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:

Salapa Development Bank Finalizes IPO Allotment

Salapa Development Bank has completed the allotment of its initial public offering (IPO). The distribution of shares issued to the general public was carried out this morning at the office of the issue and sales manager, Muktinath Capital. The bank had opened its IPO to the public from Poush 16 to Poush 20, during which it issued a total of 1,439,179 shares. According to Muktinath Capital, the IPO received applications from 2,383,407 investors, of which 2,265,955 shares were deemed valid. Out of the valid applicants, 143,170 individuals received an allotment of 10 shares each. The remaining nine shares were distributed to nine applicants, with one share allotted to each. Investors can check the IPO allotment results through the Mero Share platform and the website of CDS and Clearing Limited.

Nepal’s Export–Import Ratio Improves Amid Rising Trade Volume

Nepal’s total merchandise exports recorded a strong increase during the first five months of fiscal year 2082/83. During the review period, exports rose by 58.2 percent to reach Rs 116.51 billion. In the same period of the previous fiscal year, exports had grown by only 16.5 percent. By destination, exports to India increased sharply by 82.7 percent, while shipments to other countries rose by 5.5 percent. In contrast, exports to China declined steeply by 73.3 percent. In terms of commodities, exports of soybean oil, large cardamom, palm oil, jute products, and footwear increased. However, exports of zinc sheets, particle board, tea, woolen carpets, and handicraft items declined. During the same period, total merchandise imports increased by 15.8 percent to Rs 766.19 billion. In the corresponding period last year, imports had grown by 3.0 percent. Country-wise, imports from India rose by 5.7 percent, from China by 24.6 percent, and from other countries by 40.8 percent. Commodity-wise, imports of crude soybean oil, chemical fertilizers, gold, transport equipment, vehicles and spare parts, and silver increased. Meanwhile, imports of hot-rolled sheets (in coil), garlic, edible oil, oilseeds, and pulses declined. As imports grew at a faster pace than exports, the total merchandise trade deficit widened by 10.5 percent during the review period to Rs 649.68 billion. In the same period last year, the trade deficit had increased by only 1.5 percent. The export–import ratio improved to 15.2 percent from 11.1 percent a year earlier.

NIC Asia Extends Locker Service Discount to 30%

NIC Asia Bank has increased the special discount on its locker services to 30 percent, aiming to meet customers’ needs for the safe and secure storage of valuable items and important documents. Under the new scheme, valid until 20 Jan, 2026, customers can enjoy a 30 percent discount on the annual locker fee for the first year. Through the bank’s locker facilities, customers can securely store their valuables and important documents with peace of mind. NIC Asia Bank offers locker services in various sizes, tailored to customer requirements, across its branches nationwide. The bank believes that this enhanced discount scheme will make locker services more accessible, convenient, and affordable for customers, encouraging greater use of the facility.

Government Spends Over Rs 564 Billion in First Five Months

The Government of Nepal spent a total of Rs 564.46 billion during the first five months of fiscal year 2082/83. According to the Office of the Financial Comptroller General under the Ministry of Finance, expenditures increased across recurrent, capital, and financing categories during the review period. Of the total spending, recurrent expenditure stood at Rs 398.05 billion, capital expenditure at Rs 33.87 billion, and expenditure under financial management at Rs 132.54 billion. During the same period, the government’s total revenue mobilization reached Rs 406.30 billion, including the amount to be shared with provincial and local governments. Of the total revenue, tax revenue accounted for Rs 382.23 billion, while non-tax revenue amounted to Rs 24.07 billion, the Financial Comptroller General’s Office said. Meanwhile, the government’s cash balance increased significantly. As of mid-Mangsir 2082, the total cash balance held in various government accounts at Nepal Rastra Bank reached Rs 253.02 billion, including balances of provincial and local governments. In comparison, such cash reserves stood at only Rs 130.73 billion at the end of Ashad 2082. During the review period, provincial governments recorded total expenditures of Rs 29.01 billion and resource mobilization of Rs 74.84 billion. Of the total provincial resource mobilization, Rs 57.51 billion came from grants transferred by the federal government and revenue shared from divisible funds, while Rs 17.32 billion was generated by provincial governments from their own and other sources.

Remittance Inflows Rise 35.6% in First Five Months of Current Fiscal Year

Remittance inflows into Nepal reached Rs 870.31 billion during the first five months of the current fiscal year, registering a robust growth of 35.6 percent, according to Nepal Rastra Bank. In the same period last year, remittance inflows had increased by only 4.7 percent. In Mangsir 2082 alone, remittances amounted to Rs 183.18 billion, compared to Rs 118.79 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year. During the review period, 175,591 Nepalis obtained final labor approval (institutional and individual–new) for foreign employment, while 163,924 workers received re-entry labor approval. In the same period last year, these figures stood at 190,384 and 135,425, respectively. Meanwhile, net secondary income (net transfers) increased significantly to Rs 954.78 billion during the review period, up from Rs 700.43 billion recorded in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Palpa Cement Industries Opens First Phase of IPO

Palpa Cement Industries has launched the first phase of its initial public offering (IPO) starting Friday, targeting residents of affected areas and Nepalis working abroad. The IPO is open to residents of Nawalparasi West, where the company operates its plant; Palpa, where the mine is located; local residents of Devdaha Municipality in Rupandehi; and Nepalis employed overseas. Under this phase, 1.875 million shares have been allocated for locals from the affected areas, while 562,500 shares are reserved for Nepalis working abroad. Applicants can apply for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 100,000 shares. Nabil Investment Banking is serving as the issue manager. Affected locals can submit their applications from 23 Jan to 8 Feb, while overseas Nepalis can apply from 14 Jan until 23 Jan. Applications for foreign-employed Nepalis can be submitted online via the Meroshare platform. Local applicants can apply through Nabil Bank branches in Tansen, Bardaghat, and Gaindakot, as well as Prabhu Bank branches in Palpa, Bardaghat, Parasi, and Beltari, and Siddhartha Bank branches in Palpa, Bardaghat, and Parasi. Following this phase, the company will open its IPO to the general public, offering 20 percent of its issued capital of Rs 3.75 billion, equivalent to 7.5 million shares.

Nepal’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Cross Rs 3.2 Trillion

Nepal’s foreign exchange reserves have surpassed Rs 3.2 trillion, reflecting a sharp improvement in the country’s external financial position, according to data released by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Friday. NRB statistics show that the total foreign exchange reserves, which stood at Rs 2.677 trillion at the end of July 2025, increased by 19.6 percent to reach Rs 3.201 trillion by December 2025. In US dollar terms, reserves rose from USD 19.50 billion in mid-July to USD 22.13 billion by mid-December, marking a 13.5 percent increase. Based on imports during the first five months of the current fiscal year (2025/26), the foreign exchange reserves held by the banking sector are sufficient to cover 21.7 months of merchandise imports and 18.2 months of merchandise and services imports, the central bank said.

Over Rs 4.3 Billion Worth of Securities Listed in First Five Months of Fiscal Year

In the first five months of the current fiscal year, more than NPR 4.3 billion worth of securities have been newly listed. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, by Mangsir 2082, securities totaling NPR 4.324 billion were added, including Rs 2.196 billion in ordinary shares, Rs 746 million in rights shares, Rs 625 million in mutual funds, Rs 340 million in debentures, Rs 324 million in bonus shares, and Rs 92.5 million in follow-on public offers (FPOs). During the same period, the Securities Board of Nepal approved securities worth NPRs 2.075 billion for public issuance, comprising Rs 1.183 billion in mutual funds, Rs 515 million in ordinary shares, and Rs 378 million in rights shares. At the end of Mangsir 2082, the paid-up value of 911 million shares listed on the Nepal Stock Exchange Limited reached Rs 89.66 billion.

Minister Chaulagain Assumes Office of Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport

Minister for Forests and Environment Madhav Prasad Chaulagain today assumed the additional responsibility of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. On the occasion, he signed a minute endorsing a decision to urge the Asian Development Bank to include the Karnali Highway in its project pipeline for road upgrading and safety improvement. Similarly, he approved a decision to relocate the Bailey bridge over the Hima River at Nagma, located on the border of Jumla and Kalikot, following the construction of a concrete bridge over the river. The Bailey bridge will be shifted to the Tila River to connect wards 5 and 4 of Tatopani Rural Municipality in Jumla. The Minister also signed a decision to form a five-member committee under the coordination of Joint Secretary Sushil Babu Dhakal. The committee will submit recommendations for amending the criteria related to the qualifications of Class ‘D’ construction entrepreneurs as mentioned in Schedule 13 of the Construction Business Rules, 2056 BS. The post at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport had fallen vacant following the resignation of former Minister Kulman Ghising. Prime Minister Sushila Karki assigned Chaulagain the responsibility of the Ministry.

Municipal Energy Plans Handed Over to Two Rural Municipalities in Mustang 

As a significant step toward strengthening local energy planning and implementation, Municipal Energy Plans (MEPs) of Varagung Muktichhetra and Gharapjhong Rural Municipalities in Mustang were formally handed over to the respective local governments on Wednesday. According to a press release issued on Friday, the handover ceremonies were held at the municipality offices where Dr Ranjan Prakash Shrestha, senior project manager at the European Union Delegation to Nepal and Dr Frank Fecher, Program Manager at GIZ Nepal, formally presented the MEPs to Rinzen Namgel Gurung, chairperson of Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality, and Mohan Singh Lalchan, chairperson of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality. The MEPs were developed by the Municipalities with technical support from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program – Green Recovery and Empowerment with Energy in Nepal (REEEP-GREEN) project implemented by GIZ Nepal. Developed through extensive consultations with communities and stakeholders, the five-year plans provide a practical roadmap to address local energy challenges while promoting socio-economic development, climate resilience and clean energy use, according to the press release.

Security Printing Center Prints 9,000 Licenses in Two Months
The Security Printing Center in Panauti Municipality-5 has printed around 9,000 driving licenses with QR codes over the past two months. The Department of Transport Management stated that 8,983 licenses have been printed since the center resumed operations on November 7, 2025. The center began printing after the Department’s mass printer was vandalized during the Gen-Z protests. Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel inaugurated the license printing by pressing the printing press button on November 7. An agreement signed between the Center and the Department on October 29 requires the printing of 1.2 million licenses within six months.

NTA Report Shows Income of 27–46 Age Group Exceeds Expenditure
Average income exceeds expenditure among people aged 27–46 years in Nepal, according to the National Transfer Account (NTA) report released on Friday by the National Statistics Office. The report, which focuses on Lifetime Deficit Analysis, highlights that consumption among those below 27 and above 46 exceeds their income, indicating a lifetime deficit. During the report launch, Finance Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal said that the document will be crucial for the effective implementation of social security programs, industrial policies, and job creation initiatives. “Without reliable statistics, we cannot formulate genuine policies. The National Transfer Accounts and Small Area Estimation of Poverty reports guide us on the types of policies and plans we need to develop,” he said, stressing the importance of generating such data domestically.

Economic Social Risk Management Information System Effective
The economic social risk management information system brought in use by Beni Municipality, has become effective. The information system has turned effective for selecting development plans, implementing programs in targeted communities, identifying beneficiaries for services, facilities, grants and assistance, domestic revenue enhancement, and disaster management. Mayor Surat KC shared that the use of technology has helped improve transparency in the distribution of grants and assistance by ending the practice of providing services based on ‘party’ and ‘caste’.

Rs 236.9 Million in Cash Burnt, Rs 320 Million Stolen During Gen Z protests

Banknotes worth more than Rs 235 million were burnt and destroyed in the Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9 last year. Although the cash loss in the protests was Rs 785 million, banknotes worth Rs 236.9 million were completely burnt and turned to ashes. According to the report of the Damage Assessment and Public Infrastructure Reconstruction Plan Preparation Committee formed by the interim government after the Gen Z revolt, the total damage including loss of cash and valuables and other public and private property is worth over Rs 2.81 billion. Out of this, Rs 328.1 million was stolen, while Rs 220 million was lost due to vandalism. The report states that 57.5 percent of the total cash loss was due to theft, 11.6 percent due to vandalism, and 30.9 percent due to arson. Even precious metals such as gold, silver, and diamonds have been lost due to theft, worth Rs 1.0264 billion.

Gold Price up by Rs 2100 Per Tola in Nepal
The price of gold has increased in the Nepali market on Friday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Associations, the price of gold rose by Rs 2,100 per tola to Rs 267,800. On Thursday, the price of hallmark gold per tola was Rs 265,700. However, the price of silver decreased on Friday. Silver, which was sold at Rs 4,835 per tola on Thursday, was traded at Rs 4,780 on Friday. Silver price decreased by Rs 55 per tola on Friday compared to the previous day.

Hotel Garima to Issue IPO

Hotel Garima Limited, a company owned by the five-star Hotel Soaltee Westend Itahari, is going to issue an IPO for the general public. The company is going to issue an IPO for 4 million units of shares worth Rs 400 million at a face value of Rs 100 per share. Laxmi Sunrise Capital Limited has been appointed as the issue and sales manager of the IPO. For the issue of the shares, Binod Poudel, managing director of Hotel Garima Limited, and Bijay Lal Shrestha, chief executive officer of Laxmi Sunrise Capital Limited, signed a bilateral agreement on Friday, and agreed to issue the said ordinary shares in the near future.

Nepal Investment Mega Bank Launches Union-Pay Card

Nepal Investment Mega Bank (NIMB) Limited has launched the NIMB Union-Pay Card service for its customers. The commercial bank has formally launched the NIMB Union-Pay Card with the aim of expanding modern payment solutions for its customers. With the launch of the Union-Pay Card, the bank has reaffirmed its commitment to providing secure, reliable and globally accepted card services. With the NIMB Union-Pay Card, customers will be able to transact conveniently within the country and abroad. Accepted at hundreds of thousands of business centers and ATMs around the world, this card will make payments, online transactions and international travel simpler and safer.