Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) organized regular media interaction program at NBA Office, Central Business Park, Kathmandu. The objective of the program was to provide updates on the current economic landscape and share relevant insights about the banking industry which also served as an interactive platform for addressing queries from media representatives on various contemporary banking and financial issues.
Delivering the opening remarks, NBA President Mr. Santosh Koirala warmly welcomed all and expressed sincere gratitude to the media for their continuous support and collaboration. He highlighted that while macroeconomic indicators have shown some positive signs, the Nepalese banking sector continues to face significant challenges. He emphasized that banks’ profitability has been severely impacted, with distributable profits in negative, ROE has been consistently declining. He also pointed raising NPL and recovery as a major challenge, emphasizing the need to enhance the confidence level of entrepreneurs. Mr. Koirala further highlighted the operational difficulties faced by banks, pointing out growing security concerns as financial institutions are increasingly being physically attacked and threatened. He stressed that the government must take these security issues seriously to ensure a safe and stable banking environment.
NBA Vice-President, Mr. Surendra Raj Regmi, emphasized that Nepal’s banking sector remains highly competitive, resilient, and well-regulated and has been one of the most transparent sectors in Nepal. Mr. Regmi highlighted that though the NPL is rising but they remain at manageable levels. He underscored that, as trustees of public funds, banks must be safeguarded to ensure financial stability. He also expressed gratitude to the media for their continued cooperation and support in fostering a positive business environment. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of the government’s role in boosting economic activities and creating a conducive environment for sustainable economic growth.
During the session, NBA Executive Director Mr. Anil Sharma, delivered a comprehensive and insightful overview of both national and international economic scenarios. He provided a thorough analysis of the latest economic trends and developments, with a special emphasis on Nepal’s banking industry in-depth financial analysis of the second quarter of current fiscal year. He also emphasized the importance of creating an enabling business environment, increasing capital expenditure, attracting foreign direct investment and grants, enhancing public and entrepreneurial confidence, ensuring the timely payment of government outstanding dues, and promoting key sectors such as tourism, services, and hydropower as a way forward to tackle the current economic challenges.
The interaction program witnessed the participation of media personnels representing various media houses.
