Payment Systems in Nepal

Payment Systems in Nepal        

                    

Payment and Payment Systems

The action or process of paying someone in lieu of something is known as payment. It is one of the crucial functions executed by banks and financial institutions. Smooth operation of the payment functions not only helps the bank and financial institutions to ensure their swift operation but also that of the counterparties.

Besides accepting deposit, payment has been one of the crucial function that the banks and financial institutions have been carrying out since time immemorial. In the modern era, use of IT has been integral to simplify the complex mechanism of payment. As such the infusion of IT in Payment to make the whole process simple and swift is known as Payment Systems. More technically, a payment system is defined as an arrangement which allows transfer of funds between the payee and payer. It comprises of the institutions, instruments, people, rules, procedures, and technologies that enables the funds to move from accounts maintained in one financial institutions to another.

Rationale of Effective payment system

Payment systems is an integral part of every country’s financial system. The status of the payment system of the country can be taken as an indicator of the health/status of the economy of the country. 

A modern payment systems will not only reduce the cost of commerce but also help to improve the government budget balance by increasing tax revenue collection. As such there is an enormous role of payment system to ensure the smooth functioning of the economy. A modern payment system is beneficial for all concerned because of the following reasons:  

1.      An effective payment system ensures the soundness of monetary policy implementation and capital market development.

2.      It ensures that the cost of transfer of fund from one party to the other is minimized, thus reducing the cost of business transactions.

3.      It ensures quick realization of revenue by business firms and the government.

4.      A well developed and regulated payment system ensures transparency and also helps mitigate the money laundering process.

5.      Enhanced payments system also saves the users from risk of loss and theft.

6.      It also saves the central bank from the great deal of expenses required for circulating of the physical cash to various parts of the country, etc.

Current status of Payment Systems in Nepal

Payments institutions and mechanisms are integral component of payments landscape. The Payment System of Nepal is dominated by the banks and financial institutions However to develop and strengthen payment systems in Nepal, Nepal Rastra Bank established a Payment Systems Department on 2^nd July 2015, in accordance with the spirit of NRB Act and entrusted the department with the sole authority of regulation, supervision and oversight of the entire payment system in the country, including the non-bank financial institutions also.

In Nepalese context payments tools like cards, internet banking, mobile banking, e-wallets etc. are popular tools for the payment of retail value amount. Similarly, the users are availing Electronic Cheque Clearance (ECC), Interbank Payment System (IPS), SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), etc for the payment of transactions of large value.

Though it has been quite some period of time that Nepal has been using the modern means of payment systems, the volume of such use isn’t in significant number. However, though slow, the number of such users is increasing.

One key player in the payment systems domain of Nepal is NCHL (Nepal Clearing House Limited) that was established under the leadership of NRB in 2008 to enable electronic cheque clearing thus eliminating the need of physical routine of paper cheques. NCHL as of now has been offering services such as Electronic Cheque Clearance (ECC), which earlier was being manually handled by NRB. The number of cheques being processed via NCHL has been increasing. It cleared 96,86,277 cheques in the FY 2074/75, with daily cheques of 40,756 being processed and the average value of such cheques being Rs 26.6 billion. NCHL has also been offering services such as IPS (Inter Bank Payment) and now with Connect IPS which acts as a single platform for the users to initiate their payment transactions via their bank accounts.

Nabil Bank introduced Credit Card for the first time in Nepal in 2044 BS. Similarly Automated Tailor Machine (ATM) was introduced by Himalayan Bank in the year 2047 BS. Likewise Internet Banking was introduced in Nepal by Kumari Bank in 2047 BS, and it was Laxmi Bank that started SMS Banking in the year 2061 BS.

The use of mobile banking service offered by banks and financial institutions has been increasing. Such services allows the customers to conduct financial transactions remotely using a mobile device such as smartphone or tablet. Similarly users are also availing internet banking, also known as online banking or simply e-banking, which is electronic payment that enables the customer of banks and financial institutions to conduct a range of financial transactions through the website of the service providers. Likewise there has also been significant increase in the number of users of the debit cards. The increase in the outlets of ATM (2791 as of FY 2074/75) terminals along with the convenience to use them in Point of Sales (POS) machine has increased the popularity of the use of debit cards. The graph below depict the recent status of users of mobile/internet banking and debit card users.

    

Existing Legal Framework

Development of a robust Payment System has been one of the key priority of both the Government of Nepal and the Central bank of the country, Nepal Rastra Bank.  For example, the NRB’s second strategic plan of 2012—2016 included payment systems and mechanisms as one of its seven strategic pillars. Continuity to the second strategic plan, third strategic plan 2017-2021 has focused on pillar as “Sound and Effective Payment System".

The role of NRB has been directed towards the developing financial market infrastructures and promoting electronic payment systems.  As one of the primary functions of the Central bank as per NRB Act, 2002 is “to develop a secure healthy and efficient systems of payments”, NRB has been performing in the same spirit.

In this connection, NRB has established a separate Department on 2072/3/17 in the name of Payment Systems Department. This department is the revamping of the earlier known as Payment and Settlement Department, with power to regulate, inspect, and supervise payment, clearing and settlement arrangement related activities in Nepal. 

Nepal Rastra Bank as of now has formulated and implemented Banks and Financial Institution Act, 2073, National Payment System Development Strategy 2014, Licensing policy for Payment Related Institutions 2073, Payment Systems Oversight Framework 2018, Payment and Settlement Bylaw 2072, Payment and Settlement Act is under review in Federal Parliament, and it has also issued 7 different directives to guide and direct payment systems related activities in Nepal.

Way forward

The overall ambience is much conducive for igniting a take-off phase of payment systems in Nepal. The internet penetration is 63% of total population as per date of October 2017, an increase of 15.60% than that of the last year. Similarly the number of mobile phone users in the country is 34% higher than the total estimated population of the country as per data furnished by NTA on Ashad, 2075. Likewise the development of Payment Systems has been on topmost priority of both Government of Nepal and the Nepal Rastra Bank.

As development of an efficient and robust payment systems is in top priority of the central bank of Nepal, and also that of Government of Nepal, NRB together with stakeholders has been introducing and implementing various alternatives for promotion of the same.

NRB has been focusing on the licensing of the institutions that intend to provide payment related services. It has been providing license in two categories as PSP (Payment Service Providers) and PSO (Payment Service Operators). As of date it has provided license to 41 Banks and Financial institutions, and to 5 non-Banks and Financial institutions, and has provided Letter of Intent to 25 institutions. The number of such service providers is likely to increase in the days to come.

NRB has proposed a module of National Payment System which consists integrated RTGS and CSD. Such a system encompasses RTGS linked to the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Customs, and Inland Revenue Department (IRD) via core banking.  Similarly it has placed a full-fledged regulatory framework and Payment System ACT is under review in the federal parliament. NRB has also focused on the interoperability of payment systems and tools so as to reduce the cost of using such tools and also to facilitate convenience. As such the future is optimistic regarding moving towards a cash less economy.

(The writer is Assistant Director in Nepal Rastra Bank and the view presented in this article is his personal one and doesn’t represent the view/opinion of the organization to which he is related to)

Reference:

·         Sixty Years of Nepal Rastra Bank, NRB Baluwatar, 2018

·         nrb.org,np

·         Nepal Clearing House Limited. Overview. Nepal Clearing House limited website(online), 2011

·         NRB 2011 Second Strategic Plan (2012-2016)

Published in "LakshyaYatra", an annual publication of Rastriya Banijya Bank Ltd, Employee Union, December-2018

अबको बाटो डिजिटल बैंकिङ, Jul 29, 2019

अबको बाटो डिजिटल बैंकिङ

                                                                                                              July 29, 2019

लेख | दृष्टिकोण

वित्तीय समावेशिताको आधार तय गर्ने नयाँ उपकरण

अमिष ढुंगेल

सोह्रौं शताब्दीमा बैंक अफ इङल्यान्डको स्थापनासँगै आधुनिक बैंकिङको शुरूआत भएको मानिन्छ । प्राचीन कालदेखि नै आधारभूत बैंकिङ कारोबारका लागि समेत विभिन्न उपकरणको प्रयोग भइरहेकोमा आधुनिक बैंकिङसँगै यसमा नवीनतम उपकरणहरू थपिएका छन् । सन् १९७० को दशकमा बैंकिङ क्षेत्रमा कम्प्युटरको प्रयोग शुरू भएकोमा सन् १९८० को दशकमा सोको प्रयोग आधारभूत आवश्यकताका रूपमा विकास भएको थियो । अझ १९९० मा एक आश्चर्यका रूपमा विकसित भएकोे इन्टरनेट प्रविधिले दशकौंदेखि चलिआएको बैंकिङ प्रणालीमा क्रान्तिकारी रूपान्तरण ल्यायो । हाल कम्प्युटर र इन्टरनेटको प्रयोगविना बैंकिङ कारोबार सञ्चालन गर्नु कल्पनाभन्दा परको कुरा हुन गएको छ । 

विश्वव्यापी रूपमा आधुनिक प्रविधिमा आधारित बैंकिङ प्रणालीमा भएको आमूल परिवर्तनको कारण नेपाली बैंकिङ क्षेत्रमा समेत क्रमिक रूपमा परिवर्तन आएको छ । सन् १९९५ मा हिमालय बैंकले एटीएमको थालनी गर्नु, सन् २००१ मा कुमारी बैंकले ई–बैंकिङको थाल्नु आदि यही परिवर्तनको सूचक हो । पश्चिमा मुलुकहरूमा प्रयोगमा आएका÷आउने प्रविधि नेपालमा तुरून्तै भित्रिने अवस्थाको सृजना भएको छ । हाल नेपाली बैंकिङ क्षेत्रमा विभिन्न प्रकृतिका आधुनिक भुक्तानी प्रणालीका उपकरणहरू जस्तै डेविट कार्ड, क्रेडिट कार्ड, प्रिपेड कार्ड, मोबाइल बैंकिङ, इन्टरनेट बैंकिङ, पोइन्ट अफ सेल मेशिन, प्वाइन्ट अफ ट्रान्ज्याक्शन मेशिन, नियर फिन्ड कम्युनिकेशन कार्ड, क्यूआर कोड, इलेक्ट्रोनिक चेक क्लियरेन्स आदिको प्रयोगले पनि सो कुरालाई प्रमाणित गर्छ । नेपाली भुक्तानी प्रणालीलाई अझ सरल, व्यवस्थित र भरपर्दो बनाउन नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले रियल टाइम ग्रस सेटलमेन्टको स्थापनालाई अन्तिम चरणमा पु¥याएको छ भने राष्ट्रिय भुक्तानी प्रणाली स्थापनाका लागि पनि अध्ययन गरिरहेको छ । 

विद्युतीय उपकरणहरूको बढ्दो प्रयोगले दैनिक जनजीवनलाई सहज एवम् सरल बनाए तापनि ती उपकरणको प्रयोगबाट विभिन्न प्रकृतिका जोखिम आउन सक्ने सम्भावना रहन्छ । भविष्यमा आउन सक्ने जोखिमको मूल्यांकन गरेर नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले आधुनिक भुक्तानी प्रणालीलाई व्यवस्थित गर्दै जोखिम न्यूनीकरण गर्न भुक्तानी प्रणाली विभाग गठन गरेको छ । उक्त विभागले भुक्तानी प्रणालीको नियमन तथा सुपरिवेक्षण र पारदर्शी एवम् सहज भुक्तानीको सुविधा प्रदान गर्ने कार्यलाई उच्च प्राथमिकतामा राखी कार्यसम्पादन गर्दै आएको छ । विसं २०७६ जेठ अन्त्यसम्म बैंकले ४६ बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थालाई विद्युतीय भुक्तानी कार्यका लागि अनुमति पत्र दिएको छ । पाँच गैरबैंकलाई भुक्तानी सेवाप्रदायकको कार्य र चार गैरबैंकलाई भुक्तानी प्रणाली सञ्चालककोे कार्यका लागि अनुमतिपत्र दिइसकेको छ ।

बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थाबाट प्रदान गर्ने सेवासुविधा सर्वसुलभ रूपमा जनताले घरआँगनबाटै प्राप्त गर्न सकून् भन्ने अभिप्रायले नेपाल सरकारले सबै स्थानीय तहमा बैंकको शाखा खोल्ने काम प्राथमिकताका साथ लागू गरेको छ । नेपालको भौगोलिक विविधताका कारण सबै स्थानीय तहमा बैंक शाखा खोले तापनि छरिएर रहेको बस्ती भएकाले बैंकिङ सुविधालाई अझ सरल र सहज बनाउन चुनौतीपूर्ण देखिन्छ । त्यसैले नेपाल सरकार तथा नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले आधुनिक भुक्तानीको उपकरणलाई अझ प्रभावकारी बनाउन लागेको छ । ती उपकरणका माध्यमबाट डिजिटल बैंकिङको सुविधा व्यापक बनाउन नेपाल सरकार र नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले संयुक्त रूपमा कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गर्दै आएका छन् ।

आधुनिक बैंकिङका उपकरणको आवश्यकता मनन गर्दै नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले हालसालै सार्वजनिक गरेको मौद्रिक नीति २०७६/७७ मा समेत सो सम्बन्धमा उल्लेख्य योजनाहरू राखेको छ । यसबाट केन्द्रीय बैंकले आधुनिक भुक्तानी प्रणालीलाई उच्च प्राथमिकतामा राखेको प्रस्ट हुन्छ । डिजिटल बैंकिङको प्रयोगलाई विस्तारै बढाउने योजना अनुरूप सो नीतिले डिजिटलाइजेशन तथा फिनटेकको प्रयोगलाई व्यापक बनाउने, सो सम्बन्धी पूर्वाधारहरूको विकास गर्दै जाने, मोबाइल तथा इन्टरनेट बैंकिङको प्रयोगलाई सुदूरमा पु¥याउने, पीओएस तथा क्यास डिपोजिट मेशिन आदिको प्रयोगलाई प्रोत्साहन गर्ने आदि योजना नीतिमा उल्लिखित छन् । यिनै सकारात्मक प्रयासले आगामी दिनमा डिजिटल कारोबार बढ्ने र यसले समग्र अर्थतन्त्रलाई नै योगदान दिने कुरामा विश्वस्त हुन सकिन्छ ।

डिजिटल बैंकिङलाई अझ प्रभावकारी बनाउन नेपाल सरकारले डिजिटल नेपाल नामक कार्यक्रम घोषणा गरेको छ । सो कार्यलाई सार्थक बनाउन नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले आवश्यक नीतिनियम बनाउनुका अतिरिक्त भुक्तानी सेवाप्रदायक र भुक्तानी प्रणाली सञ्चालकको अनुमतिपत्र प्रदान गर्दै आएको एवम् बैंकले हालसालै विद्युतीय माध्यमबाट हुने कारोबारको सीमालाई उल्लेखनीय रूपमा वृद्वि गरेको छ । विश्वबजारमा आएका विद्युतीय भुक्तानीका उपकरणहरूलाई नेपालमा भिœयाउने सम्बन्धमा बैंकले तथ्यपरक रूपमा खोज, अनुुसन्धान गरेर मात्र यस्ता उपकरण नेपालमा ल्याउन अनुमति दिने गरेको छ । 

डिजिटल बैंकिङका उपकरणको पहुँचबाट कर्मचारी खर्चमा कटौती, कर्मचारी व्यवस्थापनमा सहजता, छोटो समयमा नै सेवा प्रवाह गर्न सकिने, जुनसुुकै समय र स्थानमा कारोबार सञ्चालन गर्न सकिने अवस्था सृजना हुन्छ । यसबाट उत्पादकत्वमा वृद्धि, ग्राहकको हित, सुरक्षा तथा सन्तुष्टिमा अभिवृद्धि हुने र मानिसको जीवनशैलीमा समेत सकारात्मक परिवर्तन आउने देखिएकाले यस प्रकारका उपकरणको प्रयोग बढ्दो छ । 

देशका अधिकांश भूभागमा दूरसञ्चार सुविधा रहेको, इन्टरनेटको सुविधा सर्वसुलभ र सस्तो भएको, मोबाइल पेनिट्रेशन उच्च रहेको जस्ता कारणले डिजिटल बैंकिङका लागि नेपाल उर्वरभूमि बनेको छ । त्यसैले डिजिटल बैंकिङको प्रयोग बढाउन थप योगदान गर्नुपर्ने टड्कारो आवश्यकता रहेको छ । डिजिटल बैंकिङका माध्यमबाट बैंकिङ सुविधा प्रदान गर्न उल्लेखनीय खर्च नलाग्ने, भएकै पूर्वाधारमा आधारित भएर सेवा प्रदान गर्न सक्ने, सोको प्रयोग पनि सरल हुने आदि कारणले वित्तीय समावेशीकरण पनि बढाउने निश्चित प्रायः छ । 

यसको अर्को फाइदा भनेको बैंकिङको मूलप्रभावभन्दा टाढा रहेको सीमान्तकृत, गरीबीको रेखामुनि रहेको जनसंख्या आदिलाई सजिलै समेट्न सक्नु हो । डिजिटल बैंकिङको माध्यमबाट कारोबार गर्दा नगद कारोबारमा कमी भई कागजी नोट छपाइमा हुने खर्चमा कमी हुनुका साथै नोटको आयुमा वृद्धि हुने, कारोबार पारदर्शी हुने, नगद चोरी हुने हराउने क्षति हुने कार्यमा कमी भई नगद कारोबारमा हुने झन्झट कम हुने, समयको बचत हुने, प्राप्त र भुक्तानी गर्नेले समयमा नै कारोबार सम्पन्न गर्ने अवस्थाको सृजना हुने, अवैध कारोबारमा कमी आउने र कालोधन बैंकिङ च्यानलमा ल्याउन अप्ठ्यारो हुने हुँदा नियमनकारी निकायलाई समेत सजिलो हुन्छ । डिजिटल कारोबार बढ्दै जाँदा व्यवसायीहरूले गर्ने कारोबार समेत देखिने भएकाले ती कारोबार करको दायरामा आउनेछन् । यसले गर्दा वर्तमान अवस्थामा भइरहेको कर चुहावट, करछलीलाई समेत कानूनी दायरामा ल्याउन सजिलो हुने आकलन गर्न सकिन्छ । 

तसर्थ डिजिटल बैंकिङ समयको माग हो । यस सन्दर्भमा नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकबाट इजाजत प्राप्त बैंक तथा गैरबैंक संस्थाले दूरसञ्चार सेवाप्रदायक संस्थाहरूको सहयोगबाट भुक्तानीका आधुनिक प्रविधिहरूको सेवा प्रदान गरी जनताको जीवनयापनमा सहजीकरण गर्नुपर्ने आजको आवश्यकता हो । त्यसैले बंैक तथा वित्तीय संस्था र गैरबंैक तथा वित्तीय संस्थाहरूले आधुनिक भुक्तानी प्रणालीका उपकरणको सञ्चालन र विस्तार कार्यलाई उच्च प्राथमिकतामा राखी काम गर्नुपर्ने र नेपाल सरकार, नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंक र सम्बद्ध निकायले यस्ता कारोबारको निगरानी र नियमन गर्नुपर्ने देखिन्छ ।

 लेखक नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकका सहायक निर्देशक हुन् ।

Published in Arthik Abhiyan National Daily on July, 30, 2019.

Curbing Illegal Payment

Curbing Illegal Payment

The first quarter of 2019 showed a whopping increment in the flow of tourists by 15 percent. This is supportive to the Government of Nepal (GoN) aim of having 2 million tourist inflows by 2020. Traditionally India, China, Sri Lanka, etc. have been the major sources of tourists to Nepal. Last year showed a strong increment of Chinese tourists by 46.8 percent. During four months of the current year, China tops the tourist source with the inflow of 64,578 tourists, followed by India.

Though tourist inflow is increasing, the average daily expenditure of tourists hasn’t increased on a proportionate basis. Such spending has reached $44 per day which is lowest in the last seven-year. This has resulted in lesser earning for the country. Inflow of low-end tourists followed by huge amount of money not entering into the national accounts because of use of unauthorized means of payments by the tourists accounts for lesser income.

Alarmed by the presence of unauthorized Chinese digital platform giants like Alipay and WeChat, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank of the country which also regulates non-bank payment institutions, issued a circular prohibiting unauthorised payment means, and warned users and service providers to refrain from such services. 

With the inflow of Chinese tourists to Nepal and abundance of Chinese businessmen in major tourist destinations running hotels, restaurants, and other businesses, the transaction is being made via such Chinese payment platforms which causes the transaction to be booked in Chinese Yuan in China. Such transaction is not recorded in Nepal causing losses of foreign exchange earnings and loss of revenue on the earnings repatriated. A similar case may also be found of users availing digital wallets from other neighboring countries.

The news of the ban has created a stir in China as both of the wallets are leading payment service providers in China. Alipay has registered a user base of more than 1 billion in 40 countries and WeChat has 900 million-plus global users in 49 countries. China is the second-largest tourist source it is a matter of fact that there is huge earning potential from this tourist base. And with GoN preparing for Visit Nepal Year 2020, these issues should be sorted out beforehand.

To amicably solve the problem in our favor, GoN in the short term should take up the issue with Chinese Government who in turn should be generous enough to ask Alipay and WeChat to track and block all those illegal payments via GPS tracking, and in the long term should create environment to legalize those digital wallets. With regulatory authority (NRB) having Licensing Policy and another legal framework in place, licensing of such wallets doesn’t seem to be a difficult task. 

Legalizing such digital wallets means that GoN will be able to collect the foreign exchange earnings and tax on the transactions and also encourage Chinese tourists to visit Nepal as they will be able to make the transaction via their favorite homegrown digital wallet without having to worry about any legal repercussions.

(Dhungel is an Assistant Director at Nepal Rastra Bank)  

Published in The Rising Nepal, May 30, 2019 

Digital banking in Nepal: Focus on infrastructure, security

A banking service involves a customer’s presence at an outlet to perform a transaction. This has compelled the banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to open large numbers of branches across different geographical areas. They are now opening branches across the 753 local levels, as directed by the regulatory authority.

Winning over customers traditionally meant extension of the bank network and offering suitable products and services at a competitive rate. However, with the advent of modern alternative channels of banking, the concept of physical outlets has started to look less relevant. As Bill Gates said in 2008, “banking is essential, banks are not”. The use of internet technology to provide bank services has changed the way banking is done, and will change the banking industry as a whole in the days to come. As such, digital banking refers to the process of facilitating various banking activities using electronic channels, like Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sales (POS), telephone, mobile phone, the internet and SWIFT transfers.

It was as early as 1990 that Nepali banks started adopting means of digital banking. The medium of digital banking for the payment of retail transactions in Nepal are cards, internet banking, mobile banking, e-wallets, POS machines and Point of Transactions (POT) machines. Similarly digital banking tools that the users are availing for the transaction of large volumes are Electronic Cheque Clearance (ECC), Interbank Payment System (IPS) and SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). From mobile top to utility bill payment; from ticket booking to money transfer – banking users are gradually adapting themselves to digital banking in both remote as well as urban areas.

The number of cash-based transactions has been decreasing every year. NRB has been discouraging cash-based transactions by reducing the limit to such transactions. For instance, a banking transaction is now limited to Rs 1 million from Rs 3 million. Similarly the volume of Electronic Cheque Transactions has been increasing through the NRB-promoted Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL). Similarly, an increase in the number of ATM outlets (2791 in 2074/75) along with POS machines has enhanced the popularity of debit cards.

However, going digital is no piece of cake. The SWIFT hacking of NIC Asia Bank the previous year, thefts in a number of ATMs and the recent theft from Esewa have increased concerns about the reliability of digital banking in Nepal. Despite the internet’s access to 63% of the total population, access to digital banking among the same mass is really low. This is because people still regard digital banking a complicated procedure. And although they know that a wide range of transactions can be done through their mobile phones, people hesitate to make use of them. A regulating system is being developed, which has created confusion for the service providers. Time and again update on the threshold for mobile payment is another confusion.

Inability to maintain robust infrastructure has been a hindrance to the development of digital banking in the country. We lack standard IT tools, a dearth of skilled manpower, poor infrastructure and the use of pirated software is high. Security is a big concern. The National Cyber Security Index 2018 ranks Nepal 92th out of 100. This means that Nepal’s ability to prevent cyber threats and manage unintended cyber incidents is poor.

Though an increasing number of people are using digital banking services, most people still prefer traditional banking practices. For a country like Nepal, with a literacy rate of 64% and 60% of the population still without a bank account, it is a challenge for the regulators and market players to promote digital banking.

So as to promote digital banking in Nepal, the central regulatory authority, Nepal Rastra Bank, established a Payment Systems Department on July 2, 2015, with the sole authority of regulation, supervision and oversight of the entire payment system in the country, including licensed non-bank financial institutions. At present NRB has been providing license to non-banking financial institutions as Payment Service Provider (PSP) and Payment Systems Operator (PSO).

Nepal Rastra Bank has formulated and implemented a number of acts and laws and by-laws and issued directives to guide payment systems-related activities in Nepal. A Payment System Act is under review in the federal parliament. NRB has also focussed on tools to reduce the cost of using such tools and also to make it convenient. The overall ambience is conducive for igniting a take-off phase of payment systems in Nepal. The internet penetration is 63% of the total population as of 2017. Similarly the number of mobile phone users in the country is 34% higher than the total estimated population of the country. Likewise, the development of Payment Switch has also been topmost priority of both the government and the NRB.

The era of digitalisation has already entered Nepal as it can be seen in every sector – from local governance to transportation and Inland Revenue Department. The future looks optimistic about moving towards a cashless economy.

Dhungel is Assistant Director at NRB and Regmi Assistant Manager at Rastriya Banijya Bank

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A version of this article appears in print on May 20, 2019 of The Himalayan Times.

Forex reserve of Nepal: Current status

Forex reserve of Nepal has been decreasing. Monetary policy 18/19 has a target of maintaining Forex reserve sufficient to cover 8 months of imports of goods and services. However according to first quarterly review of current monetary policy such reserve stands to cover 7.9 months of such imports.

Inspite of remittance growth, increasing volume of imports vis-a-vis dismay exports, deficit forex earning via tourism sector( Nepalese spending abroad amounts NPR 29 Arab and that earned by Tourism industry is NPR 15 Arab), etc have contributed for such state of economy. Central bank, as such has decreased exchange limit to $1500 from $2000. This can be helpful for short term but in the long run government should attempt measures to address the widening trade deficit, introduce planned development measures for tourism industry, and other industries that will diversify Forex earning. hashtag#stateofeconomy hashtag#current hashtag#centralbank hashtag#forex hashtag#reserve hashtag#stability hashtag#concern

Overcoming the Trust deficit

Nepal at present is in the dire need of capable political leaders that can break-through the current situation of uncertain political situation, towards laying strong foundation for progressive and peaceful new Nepal. However at present there is a serious leadership crisis because of which the country has not been able to put strategic focus on things of priority. The bitter fact is that acute incapability of contemporary political leaders has led our nation into doldrums. Time and again some beacon of hope in form of youth leaders arises in Nepalese political sector however even they not being able to make remarkable contribution to country, whether constrained by the corrupt system or any other reason.

The general public has huge distrust and confidence crisis towards the political parties and its leaders. The main reason being their inability to deliver the promises to the people. Be it political parties, government, or their leaders, the promises for positive changes and development comes strongly during election times which later turns into damn lies. The leaders become helpless citing a reason or other; foreign interference, coalition pressure, opposition parties, etc. For example Confession of Ex-PM Sushil Koirala that he couldn’t delivers as expected and that his team has become more corrupt is one of its kinds. It is astounding for the top executive heads of the country to mark such helpless comments without making deliberate effort to crack-down the corrupt and clumsy system of the country.

It is not only the political parties and their leaders that confronts trust deficit but also the government. Consecutive failure to deliver according to election manifestos is a one of the reason for the same. Politics in Nepal has mostly centered on government formation and breaking down. There is always presence of opposition party that makes enough exercises to out-throw the ruling parties from power and this happens ad infinitum. And ruling party exerting adequate effort to stay in power. As such more energy and resources are utilized for government changes and its retention than delivering on the strategic agendas of the country.

It is also evident that there is large chunk of intellectual population that always keep advising what politicians are supposed to do, but are very hesitant to dirt their hand to clean the political system by involving themselves. It should be admitted that the first step towards restoring trust on political system would be the entry of capable and visionary intellectuals with clean background into it. Also the need to elect capable and honest leaders is of paramount importance. Also, until and unless the leaders that we choose don’t live up to our aspiration, trust will not establish and society will not progress. Such elected people should make sure that government so formed initiate measures to be more open and approachable. As citizens we should also restore our confidence on politicians and ensure our active engagement in government affairs. Active engagement of citizens would ensure transparency, accountability and trustworthiness on the government and its leaders.

Capitalizing the Youth Energy

Nepal is a young country with about 70% (i.e. 15.91 million) of the total population below the age of 35 years. Approximately 38.8% of total population is marked by the age between 16-40 years. It is for that reason our country Nepal stands as one with lowest median age of 22 years. In spite of its youthful population, Nepal has not been able to mark rapid economic development in absence of stable political situation and policies to govern the youth employability issues.

It is estimated that every year 500,000 jobs needs to be created to provide full employment to the youth force that enter the labor market. However it is no surprise that only a fraction of those youths get job in local market while most of them are bound to leave country for employment opportunities. Figures estimate that approximately 350,000 to 400,000 youths leave the country each year as a migrant worker. It is a matter of fact that around 1500 youths leave country each day in search of better future abroad, most of them being as migrant worker.  Rests are either educated youths who land to developed countries in search of better future or youths who stay in country; unemployed and mostly uneducated.

PC: www.uphondo.com

While the population of youth is very large in Nepal, the status of youth in workforce is somehow poor. Most of the youths who leave country as migrant worker are unskilled. This not only leads to ill-treatment of the workers abroad, but also results to low per capita remittance flow to the country.  In spite of this, remittance from abroad contributes more than 25% of GDP, which is nearly double the country’s revenue from export of goods and services. However the pity being that remittance has not been channelized towards investments in wealth creating projects. Beside migrant workers, the migrating trend of educated youths is in the rise. This sometimes leads to dearth of qualified workers in national projects of long term strategic importance. The disappointment also being that the sectors which have maximum involvement of youths are also not effectively managed. For example, agriculture sector which employs about 74% of total labor force has contribution to GDP of less than 35%.  As such the nation has not been able to capitalize most out of its youthful population.

 With around 70% of total workforce integrating into international labor market every year; it is evident that this trend will increase even further.  The median age of Nepal is 22 years and with population growth rate of 2%, it will decline further. While proportion of labor force is decreasing significantly in western world, that of Nepal is increasing. As such Nepal has comparative advantage in the global context, with regard to the labor force. As a least developed country (LDC) aiming to graduate from LDC by 2022, Nepal is still to use its resources for rapid development, including the human resources. Success to develop quality manpower will not only contribute more for national building but also increase remittance from abroad.

As such, the need of time is to address the youth employability issues via proper policy. A recent improvement in this direction has been the introduction of Employment Policy 2015. The policy aims to provide training to youths in sector of strategic importance like agriculture, hydro-power, tourism, manufacturing etc. It also aims to promote entrepreneurship spirit by providing seed money to aspiring youths while also linking them to domestic markets. Thus the policy does not only envisage creating employment opportunities in local market but also aims to improve the status of migrant workers by providing them necessary training. However, government should consider a proper implementation of this policy unlike the erstwhile Youth self-Employment program of providing Rs.200,000 per youths as seed money where the fund was found to be misused by most of the party aides. Failure to do so would have serious ramifications in long term where Nepal might enter into phase of economic colonization as suppliers of clerks to the whole world. 

Indo-Nepal relationship in need of an overhaul

                 

Nepal and India shares a special relationship since time immemorial. The dynamics of Indo-Nepal relationship cannot be ascertained without comprehending multi factors upon which the relationship of both the countries is based on. As neighbors, Nepal and India are not only linked by land mass but also have many common grounds of mutual cooperation and understandings. Two countries are linked culturally, religiously, economically, and also politically.  In spite of this special bonding between the two countries, many a times bilateral disputes arise which have strained the climate of trust and boding. Such conditions have been prevalent now in Nepal after the promulgation of constitution, in which some of the suggestions of the Indian establishment were ignored by the Nepalese political parties. These difficult conditions are not new, but result of Indian interfering behavior of India, based on the faulty treaties between Nepal and India, which needs a timely review and renewal to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Nepal foreign policy is largely based on two doctrine of foreign policy of its founder King Prithvi Narayan Shan which states: “Nepal is a sandwich between India and China”, and “Do not involve in offense, but any warfare should be based on defensive basis only.” Thus these two principles can be taken as the pillars of foreign policy of Nepal.

Though formal diplomatic relationship was established only on 13^th June, 1947, Indo-Nepal relationship has been marked by extensive cooperation and mutual understanding, crossing the limits of formality. The relationship between the two countries is one of its kind and very much inter-related and inter-dependent. Many a times, foreign affairs experts opine that the policy of Nepal with India is in fact the foreign policy of Nepal.

One of an important dynamics of Indo-Nepal relations is the latter’s economic dependence on India. Nepal gets 2/3 of its exports from Indian, including necessities like petroleum products for which it totally depends on India. Its current trade deficit with India has crossed USD 3.80 billion, and is ever increasing. India also has been contributing on the political developments in Nepal, which most of the time has been debatable, leading backlash in both the countries. Pioneer leaders of Nepalese political parties were involved in the Indian Independence movement and had a good relationship with the leaders like MK Gandhi, Nehru, Lohia, etc. After the Indian independence, it assisted the political transition in Nepal with the advent of constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy by ousting the 104 years Rana oligarchy. Since then India has been having a say in political developments in Nepal and has been using it as a mechanism to maintain its big brotherhood attitude in Nepal.

While, as a buffer state between India and China, Nepal has been successful to maintain an arm’s length distance between its immediate neighbors. Nepal is committed to avoid the use of its land against security concerns of India (terrorism, money laundering etc.) and as also vividly supports one-China policy.  Nepalese delegates keep on reiterating these policies whenever they are engaged in mutual discourse with the delegation from its immediate neighbors. As such it can be said that Nepal has been able to address the security concern of its neighboring countries.

Among the earliest treaty between India and Nepal is Peace and Friendship treaty-1950 which envisions a common custom regime, free employment, and free movement across border, etc. While the basic structure of governance in India remains the same, it has undergone massive change in Nepal since the Peace and Friendship treaty of 1950 was signed. Thus time and again the need to amend 65 years old treaty is felt.

Over the years there have been quite a few instances of ups and downs in the Indo-Nepal relationship. 1990 blockade, Mahakhali treaty, Pancheswar Treaty, Bhutanese refugee issue, border disputes in Susta and Lipulek , and recent unofficial blockade of India after the promulgation of the constitution in Nepal, etc are few to name. These issues led to a massive outpour of anti-Indian sentiments in Nepal, which had led the relationship between the countries to a record low

The sooner the better, leaders from both the countries should realize that foreign relation based on the principle of Panchasheel, UN charter, international norms of Peace and welfare etc.  can help. As per the need of the time, India and Nepal should overhaul the diplomatic relationship and also the relevant treaties which lay foundation to such relationship. This can lead towards foundation of trust in upcoming diplomatic courses between the countries. Similarly India should stop meddling into political happenings in Nepal which while focusing on the miniature affairs, may end up jeopardizing its strategic concerns in Nepal. In the same way, Nepalese political leaders should display maturity in dealing with its giant neighbor. Nepalese government should consolidate the foreign policy of the country and empower foreign ministry to execute its diplomatic affairs.

In the recent context India should have been gracious in welcoming Nepal’s new constitution while registering its reservations/suggestions. Thus, India need to immediately correct the course and remove the blockade in Nepal and create a congenial environment for overhauling the overall diplomatic relations between the two countries.