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:

NEPSE Index Falls 8.24 Points to 2,622.89

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index recorded a slight drop today, falling by 8.24 points to settle at 2,622.89. A total of 333 companies saw 12,185,388 shares traded across 54,892 transactions, amounting to a total turnover of Rs 6.05 billion, NEPSE reported. Among sectoral indices, Development Banks rose by 1.11%, Hotels and Tourism by 0.01%, Manufacturing and Processing by 0.25%, Mutual Funds by 0.29%, Trading by 0.93%, and Other Sectors by 0.42%.

Revenue Collection Reaches 88% of Target from mid-September to mid-October
According to the Ministry of Finance, the revenue collection target from mid-September to mid-October was Rs 100.03 billion, of which Rs 91.51 billion was collected. This means 88% of the monthly target was achieved. Prior to the protests, the government had collected only 68% of the target from mid-July to mid-August and 77% from mid-August to mid-October.  Officials noted that even though customs offices were burned and people’s lives were disrupted during the Gen Z movement, revenue collection remained positive.

Increase in Labor Permits for Foreign Employment
In the first three months of the current fiscal year, the number of labor permits issued for foreign employment has increased. According to the Department of Foreign Employment, 210,516 people obtained labor permits and went abroad for employment in the first three months of the fiscal year 2025/26. In the same period of fiscal year 2024/25, 170,603 people had gone abroad for employment with permits. This indicates an increase of 39,913 people in labor permit holders this year.

Agriculture Suffers Major Losses Due to Rain and Floods
This year, heavy rains and landslides have caused significant damage to agriculture. During the monsoon, irregular rainfall in early October damaged crops. Additionally, rainfall in Kartik during the harvest season affected ripe paddy crops. Although the full extent of the losses has not been officially recorded, it is estimated to be around Rs 5 billion. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development reported that losses from mid-September to mid-October alone amounted to approximately Rs 3.50 billion. Preliminary data shows losses in three provinces totaling R 3.55 billion.

Most Urban Development Ministry Projects Stalled
Most projects prioritized by the Ministry of Urban Development have been stalled. The government withheld budgets for 2,100 small-scale projects totaling Rs 61.76 billion, ranging from Rs 100,000 to Rs 30 million, citing inadequate preparation and exclusion from the Project Bank. Most of the stalled projects were originally on the ministry’s priority list for the current fiscal year. According to a ministry official, “The projects prioritized in the current fiscal year but lacking preparation, not included in the Project Bank, and added from higher authorities are the ones currently stalled.”

Ministry Seeks Opinion on Malaysia’s 10-Point Guidelines
The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security has sought manpower agencies’ opinions on the 10-point guidelines issued by the Malaysian government. Nepal’s Foreign Employment Association was sent a letter requesting their official stance on these guidelines. Malaysia had set 10-point standards for manpower agencies from five countries, including Nepal. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested a list of companies that comply with these standards.

Passport Department to Issue 1,000 Passports Daily
The Department of Passports has clarified that it will issue 1,000 passports per day. Starting this evening, the department will provide passports daily, except on public holidays. The department signed a purchase agreement with a new supplier for electronic passports in July. According to the agreement, new infrastructure and systems are being set up to start passport services from February 13 next year.

‘Sisnekhola–Nagdhunga’ Tunnel to Be Operated by Foreign Company
The responsibility for operating Nepal’s first modern tunnel, the Sisnekhola–Nagdhunga Tunnel, will be given to a foreign company. The Nagdhunga Tunnel Construction Project under the Department of Roads called for international bids on Sunday. Interested companies can submit their bids by December 17. The service provider will be selected for the first five years of tunnel operation. This will be the first modern tunnel in Nepal, and no local entity has prior experience operating such a tunnel.

Over 128,000 Tourists Visit Nepal in October
In October this year, a total of 128,443 tourists visited Nepal. This month is also part of the peak tourism season, resulting in significant tourist inflow. According to data published by the Nepal Tourism Board, 29,060 tourists came from South Asia, 23,127 from other Asian countries, 40,500 from Europe, 6,814 from Oceania, 16,407 from America, 3,548 from the Middle East, 443 from Africa, and 8,444 from other countries.

Cement Prices Hiked Across Nepal
Cement producers have increased prices following the end of the monsoon season and the start of the construction season. From today, more than a dozen cement factories have raised prices. One businessman stated that the factory price of OPC and PPC cement has increased by Rs 20 per bag. Shivam Cement, Makwanpur Cement, United Cement, Hongsi Cement, and CG have raised prices from today. Other cement brands such as Riddhi Siddhi Cement, Hwasin Cement, Tansen Cement, Sarvottam Cement, Jagdamba Cement, Goenka Cement, and Ambe Cement are preparing to increase prices by Rs 20 per bag.

Madhesh Province Spends Only 3.5% of Budget in First Quarter
The Madhesh provincial government has spent only 3.5% of its total budget in the first three months of FY 2025/26. Of the total budget of Rs 46.9 billion, only Rs 164 million has been spent in first three months of current fiscal year, according to the Provincial Comptroller Office. The province had allocated Rs 16 billion for recurrent expenditure and Rs 30 billion for capital expenditure.

Gandaki Government Signs Road Construction Contracts Worth Millions
The Gandaki provincial government has signed a contract worth Rs 360.05 million for the first section of the road connecting Ambukhaireni to Chhimekeshwari. Another road, from Dulegawnda to Harkpur, has a contract of Rs 250.99 million. The road connecting Bhanumarga-Chandrawati-Pilimarga-Kunchha-Kalimati has a contract of Rs 200.37 million. Currently, all these projects are stalled. The government faces problems as there has been relatively little progress despite the contracts being signed a long time ago. In Tanahun district alone, seven projects are reportedly in a problematic state.

Vehicle Imports via Birgunj Increase in Three Months
In the first three months of the current fiscal year, vehicles worth Rs 8.70 billion were imported through the Birgunj customs point. According to the Birgunj Customs Office, vehicle imports generated Rs 7.77 billion in revenue during the same period. Both vehicle imports and the revenue generated have increased in the first three months of this fiscal year. In comparison, during the same period last year, vehicles worth Rs 6.19 billion were imported.

Airbus Promotes Safety Awareness in Helicopter Operations
Airbus Helicopters held discussions to promote safety awareness and best practices in helicopter operations. More than 100 aviation professionals, authorities, operators, and safety experts across Nepal discussed accident prevention and data-driven safety systems. The event was jointly inaugurated by Virginie Corteval, the French Ambassador to Nepal, and Pradeep Adhikari, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

Neoteric Nepal Trade Drops 4.5%
Golcha Group’s Neoteric Nepal saw a 4.5% decrease in trade compared to the previous year. In 2024, the company’s trade was Rs 3.66 billion, which decreased to Rs 3.495 billion in 2025. In 2023, the company had a trade turnover of Rs 3.583 billion.

Jagdamba Synthetic Reports Rs 2 Billion Trade
Jagdamba Synthetic Pvt. Ltd. conducted Rs 2 billion in trade in a single fiscal year. Last year, the company traded R 2.01 billion. In 2024, the company’s trade was R 1.68 billion, and in 2023 it was Rs 1.70 billion. According to the company, trade increased by 19% in the last fiscal year. The company earned a net profit of 5% in the last fiscal year. In 2024, the company had not been able to generate profit.

Mahalaxmi Development Bank Announces Dividend for Shareholders
Mahalaxmi Development Bank has announced a dividend for its shareholders. In a board meeting held Monday morning, the bank declared a total dividend of 10.37% of the paid-up capital. The total dividend amounts to Rs 445.5 million. Of the announced dividend, 5.37% is cash dividend including tax.

Rajan Bikram Thapa Appointed Head of NRB Governor’s Office
Rajan Bikram Thapa has been appointed as the head of the Governor’s Office at Nepal Rastra Bank. Thapa, previously a director, was promoted to Executive Director through internal competition and has assumed the responsibilities of the Governor’s Office Chief. He was promoted in accordance with Regulation 52 of the Nepal Rastra Bank Employee Service Regulations, (Third Amendment).

Sujit Kumar Shakya Appointed CEO of NIC Asia Bank
Sujitkumar Shakya has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of NIC Asia Bank. The bank’s board of directors, in a meeting held Monday morning, assigned Shakya the CEO role with a four-year term. Shakya will assume his CEO responsibilities within 30 days. The board appointed him for a four-year tenure. With three decades of experience, Shakya is currently Senior Deputy CEO at Nabil Bank.

Gold Price Remains Stable in Nepali Market
On Monday, the price of gold in the Nepali market was set at Rs 239,700 per tola. The same price was recorded on Sunday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold per 10 grams on Monday was Rs 205,504. Meanwhile, silver was priced at Rs 3,060 per tola.