New BoAN branch

KATHMANDU: Bank of Asia Nepal (BoAN) on Thursday opened its sixth branch at New Road. The bank provides facility of Sulabh Bachat Khata with annual interest of 6.5 per cent and Samridhi Bachat Khata with 6 per cent interest rate. The bank already has branches at Tripureshwor, Jawalakhel, and in Biratnagar as well as Itahari. It plans to open new branches in Kalanki, Bhaktapur and Banepa and at Birtamod. — HNS

Malakar in TU council

KATHMANDU: Surendra Bir Malakar, president of Nepal Chambers of Commerce, has been chosen a member of Tribhuvan University (TU)

Assembly. According to a press statement, Prime Minister and Chancellor of TU, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ selected Malakar at the recommendation of the TU working

committee. — HNS

Betel nut import

BHADRAPUR: Nepal imported betel nut worth more than Rs 1 billion through the eastern entry point, Kakarvitta, during the last fiscal year. According to Mechi Customs office, 37,745 metric tonnes of betel nut valued at over Rs 1.88 billion were imported. Of the Rs 1,245.77 million total revenue, a slab of Rs 343.712 million alone was collected from betel nut, customs officer Ram Hari Aryal said.Betel nut from Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia is imported via the Kakartvitta entry point. — RSS

China, Singapore FTA

SHANGHAI: China and Singapore have wrapped up negotiations on a free-trade accord, with the formal agreement due to be signed in October, the two governments said. The final round of talks, led by Chinese vice-premier Wang Qishan and Singaporean deputy prime minister Wong Kan Seng, finished on Thursday in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, the Chinese and Singaporean trade ministries said.— AP