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 Invites Bids for Rs 20 Billion Bond Issue Today

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has invited bids for ‘Bond 2084 Cha’ worth Rs 20 billion, with applications to be submitted online. In a public notice issued on Wednesday, the NRB Monetary Management Department said only Class ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ banks and financial institutions licensed by the central bank are eligible to participate in the bidding. Bidders are required to specify both the amount they wish to purchase and the proposed interest rate, which can be quoted up to four decimal places. According to the NRB, the minimum bid amount is Rs 50 million, while the maximum can be up to the total issue size of Rs 20 billion, in multiples of Rs 50 million.

NEPSE Falls 30.09 Points with Rs 4.83 Billion Turnover Today

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index declined by 30.09 points (1.13 percent) on Wednesday to close at 2,621.59, reversing Tuesday’s gains. Market turnover rose to Rs 4.83 billion, with 8.46 million shares of 362 companies traded in 77,627 transactions. Only 25 stocks advanced, while 247 declined and five remained unchanged. Mutual funds were the only sector to gain, with the remaining 12 sectoral indices closing lower. NMB Debenture was the day’s top gainer, while the Corporate Development Bank posted the biggest loss. KBL Debenture led trading with Rs 623.9 million in turnover.

PM Shah Meets Private Sector Heads to Advance Economic Reforms

Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) held high-level discussions today, Wednesday, with private sector leaders at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to accelerate economic reforms. The dialogue focused on improving the domestic investment climate, streamlining bureaucratic procedures, generating employment, and boosting private sector morale. Shah reaffirmed that the government treats the business community as a crucial development partner and is prepared to resolve practical industrial hurdles. The consultation involved Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Anjan Shrestha, Confederation of Nepalese Industries Representative Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, and Nepal Chamber of Commerce President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal.

Finance Minister Directs to Meet Rs 1.6 Trillion Revenue Target

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle directed customs and internal revenue administrations today, Wednesday, to mobilize effectively to achieve the government’s Rs 1.6 trillion revenue collection target. During a ministerial meeting with newly appointed Department of Customs Director General Yam Lal Bhusal, Inland Revenue Department Director General Bhishma Kumar Bhusal, and Department of Customs Deputy Director General Prem Prasad Acharya, Minister Wagle stressed controlling revenue leakage and increasing voluntary tax compliance. He urged officials to maintain honesty and transparency for “mission Rs 1.6 trillion,” pledging full administrative support to meet the target.

Koshi Province Assembly Passes Budget, Finance Bills Today

The Koshi Province Assembly on Wednesday passed the Appropriation Bill, 2026, authorizing allocations and expenditures from the province’s consolidated fund for the fiscal year 2026/27. The bill was endorsed by a majority after Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Bidur Kumar Lingthep tabled it for approval. Earlier, expenditure cut motions on separate budget headings moved by assembly members Gombu Sherpa and Sapana Darji were rejected by a majority. The Assembly also unanimously passed the Finance Bill, 2026, which implements the Koshi Province government’s financial proposals for the upcoming fiscal year. Following the passage of the bills, Speaker Ambar Bahadur Bista adjourned the Assembly meeting until further notice.

Lumbini Bans Unlicensed Pesticide Sales Under New Law

Lumbini Province has banned the retail sale, storage, and commercial trading of pesticides without a license under the Province Pesticide Management Act, 2024. The law requires pesticide sellers to obtain a license, valid for three years, from the concerned authority. Applicants must have completed Grade 12 or hold a TSLC or JTA qualification in agriculture or animal husbandry. The act also prohibits storing pesticides with food or veterinary medicines, bars the sale of pesticides to pregnant women, children, intoxicated individuals, and people with unstable mental health, and bans advertisements for chemical pesticides except bio-pesticides. It also requires warning signs to be displayed after commercial pesticide spraying. Lumbini Province Assembly member Yam Bahadur Nepali said the law aims to regulate pesticide use across the province.

Nepal Explores Tea and Coffee Export Openings in Austria

Nepal’s Ambassador to Austria, Bharat Kumar Regmi, met with Tina Antonius, managing director of the Austrian Coffee and Tea Association, on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of expanding exports of Nepali tea and coffee to the Austrian market. The meeting comes as Nepal has been seeking to diversify export destinations for its tea following recent disruptions in shipments to India caused by stricter import inspection requirements imposed by Indian authorities. Although exports have since resumed, the episode has renewed efforts to explore new international markets and reduce dependence on a single buyer. During the meeting, Ambassador Regmi and Antonius exchanged views on prospects for increasing exports of Nepali tea and coffee to Austria, according to the Embassy of Nepal in Vienna.

SEBON Investigates Regulatory Gaps

The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) initiated a regulatory review after an unlisted private pharmaceutical company issued an acquisition bid targeting an unlisted entity on June 26. The buying firm called a special general assembly for July 12, scheduling a share book closure on July 6. Regulatory authorities highlighted legal constraints under the SEBON’s Security Act, 2007, which explicitly isolates corporate entities from private firms or cooperatives. Structural regulatory deficits persist for manufacturing, hospitality, trading, and tourism sectors, exposing legal loopholes within existing administrative frameworks.

IPPAN Opposes Grid Load Schedule Directives of Government

The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) submitted an official memorandum to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation on Wednesday, contesting the new electricity and energy scheduling directive. The energy group argued that the structural efficiency benchmarks capping turbines at 91 percent, generators at 97 percent, and transformers at 99 percent restrict plant modernization and disrupt original power purchase pacts. Private builders stated that a rule mandating a minimum 15 percent capacity upgrade for existing units undermines smaller 5 percent to 10 percent optimization steps, threatening national targets to generate 30,000 MW over 10 years.

NRB Aligns Policy with Rs 2,124.3 Billion Budget

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) maintained its policy rate corridor unchanged for a second consecutive year to support the government’s record expansionary budget of Rs 2,124.3 billion for 2026/27. The policy benchmark rate remains at 4.25 percent, the standing deposit facility at 2.75 percent, and the bank rate at 5.75 percent. Despite an accumulated negative output gap since 2020, private sector credit expansion languished at 6 percent against a 12 percent projection. Financial infrastructure constraints persist, with gross non-performing loans reaching 5.6 percent and early-stress watchlist loans climbing to 11.1 percent by April 2026.

Dharan Industrial Estate Approves 5 New Factories

The Dharan Industrial Estate Office approved five new manufacturing facilities following the legal cancellation of long-idle factory leases. This introduces a fresh domestic investment of Rs 350 million to the estate, positioned to generate direct employment for approximately 350 individuals once fully operational. The newly cleared ventures include Preeti Valve and Fitting Industries, GD Steel Industries, Siddi Binayak Cottage Industry, JR Ventures, and Surya Diamond Industries, with the latter still awaiting final authorization from the central office. The estate prioritized these production-driven companies to support import substitution and strengthen the local economy. Established in 1975, the site currently hosts 35 industries.

Bhairahawa Tax Office Exceeds Annual Target

The Inland Revenue Office Bhairahawa exceeded its annual collection target for fiscal year 2025/26, gathering Rs 17.92 billion by July 6 against an initial goal of Rs 16.92 billion. Conversely, the Inland Revenue Office Butwal fell short, collecting Rs 12.522 billion out of a Rs 15.22 billion annual goal. Butwal officials attribute the deficit to regional protests earlier in the year, though collections rose by Rs 8.821 billion compared to the previous year’s 11-month mark.

Stakeholders Voice Concerns Over Congestion at Belahiya Border Points

Civil society representatives highlighted rising logistical congestion and unregulated cargo vehicle parking inside the Belahiya Border Post during a public forum on Wednesday. The international crossing serves as a key tourism gateway but faces ongoing layout issues due to space encroachment along the 6-lane highway system. Local administrators plan to coordinate with the Indian Border Security Force within one month to resolve local traffic issues. Customs officials noted that the Integrated Check Post infrastructure is 95 percent complete, which will eliminate roadside freight truck blockages once neighboring authorities hand over the final facilities.

Health Insurance Suspended at Bhajani Health Center in Kailali

The health insurance program has been suspended at Bhajani Primary Health Center, Kailali District, after the facility failed to receive reimbursement payments under the government-backed scheme, affecting beneficiaries seeking medical treatment. According to the health center, insurance coverage for pharmacy and laboratory services has been halted since June 12 because the center can no longer absorb the financial burden through its internal resources. Since the reimbursement amount has not been received, the hospital’s internal resources cannot sustain the costs. As a result, insurance-covered pharmacy and laboratory services have been suspended. The health center provided services to 4,376 people under the health insurance program during the current fiscal year. Since the suspension, only 65 people have visited the facility for treatment.

Western Section Upgrade of Muglin-Pokhara Highway Reaches 82%

The Muglin-Pokhara Road (Western Section) Project achieved an 82.27 percent physical completion milestone and a 72.17 percent financial payout rate across its 38.71-kilometer highway upgrade plan. Engineering teams built 38.36 kilometers of a 4-lane primary motorway and paved 37.28 kilometers with secondary asphalt. Following price surges and early rains, the official project deadline was extended by five months to November 26 this year. Meanwhile, construction on the 190-meter signature cable bridge over the Seti River reached 63.84 percent completion, with all 120 foundation piles finalized.

Construction Teams Complete 14 km of Blacktopping in Bhojpur

The Infrastructure Development Office completed 14 kilometers of asphalt paving along the Turke Bridge-Jhyaupokhari-Sampang-Phalidobato Road in Bhojpur. The infrastructure venture achieved an overall physical progress rate of 83 percent on its 20-kilometer total alignment. Structural construction began following a Rs 516.2 million contract agreement finalized in the fiscal year 2020/21. Local government engineers carry out technical safety monitoring to convert rough tracks into stable corridors. The finished trade route will lower commodity distribution prices and stimulate farming, medical access, and school transport operations.

Lemon Commercial Farming in Jhapa Contracts to 270 Hectares

Commercial lime and lemon growers across Jhapa District are reducing production due to cheap cross-border imports and agricultural crop diseases. Farmers in Gauradaha, Bhudhashanti, Mechinagar, and Arjundhara converted profitable paddy fields into commercial orchards six years ago under supportive government programs. However, a lack of local wholesale market networks and a spreading dieback disease that dries out crop stems have forced farmers to abandon mature trees. The Agriculture Knowledge Center confirmed that the total lemon cultivation area in the district contracted from 310 hectares down to 270 hectares due to declining market prices.

IPPAN Requests Urgent Clearance for 36 Hydro Sector IPOs

The Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) met with the newly appointed leadership of the SEBON on Wednesday to fast-track pending financial market approvals. Industry representatives requested immediate clearance for over 36 pending initial public offerings (IPOs) and 12 right-share issuances currently delayed under bureaucratic review. The energy body urged officials to settle promoter share dematerialization freezes caused by binary identification systems introduced in 2025. Suggested long-term market policy changes include a one-month single-window clearance rule, reducing transactional fees, and shortening corporate share lock-in periods to a maximum of 18 months.

Gold Traded at Rs 287,100, Silver at Rs 4,500 Today

Gold and silver prices decreased in the market on Wednesday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold dropped by Rs 900 per tola (11.66 grams) today and is currently being traded at Rs 287,100. On the previous trading day, gold was traded at Rs 288,000 per tola. Similarly, silver prices also experienced a decline today. The price of silver decreased by Rs 55 per tola and is being traded at Rs 4,500 per tola. On the previous day, silver was bought and sold at Rs 4,555 per tola.