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:

NRB Mandates Accessibility Upgrades and Strict Labor Compliance for Commercial Banks

The Nepal Rastra Bank issued a mandatory unified directive to all licensed Class ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ banking institutions on Saturday, ordering them to establish specialized service counters for senior citizens, unlettered clients, and disabled individuals. Financial firms must ensure at least one wheelchair-accessible branch within every local government tier and deploy tactile Braille features and audio aids across their ATM networks. On internal operations, the central bank mandated strict adherence to the Labor Act, ordering that no corporate employee be forced to work overtime without signed personal consent and corresponding compensatory pay, backed by mandatory compliance filings to the Labor Department.

PCMC Publishes Debtor Roster for Gautam Shree Cooperative

The Problematic Cooperative Management Committee (PCMC) issued an explicit public notice listing 140 major delinquent institutional borrowers of the Gautam Shree Cooperative. The official publications conform to a board decree passed on May 6 following the government’s initial classification of the firm as a troubled financial unit on March 26, 2024. Official audit logs show that 1,673 separate small savers submitted formal return requests seeking claims worth Rs 3.01 billion in frozen deposits. The state committee ordered listed debtors to settle their balances directly via the committee’s central secretariat or face asset confiscation and legal prosecution.

Koshi Province GDP Projected to Cross Rs 1.43 Trillion Amid Slow Growth

The Statistics Coordination Office in Biratnagar projected that the gross domestic product of Koshi Province will expand to hit Rs 1.43 trillion during the current fiscal year 2025/26. Despite the nominal expansion from the revised Rs 982 billion baseline recorded during fiscal year 2024/25, the province’s real economic growth rate is expected to slow down to 3.1 percent, falling below the national average of 3.85 percent. Statistical datasets indicate that Koshi Province contributes 15.8 percent to the national economy, positioning it as the second-largest provincial economy behind Bagmati Province. Regional analysts urged higher public investments within manufacturing and commercial agriculture fields to improve industrial productivity.

Tiptala Border Customs Checkpoint Resumes Regular Trade Operations

The strategic Tiptala border customs checkpoint in Taplejung District, which directly links eastern Nepal to the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, officially resumed trade operations on Thursday. Local ward chairman Chheten Lama confirmed that the customs station, which had been unstaffed and run by office helpers since its closure during COVID-19, resumed work following the deployment of Pradip Dhital as customs chief. The station sits 24 kilometers away from Olangchunggola. Local authorities urged the Ministry of Finance to allocate resources in the upcoming 2026/27 budget to reconstruct the 40-year-old main building to support revenue collection along the newly connected road network.

Stakeholders Demand Acceleration of Rs 2.17 Billion Dailekh Natural Gas Project

Local authorities from Dailekh and Kalikot districts held a joint strategic assembly at Mahabu Lekh on Saturday demanding the immediate commencement of the second phase of the petroleum extraction initiative at Jaljale, Bhairabi Rural Municipality-1. Backed by a Rs 2.17 billion grant resource from the Chinese government, the China Geological Survey finalized initial subterranean deep drilling tests, reaching a vertical distance of 4,013 meters. Technical evaluations verify a reserve holding 80.7 billion cubic meters of methane gas, capable of supplying national utility needs for 50 to 60 years. Stakeholders pushed the state to incorporate the project within the upcoming 2026/27 policy program while budgeting for the strategic trilateral Mahabu road link.

Udayapur Cement Factory Laborers Strike Over Rs 1.042 Billion Unpaid Arrears

Labor unions at the state-owned Udayapur Cement Industry launched an indefinite strike at the primary factory gate on Friday following a 13-month non-payment of employee wages. The total financial liability stalling operations stands at Rs 1.042 billion. Financial breakdowns include Rs 88 million in back pay since March 2025, at least Rs 95 million in unremitted Provident Fund holdings, Rs 36.9 million in Citizen Investment Trust assets, and Rs 713.7 million in outstanding retirement payouts. The industrial unrest intensified following the sudden resignation of the officiating general manager.

Cheese Imports Hit Rs 175.3 Million in 10 Months

Statistical datasets published by the Department of Customs for the primary 10-month timeline of the fiscal year ending May 14 highlighted growing domestic reliance on foreign dairy imports, documenting cheese inflows totaling Rs 175.3 million. Traders brought in 206,917 kilograms of specialty cheese, generating Rs 51.9 million in customs tariff revenue. India remained the largest market supplier, shipping 159,166 kilograms valued at Rs 125.8 million. France followed with gourmet processed cheese shipments valued at Rs 21.7 million, while premium Italian shipments totaling 6,254 kilograms drained Rs 13.2 million at an average value of Rs 2,100 per kilogram.

Commerce Minister Inspects Amlekhgunj Depot to Push for Private Ethanol Production

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari Yadav led a high-level technical inspection of the Nepal Oil Corporation’s Madhesh Provincial Office in Amlekhgunj, Bara District on Friday. Accompanied by Officiating Director Nagendra Shah, the ministerial team reviewed regional fuel storage volumes and cross-border petroleum supply lines. Amid rising international oil prices, Minister Yadav urged the adoption of alternative fuel blending technologies, calling on private sector companies to set up commercial ethanol production plants. The ministry highlighted domestic ethanol blending as a vital strategic move to reduce expensive petroleum import bills and strengthen national energy security.

Traffic Audits Net Nearly Rs 2 Million in Kathmandu Valley Within 24-Hour

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office penalized 1,922 drivers during a 24-hour enforcement drive ending Saturday, collecting Rs 1,970,002 in state fines. Valley Traffic Chief SSP Navaraj Adhikari confirmed the citations included 118 for drunk driving, 198 for illegal ride-sharing maneuvers, 126 for running red lights, 131 for speeding, 73 for lane violations, and 90 for sidewalk parking. Concurrently, a joint task force led by SP Naresh Raj Subedi arrested five commercial drivers under the influence of illegal narcotics during a roadside drug screening in Thali. The arrests included two bus drivers and a mini-truck operator, who were identified via technical fluid test kits provided by the Nepal Police Hospital.

Road Department Requests Rs 15.55 Billion Budget for Highway Maintenance

The Department of Roads projected a total financial requirement of Rs 15.55 billion to handle annual maintenance across 18,000 kilometers of strategic road networks during a specialized workshop concluded on Saturday. Department Spokesperson Shyam Bahadur Khadka revealed that asphalt resurfacing demands have caused budget requirements to exceed the traditional Rs 10 billion historical ceiling. During the current fiscal year, the ministry received only Rs 4.95 billion against its planned target, leading to infrastructure deterioration. The proposed budget will use a database planning software to prioritize comprehensive pavement maintenance, including double bituminous surface treatment overlays across national transit routes.

Tourism Ministry Formulates 5-Member Committee to Audit Music Royalty Grievances

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation formed a specialized five-member investigative panel on Thursday to audit systemic disputes surrounding music royalty collection, intellectual property theft, and copyright compliance. Headed by Laxman Bidari, the probe panel includes representatives from the Department of Information and Broadcasting, Copyright Registrar Sabita Karki, and Heritage Branch Chief Subhadra Bhattarai, with Deputy Secretary Nirmala Nyaupane serving as member-secretary. The panel is mandated to submit a strategic recommendation report within 10 days. The investigation will audit the financial ledger transparency of collective management organizations while designing a centralized digital software platform to monitor music usage fees across hotels, transport units, and broadcasting stations.

Health Insurance Renewals Drop in Kailali as Free Extensions Cancelled

The Health Insurance Board’s contact office reported a sharp drop in policy renewals across Kailali District, with active memberships falling to 44,479 individuals out of 103,000 registered citizens. Records show that 56,000 residents failed to renew their health insurance policies across 14,885 tracked households. Registration Officer Tirtharaj Joshi attributed the decline to the government’s decision to stop free annual policy extensions for 17,312 ultra-poor families. While free health cards remain available for elderly residents, disabled individuals, and HIV patients, regular subscribers are opting out of the Rs 100,000 medical coverage pool due to long hospital queues, delayed claim settlements, and medicine shortages at public clinics.

Rs 449.1 Million Exhibition Complex Lies Vacant 6 Years After Handover

The Office of the Auditor General’s 63rd annual audit report directed immediate intervention regarding a Rs 449.1 million state-funded public auditorium and cafeteria block that remains unused six years post-construction. Built by the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, the landmark infrastructure layout was officially handed over to the Narayanhiti Palace Museum Development Committee on January 17, 2020. Positioned inside the 12718.32 square meter Republic Monument layout, the architectural infrastructure features underground parking facilities and historical martyr commemorative columns. The state oversight body urged the Ministry of Tourism to operationalize the public complex to showcase historical artifacts and secure public utility revenues.