FNCCI shows concern KATHMANDU: Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has shown serious concern for the safety of businessmen and industrialists. Issuing a press statement, the umbrella organization of private entrepreneurs urged the government to bring the killers of Manoj Harlalka to book. An unidentified group shot Harlalka on Tuesday and he died on Thursday while undergoing treatment in TU teaching hospital. Another businessman Raju Shah Kanu of Birgunj was also shot at by the gang that day. — HNS IME’s new branch KATHMANDU: IME Financial Institution Ltd opened new branch in Kalanki of Kathmandu district on Friday, marking its fifth anniversary. The company has collected deposit Rs 2.6 billion and invested Rs 2.15 billion. It has a customer base of 32,000 in 13 branches spread across the country. The financial institution provides modern banking facilities like ATM, Internet banking, debit card and remittance. — HNS NRB nod to JEBIL KATHMANDU: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) gave licence to JEBIL’s Finance Ltd to operate its business as ‘C’ class bank from October 16. The main office of the company is at New Road. The authorised capital of the company is Rs 400 million, issue capital Rs 200 million and paid up capital Rs 102 million. Binod Kumar Manandhar is the chairman and Jitendra Lal Nakarmi is the managing director of the company. — HNS Rice varieties SUNSARI: Nepal Agriculture Research Station, Tarahara, has developed four new improved varieties of rice which can grow even on bad soil and where there is no permanent source of irrigation. The station developed the varieties after five years of continuous research. The research station has said the research and breeding phases have completed and it has started seed production for distribution to farmers. The varieties developed by scientists led by Ram Krishna Mahato are also being test-produced at Mrigauliya of Morang. The new varieties have been named IR 80411, B491, B 6144 and FMR 600. The varieties have gained popularity at the farmers’ level during the test phase, Mahato said. The rice can be harvested within 115 days of transplantation and the productivity of the varieties ranges from four to five metric tonnes per hectare. The station has also developed eight more varieties of rice. — RSS