KATHMANDU: Nepal News brings you a daily roundup of economic activities in Nepal. This summary provides concise updates across key sectors, keeping you informed on the latest market trends, policy changes, and financial developments. Here are today’s top economic highlights.

NEPSE Drops as Market Witnesses Decline

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index has dropped. On Wednesday, the fourth trading day of the week, the market index fell by 15.59 points to close at 2726.37. A total of Rs 4.72 billion worth of transactions took place in the market today. Out of the total companies traded, the share prices of 39 companies increased, while 213 companies saw a decline. A total of 11.345 million shares were bought and sold today. Among the companies that saw a rise, Himstar Hydro’s share price increased by 9.99%, with its final trade at Rs 323.60.

NRB Withdraws Rs 50 Billion from Market Today

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) withdrew Rs 50 billion today, Wednesday. The principal and interest on the withdrawn funds will be repaid on September 28. NRB stated that in the bidding process, amounts were divided into minimum Rs 100 million and maximum Rs 50 million, with any remainder included in the total call amount. Only licensed banks and financial institutions categorized as Class ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ are eligible to participate in the bidding process.

Government Sets Ambitious Goal for Electricity Production

The government has set an ambitious target of producing 28,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity by 2035. As per the Energy Development Roadmap, the government has set a target of producing this amount of electricity within the next 10 years. More than 84 hydropower projects of over 2,000 MW from the private sector are in the preparation phase with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Additionally, PPAs have not yet been signed for more than 240 hydropower projects of 11,000 MW.

Food Technology and Quality Control Department Launches Online System

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has launched an online system named ‘Nepal Food and Feed Industry Licensing System (NeFILS)’ for the registration, issuance, and renewal of food industry licenses. This service is made available through the department’s website as part of its strategy to make government services more accessible online. In the inauguration ceremony held on Tuesday, the department’s Director-General, Sanjeev Kumar Karmacharya, inaugurated the system and shed light on its importance.

Number of Women Going Abroad for Foreign Employment on the Rise

The number of women going abroad for foreign employment is increasing every year. According to the Department of Foreign Employment, the number of women going for foreign employment has been on the rise since the fiscal year 2020/21 (mid-July 2020 to mid-July 2021). According to the department, 80,172 women in the fiscal year 2023/24 and 94,455 women in the fiscal year 2024/25 obtained work permits to go abroad for employment.

Market Monitoring Intensifies Ahead of Dashain

As the Dashain festival approaches, market monitoring has increased. The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has intensified its monitoring efforts. In the past three days alone, the department has monitored 76 institutions. The department, which normally monitors only 5 to 10 institutions daily, has increased its monitoring targeting the Dashain festival. Before this, the department had ramped up monitoring targeting education consultancies but had been slow for the past two weeks.

Food Management and Trading Company to Sell Goats and Mountain Goats for Dashain

This Dashain, the government will once again provide goats, billy goats, and mountain goats to the public at prices lower than the market rate. Under this initiative, the Food Management and Trading Company has opened advance booking for the purchase of goats, billy goats, and mountain goats. The company has arranged for the booking of goats and billy goats to be done online. The company has opened advance booking with conditions for the purchase of goats and billy goats until September 30.

Apple Imports Rise Annually Despite Domestic Production

Despite apple production in the Himalayan districts of six provinces outside of Madhesh, imports are increasing annually. In the first month of the fiscal year 2025/26 (mid-July to mid-August 2025), apples worth Rs. 1.05 billion and weighing 9.294 million kg were imported. Apples are mainly imported into Nepal from China and India. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, in July 2025, apples worth Rs. 729.9 million (5.243 million kg) were imported from China and apples worth Rs. 324.4 million (4.05 million kg) were imported from India.

Slow Economic Activity Ahead of Festivals

Even with the festive season approaching, economic activity has not been as vibrant as expected. Letters of Credit (LCs) for festival-related imports have not increased as anticipated, despite Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath nearing. Bankers say that although payments through drafts and telegraphic transfers (TT) for small imports have been positive compared to last year, imports through LCs have not shown the expected improvement. Officials from the Customs Department also say that customs data do not show a significant change in imports, with only about three weeks remaining until Dashain.

High-Level Commission Recommends IPOs for Hydropower Companies After Production Starts

The primary share issuance (IPO) of hydropower companies has been a topic of discussion since the High-Level Economic Reform Suggestion Commission submitted its report to the government. The suggestion report mentioned that investors’ capital could get stuck in companies operating on a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model and that there was uncertainty about what would happen to investors’ shares after the production license period of the hydropower company expired.

Teaching Hospital to Open in Dang in November

The Sanjivani Institute of Advanced Studies and Teaching Hospital, which is being built in Gogili, Ghorahi Sub-metropolitan City-3, Dang, is set to become operational from November this year. The company is going to start operating the hospital with a 100-bed facility from November. The company is building a 500-bed hospital in Ghorahi. The company has stated that it will operate the hospital with a 300-bed facility in the first phase. However, it is preparing to start the hospital in a limited capacity from November.

Natural Gas Discovery in Dailekh Sparks Interest and Job Demands

Jaljale, located just nine kilometers from the district headquarters in Dailekh, has become a focal point of discussion following the discovery of natural gas. The area, situated right next to the Mid-Hills Highway, has been cordoned off and placed under the protection of the Armed Police Force. However, its newfound fame draws the attention of passing travelers, many of whom stop their vehicles to take photos and videos from outside the fenced-off zone. While the site itself has been largely quiet for the past eight months, locals are eager for development to begin.

Exports of Plywood, Rosin, and Turpentine Oil Increase from Krishnanagar Customs

The export of plywood, rosin, and turpentine oil has increased through Krishnanagar, one of the ten major customs points in the country. In one year, more than Rs. 1 billion worth of plywood and over Rs. 750 million worth of finished cement were exported to India through this checkpoint. In the last fiscal year (mid-July 2024 to mid-July 2025), 1.694 million cubic meters of plywood worth Rs. 1.14 billion was exported to India.

Chief Minister Shah Urges CNI to Invest in Sudurpaschim

The Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province, Kamal Bahadur Shah, has urged the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) to participate in the upcoming investment conference in Sudurpaschim and invest in high-potential sectors. He also requested the CNI, an organization of industrialists, to play a leadership role in bringing in investments to the province. During a discussion with CNI officials on Monday, Chief Minister Shah said that the provincial government is committed to creating an investment-friendly environment, making legal and policy reforms accordingly, and ensuring the security of investments.

Pokhara Industry and Commerce Association Opposes DDC’s New Factory Plan

The Pokhara Industry and Commerce Association has expressed its opposition to the decision of the Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) to establish a new milk processing plant in Pokhara. The association’s general secretary, Shobha Gautam, issued a statement on Tuesday expressing the opposition. The statement said that the DDC’s decision to open a new milk processing center in Pokhara has “surprised and stunned” the association. The association has demanded that the DDC immediately reconsider its decision to open a new milk processing center in Pokhara.

Landless Families in Dang Receive Land Ownership Certificates

The work of distributing land ownership certificates to the landless in the district has been expedited. The Lamahi Municipality already distributed land ownership certificates to 23 landless families in Kanchigaun, Ward-3, on June 25. The land ownership certificates were distributed to landless families who had been cultivating land for a long time but did not have certificates. According to the head of the land department, Prakash Bhandari, 7,835 families, including 1,332 landless families, had applied for land certificates in Lamahi.

Nepal Promoted in Thailand

Nepal has been promoted in Thailand. The Nepal Tourism Board and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)– Nepal Chapter, in collaboration with Nepal Airlines and 14 private tourism and hospitality companies, conducted this promotion in Thailand. The board stated that a special attraction, tourism promotion, and a remarkable brand identity were established through the ‘Nepal Pavilion’ at the PATA’s major international ‘B2B Travel Trade Event—PATA Travel Mart 2025.’

Second Annual General Meeting of Global IME Securities Concludes

The second annual general meeting of Global IME Securities, an investment of Global IME Bank, has been concluded. At the general meeting, the company’s chairman, Teknath Pokhrel, informed about the future work plan. Surendra Raj Regmi, the Chief Executive Officer of Global IME Bank, shed light on the purpose of establishing the institution. The general meeting unanimously passed the company’s annual report, the auditor’s annual financial statements, the appointment and remuneration of the auditor, and amendments to the memorandum of association and articles of association.

Prabhu Bank Receives ‘Nepal’s Best Digital Bank for SMEs’ Award

Prabhu Bank Limited has been honored by the internationally renowned institution Euromoney Limited with the prestigious “Euromoney Award for Excellence 2025” under the ‘Nepal’s Best Digital Bank for SMEs’ category. The bank stated that the award was recently presented at a ceremony held in Singapore. This achievement internationally recognizes Prabhu Bank’s leading role in providing digital services targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Gold Prices Hit Record High in Nepal Following Global Surge

The increase in international gold prices has also impacted the local market in Nepal. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold today has reached Rs 207,900 per tola, marking an all-time high. On Tuesday, gold was traded at Rs 205,900 per tola, meaning the price has risen by Rs 2,000 in a single day. Meanwhile, silver prices have fallen by Rs 5 per tola.