Malaysia chases funds

KUALA LUMPUR: Central bank governors from Iran to Saudi Arabia are to attend Malaysia’s first international Islamic finance forum this week as the nation works to cement its future as an Islamic financial hub. The four-day Global Islamic Finance Forum starting Monday is expected to attract about 800 regulatory authorities and industry players. Malaysia’s central Bank Negara, the event organiser, said it aims to highlight business opportunities as the nation ramps up efforts to draw foreign money. — AFP

Hu okays property law

BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao has hailed a new law protecting private property as a boon to the legal system, state media said Sunday, in the highest-level endorsement yet of the controversial legislation. “It is an important step forward for the formation of a socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics,” Hu was quoted as telling members of the Communist Party elite, according to the People’s Daily. —AFP

CITIC bank plans IPO

BEIJING: China CITIC Bank, the nation’s seventh-largest commercial bank, plans to go public at home and in Hong Kong at the end of April, raising up to three billion dollars, state media said on Sunday. The bank won approval to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange last week and is now awaiting approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission to go public in mainland China as well, the Xinhua news agency reported. —AFP

NGCCI elects team

Kathmandu: The Nepal German Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NGCCI) elected its president and members to executive committee at its 15th Annual General Meeting conducted recently. While Rohini Thapaliya was elected president, Pushkar Man Shakya, Senon Dorje Lama and Ashoke SJB Rana became the three vice-presidents of the organistaion with Purna Man Shakya as the secretary general and Anup Bahadur Malla as treasurer. The ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nepal Franz Erwin Ring is the honorary president of NGCCI. — HNS

Planning for farmers

DHADING: A five-day workshop organised by Small Farmer Co-operative Association, Dhading concluded with the formulation of commercial planning for a period of five years. According to the agreement reached between the United Mission to Nepal and Nepal Dhading Cluster and Association following three years of a rewarding partnership, a plan has been formulated to carry out activities in a planned and effective manner in the next five years. There were 23 participants at the workshop, including 19 from Dhadingbesi and two from Kavre and Nuwakot. — RSS

Herb exhibition held

BAGLUNG:About 111 herbs found in the high altitude region of Dhaualagiri zone were exhibited at the herb exhibition ‘Dhaualagiri Forum of Baglung’ which began on Friday. The expensive and precious herb Yarshagumba proved to be a major attraction for visitors. The event also manageged to record a brisk sale in such rare herbs, according to ranger Bhusal. Found in the high altitude of the Himalayan region, Yarshaguma costs Rs 1,50,000 per kilo in foreign markets. The herb is considered to be a sex stimulant. —RSS