Carpet industry hit

KATHMANDU: Nepal Rugmark Foundation has expressed its serious concern over damages caused to property in carpet factories following recent cases of vandalism.

Such incidents have caused a total decline in the carpet industry, said a press statement issued by the foundation today. This will badly affect employment of carpet workers who are relying on the industry for their livelihood, adds the statement. Calling on the government to pay special attention to the security of the carpet industry, the foundation has urged all concerned parties to resolve their differences through dialogues. — RSS

Factory opens at Ilam

ILAM: A plywood factory has been established in Ilam for the first time. While the investment cost of the factory is estimated to be six million rupees, about 50 people are expected to find employment in the factory. — RSS

Iran gas for Armenia

YEREVAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Armenian counterpart were due Monday to inaugurate a natural gas pipeline reducing energy-strapped Armenia’s reliance on Russian gas. Ahmadinejad and Armenian President Robert Kocharian were to formally open the pipeline in the Armenian town of Meghri, near the border with Iran. Under a 20-year contract, Armenia is projected to receive 36 billion cubic metres of gas through the 141-kilometre (89-mile) pipeline, breaking Russian gas giant Gazprom’s stranglehold on the ex-Soviet country’s gas market. — AFP

Eastern Airlines’ profit

HONG KONG: China Eastern Airlines Corp., one of the three biggest Chinese state carriers, said Monday it flew 2.82 million passengers in February, 10.4 per cent more than February a year ago. The Shanghai-based airline said its cargo tonnage rose 4.6 per cent to 57,470 metric tons (63,217 short tons) in February. Year-earlier figures weren’t available. In the first two months, the airline carried 5.45 million passengers, up 6.7 per cent from the same period last year.—AFP