KATHMANDU: Economic Digest presents a brief yet comprehensive roundup of major business developments in Nepal, delivered in clear and accessible summaries.
Nepal’s latest developments reflect a mix of seasonal economic activity, infrastructure recovery and emerging financial challenges. Dashain has stimulated domestic commerce, with Chitwan expecting more than Rs 300 million in goat sales, while nearly 500,000 people have left Kathmandu Valley to celebrate with their families. The festival has also increased demand for imported food products, highlighting the importance of reliable cross-border trade. The temporary reopening of Tatopani and the use of the Korala crossing demonstrate efforts to maintain supplies despite disruptions at major border points.
Infrastructure restoration remains critical to economic resilience. The resumption of the Dana-Rahughat transmission line has reconnected around 170 MW of hydropower to the national grid, while a new suspension bridge in Nuwakot has improved access for local communities affected by floods. Rural infrastructure projects in Aabukhaireni further indicate continued investment in roads, drainage and drinking water.
However, financial indicators present a mixed picture. Madhesh Province recorded deposit growth but a 0.18 percent decline in lending, suggesting subdued credit demand or cautious banking practices. Meanwhile, lower gold and silver prices and declining offerings and pilgrim numbers at Pathibhara Temple indicate changing market and tourism trends. Government incentives promoting tax invoices and corporate sponsorship of the Nepal Premier League reflect efforts to strengthen transparency and support institutional development. Overall, sustaining growth will require resilient infrastructure, effective financial mobilisation and improved domestic supply chains.
Gold falls by Rs 400 per tola, silver drops to Rs 4,100
Gold prices declined slightly in the domestic market on Sunday, October 18, while silver prices also recorded a decrease. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, gold fell by Rs 400 per tola (approximately 11.66 grams) to Rs 289,700. It was traded at Rs 290,100 per tola on Friday. Silver prices dropped by Rs 50 per tola to Rs 4,100 on Sunday, compared with Rs 4,150 on Friday.
Nearly 500,000 people leave Kathmandu Valley for Dashain
Nearly 500,000 people have left the Kathmandu Valley to celebrate Bada Dashain with their families in their hometowns. According to the spokesperson of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, a total of 496,323 people travelled out of the valley by public transport between Ghatasthapana and October 17. The movement began on October 11. The number of departing passengers has declined today compared with the previous two days. However, major departure points, including New Bus Park in Gongabu, Machhapokhari, Kalanki, Balkhu, Koteshwor and Gaushala, continue to experience heavy passenger traffic. People have been leaving through several routes and checkpoints, including Pharping, Nagdhunga, Thankot, Bhimdhunga, Tinpiple, Sankhu, Jagati in Bhaktapur and Bhattedanda in Lalitpur, to reach their hometowns for the festival.
Nuwakot customer wins Rs 1 million in taxpayer incentive scheme
Santamaya Tamang of Nuwakot has won the Rs 1 million bumper prize under the government’s taxpayer incentive programme. Tamang purchased goods worth Rs 3,000 from a local fancy store, and her bill, numbered 081632515849, was selected for the top prize. Artists Deepak Raj Giri and Deepa Shree Niraula announced the winners in Kathmandu on Sunday. According to Inland Revenue Department Director General Bhishma Kumar Bhusal, the announcement covered 16 fortnightly winners and the bumper prize winner for the period from October 2 to October 17. In addition to the bumper prize, 16 individuals received Rs 133,334 each. The government introduced the scheme to encourage consumers to request invoices and businesses to issue them, thereby promoting transparency in financial transactions. Consumers making purchases of goods or services worth more than Rs 100 are eligible to participate.
Tatopani border crossing reopens for three days
The Tatopani border crossing reopened temporarily today for three days to facilitate the import of essential goods for the festive season from China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. Commercial freight vehicles carrying cargo began entering Nepal early this morning following the reopening. Chinese authorities agreed to resume operations at the key trade route for three days to ensure the supply of festival-related goods and everyday necessities to the domestic market. According to transport representatives, more than 45 loaded freight containers are waiting for clearance in Nyalam, Xizang. The crossing had remained completely closed since August 31 following a decision by Chinese authorities.
Korala border crossing handles 2,418 tonnes of food and fruit imports
Nepal imported 2,418 tonnes of fruits and food products through the northern Liji-Nechung (Korala) border crossing with China over the past month. According to a technical assistant at the Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Center in Nechung, Lomanthang Rural Municipality-4, imports were rerouted through Korala, located at an altitude of 4,650 metres, after the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border crossings were closed. The imported goods included 770.84 tonnes of walnuts, 703.8 tonnes of apples, 232.94 tonnes of pears, 222.77 tonnes of raisins, 103.43 tonnes of mangoes, 87.13 tonnes of dragon fruit and 66.19 tonnes of grapes. Other imports included garlic, edible oil, kiwi, chillies and timbur. After undergoing laboratory inspections at the quarantine facility, the goods are transported to Pokhara via the 186-kilometre Korala-Jomsom-Beni road.
Chitwan expects more than Rs 300 million in Dashain goat sales
Chitwan is expected to generate more than Rs 300 million in commercial transactions from goat sales alone during the Dashain festival. Meat industry representatives estimate that more than 15,000 goats and mountain goats will be consumed in the district, excluding animals raised and consumed by individual households. Demand increased sharply after Ghatasthapana, compared with approximately 10,000 animals sold during the festival last year. Local meat traders said the district has not imported goats from India for the past five years, citing the expansion of cooperative-based livestock farming. Live goats are selling for more than Rs 700 per kilogram, while the price of dressed meat stands at around Rs 1,200 per kilogram. More than 3,000 mountain goats have also arrived from Mustang, Jumla, Bajhang and Dolpa to meet festival demand. Meanwhile, poultry sales during the festival are expected to generate an additional Rs 40 million in business.
Madhesh Province sees deposit growth as lending declines by 0.18%
Madhesh Province recorded growth in total bank deposits but a slight decline in credit disbursement by the end of the previous fiscal year on July 16, 2026. According to annual economic activity reports published by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), deposits held by financial institutions across the province increased, supported by remittance inflows and domestic savings mobilised through commercial banks. However, lending to commercial, agricultural and industrial sectors declined by 0.18%. The decrease reflects cautious lending practices among commercial banks and subdued credit demand from local businesses amid broader economic adjustments in the province.
New suspension bridge restores connectivity across the Trishuli River
A newly constructed suspension bridge connecting Dhunge and Trishuli market in Bidur Municipality-1, Nuwakot, has opened, restoring a vital transport link across the Trishuli River. The bridge was built after floods in the Bhote Koshi River on August 26 destroyed two concrete bridges, disrupting movement between the settlements. Residents had been forced to rely on risky tuin and zipline systems to cross the river, making travel particularly difficult for communities around Trishuli market. The main structural components of the suspension bridge have been completed, improving pedestrian movement and facilitating the delivery of essential relief supplies and reconstruction materials to affected areas. The remaining work includes installing auxiliary support cables at four points on each side of the bridge to improve stability and ensure safe, long-term operation.
Dana-Rahughat section of Kali Gandaki Corridor transmission line resumes operation
The Dana-Rahughat section of the 220-kV Kali Gandaki Corridor transmission line in Myagdi has resumed operation after remaining out of service for 21 days due to landslides and the encroachment of the Kali Gandaki River. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) temporarily restored the section using an emergency restoration system (ERS) tower and brought one circuit of the transmission line into operation on Saturday night. Flooding had damaged four transmission towers in Annapurna Rural Municipality of Myagdi. Towers 21, 23 and 24 were completely destroyed, while tower 22 sustained partial damage. The disruption had cut off approximately 170 MW of electricity generated by five privately operated hydropower projects connected to the national grid through the Dana substation. With the transmission line back in operation, electricity from these projects has been reconnected to the national grid. The transmission line stretches approximately 130 kilometres from the Dana substation in Annapurna Rural Municipality-3 to the New Butwal substation in Sunwal Municipality-13, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West), passing through Parbat, Baglung, Syangja, Palpa and Rupandehi. It has a power transmission capacity of 1,200 MW.
Nepal Telecom to sponsor third edition of Nepal Premier League
Nepal Telecom will sponsor the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), scheduled to take place at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur from October 25 to November 21. Nepal Telecom Managing Director Sangita Pahadi and Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) General Manager Utsav Dhungana signed the sponsorship agreement on Sunday. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nepal Telecom Chief Technical Officer Dilliram Adhikari said the company had been supporting national-level cricket tournaments for years. He expressed confidence that its continued involvement would help strengthen the institutional development of cricket in the country.
Aabukhaireni expands roads, drinking water and public infrastructure
Aabukhaireni Rural Municipality has stepped up infrastructure development, prioritising road construction, drinking water networks, drainage systems and public service buildings. According to official progress reports, the local government has constructed 4,918 metres of concrete roads, paved 1,264 metres of roads with asphalt, built 881 metres of drainage channels and opened 3,554 metres of new rural road tracks. The municipality has also extended drinking water pipelines by 8,500 metres, installed four public water spouts, repaired 1,600 metres of damaged roads and constructed or renovated nine public service buildings. Five major road projects have received priority: the 1,808-metre Labdi-Buddha Singh Highway section, the 1,336-metre Khanikhola-Ring Road section, the 158-metre Labdi-Chimkeshwari road upgrade, the 560-metre Kusumbari-Pauwa Kholagaon road concreting project and a 414-metre infrastructure development project in Bhujelgaon.
Eighteen banks and financial institutions announce dividends from FY 2025/26 profits
Eighteen banks and financial institutions have announced dividend distributions to shareholders from profits earned in the 2025/26 fiscal year, according to the report. The institutions comprise nine commercial banks, five development banks, two finance companies and three microfinance institutions, although these categories add up to 19 institutions and require verification. Among the commercial banks, Nabil Bank, Global IME Bank, Sanima Bank, Everest Bank, Machhapuchhre Bank, Citizens Bank International, Kumari Bank and Siddhartha Bank credited dividends to investors before the Dashain holidays. NMB Bank announced its dividend plan, with its annual general meeting yet to be scheduled. Shangri-La Development Bank, Garima Bikas Bank, Shine Resunga Development Bank and Kamana Sewa Bikas Bank also distributed dividends before the festival. Miteri Development Bank, Manjushree Finance, First Microfinance and Global IME Microfinance were listed as planning distributions following their post-festival statutory meetings. Manjushree Finance’s annual general meeting is scheduled for November 6. ICFC Finance and Gurans Laghubitta had already completed their distributions, according to the report.
Nepal Telecom clarifies regulatory compliance over Rs 4,999 internet package
Nepal Telecom (NTC) issued a statement on Sunday, October 18, responding to media reports concerning its 30 Mbps fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) internet package priced at Rs 4,999. The company’s spokesperson urged the public and stakeholders not to be misled by reports following a notice issued by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) on Saturday, October 17, regarding compliance with licensing requirements. Nepal Telecom said it had regularly provided the regulatory authority with details of its service packages. It added that the 30 Mbps package was initially introduced as a student offer on July 14, 2026. The company urged the public to rely on verified information about its services and maintained that it was complying with regulatory requirements while continuing its network operations.
Pathibhara Temple collects more than Rs 3.3 million in offerings
Pathibhara Temple in Taplejung collected Rs 3,326,650 in offerings during the first three months of the current fiscal year, from mid-July to mid-October. According to figures released by the Pathibhara Area Development Committee on Saturday, offerings totalled Rs 318,500 in the first month, Rs 1.36 million in the second and Rs 1.64 million in the third. A total of 20,522 devotees visited the temple during the period. Of them, 2,469 visited in the first month, 6,123 in the second and 11,930 in the third. Both the number of visitors and the amount collected declined compared with the same period last year, when approximately 36,000 pilgrims visited the temple and offerings reached Rs 5.41 million. The collection fell by nearly Rs 2.1 million this year. The committee attributed the decline in pilgrim numbers partly to factors including the recent floods in the Bhote Koshi River.
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