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:

Foreign Investors Commit over Rs 39 Cillion in 6 Months

Foreign investment commitments have registered growth in the last six months of the current fiscal year. According to Department of Industry data, investment commitments worth Rs 39.23 billion have been received in 475 industries from mid-July 2025 to mid-January 2026. In the first six months of the last fiscal year, foreign investment commitments worth Rs 25.78 billion were received in 354 industries. In the first six months of the previous fiscal year, foreign investment commitments were received for 345 small, 5 medium and 4 large industries. In the first six months of the current fiscal year, foreign direct investment commitments have been received in 7 large, 8 medium and 460 small industries. According to the department, investment commitments have been made in 36 small industries in the last month alone. It is estimated that 20,122 jobs will be created from these industries.

Good Credit Will be Upgraded Within Three Months of Regular Installment Payments

Loans that have been classified as non-performing can be upgraded to good credit after three months of regular installment payments and all remaining principal and interest payments. This provision was made by amending the integrated directive issued by Nepal Rastra Bank on Friday. Earlier, even if the installment was regular, it had to be kept in the close monitoring category for 6 months. “Although we seem to have adopted a flexible policy in this regard, we have also tightened it,” said Guru Prasad Poudel, spokesperson and executive director of the central bank. “Now, even if the loan installments are regular, the classification cannot be upgraded unless the arrears are paid in full.”Banks will be able to classify loans that have been classified as non-performing loans due to exceeding the loan limit into good category only after 3 months of regularization of the outstanding amount due. Previously, a loan classified as non-performing could be upgraded to micro-monitored loan for 6 months after the outstanding amount was paid and the installments were regularized. Only then could it be upgraded to good category.

Madhesh Government’s Budget Spending Disappointing 

The budget expenditure of the Madhesh Province government for the first six months of the current fiscal year has been disappointing. The provincial government’s budget expenditure ratio has not even reached double digits. According to the Provincial Controller of Accounts Office, only 7.71 percent of the total budget has been spent in the current fiscal year. A total of Rs 3.62 billion and Rs 3.553 billion have been spent on current and capital expenditure, respectively, during the six-month period from mid-July 2025 to mid-January 2026 of the current fiscal year 2025/26. While the provincial government’s recurrent expenditure stands at Rs 2 billion, only Rs 1 billion has been spent on capital expenditure so far. According to Manoj Jha, accountant at the Provincial Controller of Accounts Office, the capital expenditure is 3.36 percent of the total budget in the first six months of the current fiscal year. Jha said that 15.58 percent of the total budget has been spent on current expenditure.

Bhujung Hydropower to sell IPO to the Public from January 26

Bhujung Hydropower Limited is set to open its IPO sale from January 26. After issuing the IPO to local residents of the project-affected areas and Nepalis employed abroad in the first phase, the company is now planning to issue the IPO to the general public in the second phase. The company had received permission to issue 2 million IPO shares worth 20 percent of its issued capital of Rs 1 billion, or worth 200 million rupees. Of that amount, the company has already issued 1 million shares for local residents of the project-affected areas and 100,000 shares for Nepalis employed abroad. Now, in the second phase, the company is going to issue 830,000 shares worth Rs 830 million to general investors, while reserving 20,000 shares for employees and 50,000 shares for mutual funds. In this IPO, a minimum of 10 units must be applied for, and a maximum of 50,000 units can be applied for.

Neco Insurance to Distribute 15.78% Dividend

Neco Insurance has announced that it will distribute dividends to shareholders from the profits of the last fiscal year. The company’s board of directors meeting held on January 14 decided to distribute a total dividend of 15.78 percent, consisting of 12.78 percent bonus shares and 3 percent cash dividend for tax purposes. The proposed dividend will be distributed after it is approved by the Nepal Insurance Authority and passed by the company’s upcoming annual general meeting.

Details of NIC Asia Bank’s Auctioned Assets Now Available on Online Portal 

NIC Asia Bank Limited has launched a state-of-the-art online portal to provide information regarding the auction sale of banking, non-banking and collateralized properties in its name. The bank has launched this digital platform with the aim of making the auction sale process more transparent and convenient for customers. Now, interested buyers can view the details of the property by scanning the QR code in the notice published by the bank or directly through the bank’s portal. The bank’s public portal https://auctionassistance.nicasiabank.com includes important information such as lot number, area, photos and maps of the properties being auctioned. Google Maps has also been integrated into the portal to make it easier for those who want to buy, especially to identify the actual location of the property. This will allow customers to get clear information about the condition and location of the property they want to buy from the comfort of their homes.

Citizens Investment Trust Donates Rs 5.1 Million to Reconstruction Fund

The Citizens Investment Trust has contributed Rs 5.1 million to the Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund. Fund Chairman Tulsi Prasad Ghimire met Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal on Friday and handed over a check equal to the amount. With this, the total assistance amount of Rs 147 million has been deposited in the fund, according to the Ministry of Finance. Finance Minister Khanal thanked the Citizen Investment Trust on behalf of the government for its contribution to the Fund.

Global IME Bank Organizes 50th ‘Global Haat Bazaar’, Focuses on Promoting Local Products

Global IME Bank is organized its 50th ‘Global Haat Bazaar’ on Friday with the aim of encouraging local micro, small and medium industries and expanding the market for domestic products. This weekly market has been running for a long time, providing an effective means for local entrepreneurs to deliver their indigenous and sustainable products directly to consumers. On this special occasion, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Surendra Raj Regmi said that the journey to the 50th edition has been very pleasant and exciting. He expressed his happiness over the role played by the Haat Bazaar in energizing the local economy. He said, “The continuous enthusiasm and active participation of everyone has made this weekly event an effective medium for local industries to showcase their indigenous sustainable products.”

Gold and Silver Prices Rise in Local Market on Friday

Gold and silver prices increased in the local market on Friday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold rose by Rs 700 per tola and was traded at Rs 277,200 per tola on Friday. On Thursday, gold was traded at Rs 270,500 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has also increased today. Silver has increased by Rs 160 per tola today and is being traded at Rs 5,645 per tola, according to the Federation. Yesterday, the price of silver was the highest ever at Rs 5,655.

Malaysian Economy Grows 5.7 pc in Q4 2025 

The advance estimates of Malaysia’s economy expanded by 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, accelerating from the 5.2 percent growth recorded in the previous quarter, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said Friday. The DOSM said in a statement that the 5.7-percent growth was the highest since the second quarter of 2024. For the year of 2025 as a whole, Malaysia’s economy grew 4.9 percent, approaching the 5.1 percent growth in 2024. According to the DOSM, the strong economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 was driven by continued growth of the services sector by 5.4 percent, contributed by wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, and food and beverages and accommodation sub-sectors. Furthermore, the manufacturing sector grew 6 percent, mainly supported by electrical, electronic and optical products as well as vegetable and animal oils and fats and food processing.

Sri Lanka Launches Targeted Tourism Drive to Meet 2026 Arrival Goals 

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has rolled out a special program to help the country meet its national tourism targets for 2026, a senior official said on Friday. SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam said they will launch focused promotional campaigns in key European markets to attract visitors during what are traditionally considered off-peak months. As part of the broader strategy, Sri Lanka recently carried out promotion programs in major Indian cities to diversify the country’s Indian tourist base and draw more high-value visitors, he said. He added that Sri Lanka has recorded a strong start to 2026, with more than 94,000 tourist arrivals reported in the first week of January 2026. Tourism is a key foreign revenue generator for the island country, and in 2026, Sri Lanka expects 3 million tourists.

NOC Reduces Petrol, Diesel Prices

The state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has adjusted the prices of petroleum products. According to the Corporation, the revised prices came into effect from Friday. The price of petrol has been reduced by Rs 3 per liter, while the prices of diesel and kerosene have been lowered by Re 1 per liter each. As per the new price list issued by the Corporation, petrol is now priced at Rs 156 per liter, while diesel and kerosene are priced at Rs 136 per liter each. The revised prices were determined by the NOC Board of Directors based on the new purchase prices of petroleum products received from the Indian Oil Corporation on January 15, 2026.

Garima Development Bank Changes its Logo And Seal

Garima Development Bank has officially changed its logo and seal with the aim of making its institutional identity more contemporary and stronger. The bank has said that the new logo and seal have been implemented starting Thursday (January 15). According to a statement issued by the bank, a special proposal to change the logo and seal was passed at its 19th Annual General Meeting held on 13 November 2025. Following the completion of all required legal procedures, the new logo and seal have now been brought into effect, the statement said, adding that the updated logo reflects the development bank’s modern outlook, a simple yet distinct identity, and its commitment to providing reliable banking services.

Construction of an ‘arch bridge’ begins over Modi River on Mid-Hill Highway

Construction of an arch bridge over the Modi River in the Parbat section of the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway Project has begun. The bridge construction started three years after blacktopping of the Parbat stretch of the highway was completed. According to the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway Project Office, the bridge is being built to connect Modi Rural Municipality–2 and Patichaur–6 (Dimuwa) in Parbat. Project engineer Kalpana Mishra said the bridge will be 62 meters long and 11 meters wide. A budget of Rs 75 million has been allocated for the construction of the double-span bridge. So far, bridges under the project have been completed over the Tamadi River in Parbat and the Kathe River in Baglung. Construction is also underway over the Sundare River and the Modi River. The Modi River bridge is required to be completed by the end of mid-September.