damaged infrastructure has been repaired and maintained. The company had temporarily suspended all services after the cable car was damaged during the Gen Z protest on September 9. At that time, the wiring connecting the lower station and transformer to the cable car server had been damaged.

Lukla Airport Sees Over 160 Flights Daily Amid Tourist Rush

Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, Solukhumbu, has become very busy recently. The airport is currently witnessing more than 160 flights, including airplanes and helicopters, each day. With the growing number of tourists arriving to observe Mt. Everest and other Himalayan ranges, airport traffic has significantly increased. During the main climbing season, bad weather had grounded tourists at various locations, but now, as the weather has improved in upper Solukhumbu, the flow of tourists has thickened again.

Government Implements Procedure to Promote Meat Export

The government has implemented a new procedure required for exporting meat. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has enforced the “Buffalo Promotion Program Operation Procedure 2025” to increase meat exports. The procedure was approved and implemented by Minister Dr. Madan Prasad Pariyar on October 29. Due to the absence of such procedures earlier, Nepal had faced problems exporting meat commercially to other countries.

Nepal-China Cross-Border Trade Group Urges China to Open Tatopani Route

The Nepal Himalayan Cross-Border Trade Association has requested the Chinese Embassy to release containers from Tatopani checkpoint and expedite the construction of the Miteri Bridge at Rasuwagadhi. A delegation led by the association’s president, Ramhari Karki, made the request to the Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Council. The association said it had presented the problems of the Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi checkpoints both in writing and verbally to the second secretary of the council office.

Agricultural Development Bank Announces 13% Dividend

Agricultural Development Bank has announced dividends for its shareholders. The board meeting held on the previous evening decided to distribute a total of 13 percent dividend to shareholders. The declared dividend includes 9.75 percent cash (including tax) and 3.25 percent bonus shares. In addition, the bank decided to provide a 6 percent cash dividend on the government’s capital investment. The bank’s share price in the market currently stands at Rs 315 per share.

Nabil Bank Earns Rs 1.75 Billion Profit in First Quarter

Nabil Bank Limited has earned a profit of Rs 1.75 billion in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. According to the bank’s published financial report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025/26, it earned that much profit. The bank’s profit has declined by 14.57 percent compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. In the same period last year, the bank had earned Rs 2.05 billion in profit. The decline in profit is due to reduced interest income and increased impairment charges, resulting in a decrease in the bank’s net profit.

Ncell and MetLife Launch First-Ever ‘Data with Life Insurance’ Plan in Nepal

In partnership between Ncell and MetLife Nepal, a unique plan called ‘Data with Life Insurance’ has been launched for the first time in Nepal. Under this service, Ncell customers can get term life and critical illness insurance coverage when purchasing mobile data packs. To subscribe, customers can choose between two special packages. The first is the Rs 99 pack: including tax, it offers 100 MB of data valid for three days, Rs 200,000 in term life insurance, and Rs 200,000 in critical illness insurance coverage.

National Life Insurance Buys Himalayan Bank Shares from Habib Bank

National Life Insurance Company Limited has completed the purchase of Himalayan Bank shares owned by Habib Bank Limited. The company purchased 28,012,447.45 units of Himalayan Bank shares for Rs 3.33 billion. As a promoter shareholder, the company had received approval from the concerned regulatory bodies for this share purchase.

Solar Farm Pvt. Building 90 MW Solar Projects Worth Rs 4.5 Billion

Solar Farm Pvt. Ltd. is constructing two solar projects with an investment of Rs 4.5 billion. The company will build Solar Farm Lumbini (50 MW) and Solar Farm Buddhbhumi (40 MW), totaling 90 MW capacity. The company will finance 40 percent through equity and 60 percent through bank and financial institution loans. Established in 2016, the company recorded transactions worth Rs 55 million last fiscal year, Rs 52 million in 2024, and Rs 53 million in 2023.

TechMinds Network to Invest Rs 4 Billion in Expansion

TechMind Network will invest Rs 4 billion to enhance its operational capacity and infrastructure. The company aims to expand its capacity and make its business more efficient through this investment. It will finance the project with Rs 3 billion in bank loans and Rs 1 billion in equity. The investment ratio will be maintained at 75:25.

Sagar Distillery Listed on NEPSE

Recently issued IPO shares of Sagar Distillery have been listed on the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE). The company’s shares will be tradable from Sunday. NEPSE has set the company’s first transaction price range from Rs 106.52 to Rs 319.56 per share. For the first transaction, NEPSE allows up to three times the net worth per share as the trading range.

Mohak Food Industry’s Sales Drop by 21.28 Percent

The business of Mohak Food Industry has declined by 21.28 percent. The company’s trade volume decreased by 21.28 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. In 2024, the company recorded sales worth Rs 1.306 billion, while in 2025, it amounted to Rs 1.028 billion. In 2023, the company had recorded business worth Rs 438 million.

Gold and Silver Prices Increase on Thursday

Gold and silver prices rose on Thursday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold was fixed at Rs 237,800 per tola on this day. Compared to the previous day, the price increased by Rs 600. The previous day, gold was traded at Rs 237,200 per tola. On October 17, gold had reached a record high of Rs 258,000 per tola. The price of silver rose by Rs 20 per tola.