KATHMANDU: Economic Digest, a daily morning email digest, is basically a relatable summation of important business news from Nepal into easy-to-understand summaries.
Medicines worth Rs 1.69 billion imported
Medicines worth one billion 695 million 448 thousand rupees and raw materials for medicine worth 341.9 million have been imported so far during the lockdown.
Similarly, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies said that 123 thousand 627 metric tonnes food grains, 35 thousand 131 metric tonnes lentils, 52 thousand 479 metric tonnes vegetables, 16 thousand 862 metric tonnes fruits, and 11 thousand 59 metric tonnes dairy products have been imported in the 40 days lockdown period.
121 thousand metric tonnes rice in stock
The Food Management and Trading Company Limited and the private sectors together have 121 thousand metric tonnes of rice in stock.
As per data about the food stock provided by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, a total of 121 thousand six metric tonnes of the rice grain is in stock.
This includes the 8,436 metric tonnes with the Company and the rest with the private sector industries. The Company and Salt Trading Corporation Limited have sold 30,826.36 metric tonnes of rice in 29 remote districts during the lockdown.
The Corporation has sold and distributes 65,653 kilograms salt, 45 thousand 611 liters cooking oil, 526 thousand 285 kilograms rice, 93 thousand 230 kilograms lentils, and 63 thousand 640 kilograms flattened rice.
Hotels in Sauraha to open only after six months
Hotels in Sauraha, which remained closed due to lockdown, will not be reopened before Dashain. Although small family-run hotels are operating, commercial hotels are planned to open only during Dashain.
The businessmen have agreed to close the hotels so as not to incur additional expenses, according to Deepak Bhattarai, President of the Regional Hotel Association Sauraha.
Except for emergencies, entry into Kathmandu Valley unlikely
Despite having entry passes for the vehicles, it is not that easy to enter into the Kathmandu valley from the outer districts during the ongoing lockdown order.
Even getting the entry pass, the vehicles are not permitted to get through the capital city from border points—Nagdhunga, Pharping, Mudkhu, Jagati and Jarsinghpauwa—except for emergencies.
Now, only the vehicles carrying highly essential goods and health supplies would be permitted to enter the capital city from other districts.
NA procuring 53 types of medical supplies from India
At the time when there are reports about shortage of PCR reagents and other health supplies needed in the laboratory for testing for coronavirus, the Nepal Army (NA) has signed an agreement with an Indian company to purchase medical supplies.
NA is planning to bring medical supplies from India along with its northern neighbor China. The army, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is bringing 53 different types of medical items needed to treat coronavirus infection with India’s state-owned pharmaceutical company BPPI.
NA has stated that it has signed an agreement to purchase medicine and other health items worth 15 million Indian rupees. Currently, the Nepali Embassy in India is coordinating for this with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(Compiled and prepared by Swastik Aryal and Nitish Lal Shrestha)
Nepal Economic Digest is a daily morning email digest, basically relatable summations of the most important business news, happenings from Nepal into easy-to-understand summaries.
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