Fairest in the land  

This year's Dabur Vatika Miss Nepal pageant will be held on 7 April. Applications are open until 7 February. Those selected will go through a six-week training program, and the winner, first and second runners-up will get Rs 100,000, Rs 60,000, and Rs 40,000 respectively, in addition to the chance to participate in international competitions. The Hidden Treasure has been organising the event in association with Kathmandu Jaycees since 1994, and holds the Nepal franchise for Miss World, Miss Earth, and Miss Asia-Pacific International.

New clothes

Construction has begun on the new Surya Nepal garment manufacturing facility in Biratnagar. The factory will produce garments for Surya Nepal's domestic John Players brand. Construction will end by November 2007 and once fully operational, the plant could generate employment for 2,000 people from the Biratnagar area. Surya Nepal's garment industry currently employs over 500 people, nearly 90 percent of them women. 

Going Global

Global Bank's new corporate office in Kantipath has begun operations. The Birgunj-based Global Bank is Nepal's 19th corporate bank. In addition to offering internet banking facilities, ATMs, foreign currency accounts and locker services, the bank also uses the interntional-standard Finacle banking software. Global Bank currently boasts the largest investment ever made for a commercial bank, with Rs 1 billion in paid-up capital.

New in Nepalganj

Everest Bank's new Nepalganj branch takes it to 19 outlets around Nepal. Two more are planned, in Balaju and Birtamod.

Everest Bank began operations in 1994, and registered an 18.9 percent growth to Rs 375.2 million in operating profits in fiscal 2004/2005. Everest was awarded Bank of the Year-2006 Nepal by The Banker.