काठमाडौं। अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मुद्रा कोष (आईएमएफ)ले नेपालका १० ठूला वाणिज्य बैंकको सम्पत्ति मूल्यांकन (एसेट पोर्टफोलियो रिभ्यू) तत्काल अघि बढाउन जोड दिएको छ।
आईएमएफले नेपाललाई विस्तारित कर्जा सुविधा (इसिएफ) दिँदाकै बखत १० बैंकको सम्पत्ति मूल्यांकन खासगरी कर्जाको गुणस्तर मापन गर्नुपर्ने सर्त राखेको थियो। सोहीअनुरुप नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकले प्रक्रिया पनि अघि बढाएको थियो।
तर, भदौ २८ गते राष्ट्र बैंकले अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय लेखा परीक्षक छनोट प्रक्रिया रद्द गरेपछि बैंकहरुको कर्जा परीक्षण प्रक्रिया अघि बढ्ने/नबढ्ने आशंका देखिएका बेला आईएमएफले बैंकहरुको खराब कर्जा बढ्दै गएको तथा पुँजी अभावसमेत सिर्जना भएकाले लगातार अनुगमन आवश्यक रहेको प्रष्ट्याएको हो।
गत सेप्टेम्बर ११–२२ सम्म नेपाल बसेको आईएमएफ टोली संयोजक सार्वत जहाँले २३ सेप्टेम्बरमा प्रेस विज्ञप्तिमार्फत जारी गरेको नेपाल ब्रिफिङमा बैंकहरुको कर्जा गुणस्तर जाँच गरिनु अति आवश्यक रहेको बताएकी हुन्। नेपालले आईएमएफसँग करिब ४० करोड अमेरिकी डलरको इसिएफको अन्तिम तथा चौथो किस्तासमेत लिइसकेको छ।
इसिएफ लिँदा आईएमएफसँग भएका सहमतिका विभिन्न पक्ष कार्यान्वयन भए/नभएको विषय भने इसिएफको पाँचौं समीक्षामा औपचारिक मूल्यांकन हुने बताइएको छ। आईएमएफले नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंक ऐन संशोधन र राष्ट्र बैंकको बाह्य लेखा परीक्षणलाई प्राथमिकतामा राख्न पनि सुझाएको छ।
एसिया प्यासिफिक विभागकी उपनिर्देशक रुपा दत्ता गुप्ता सम्मिलित आईएमएफ टोलीले अर्थमन्त्री विष्णुप्रसाद पौडेल, गभर्नर महाप्रसाद अधिकारीलगायतसँग भेटेको थियो।
यस्ताे छ आईएमएफकाे ब्रिफिङ
IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Nepal
Washington, DC – September 23, 2024 : An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team, led by Ms. Sarwat Jahan, conducted a staff visit to Kathmandu during September 11-22, 2024, to discuss recent macroeconomic developments and the implementation of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF)-supported program .
At the conclusion of the visit, Ms. Jahan issued the following statement:
“Nepal’s economy is showing early signs of recovery. Incoming high-frequency data shows import growth is entering into positive territory, tax collections are improving, and public investment is picking up. Credit growth is recovering while remaining appropriately below nominal GDP growth. Inflation continued to decelerate to around 3.6 percent by mid-July, partially reflecting favorable commodity prices and weak demand. International reserves continued to rise, underpinned by robust remittances, recovering tourism, and still subdued imports.
“Accelerating the reform momentum is critical to put the economy on a path towards sustainable, strong, and inclusive economic growth. This will require enhancing public investment execution, further strengthening of domestic revenue mobilization, and prompt disbursement of Child Grants. As banks deal with elevated non-performing loans and capital constraints, continued vigilance is necessary, including by continuing to strengthen regulation and completing the loan portfolio review of the largest 10 banks. Addressing vulnerabilities among the savings and credit cooperatives remains a priority. The recent amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act are a welcome step. Amending the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Act, completion of NRB’s external audit and increasing public enterprise’s transparency will enhance governance and accountability. The Investment Facilitation Act will bolster Nepal’s investment climate.
“The authorities’ ongoing efforts in meeting key commitments under the Fund-supported program, with the support of IMF’s technical assistance, are welcome. Performance under the program will be formally assessed in the context of the fifth review of the program.
“The IMF team held meetings with the Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr. Bishnu Prasad Paudel, the Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Mr. Maha Prasad Adhikari, the National Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari, and other senior government and central bank officials. The IMF team also met with representatives from the private sector and development partners. Ms. Duttagupta, Deputy Director in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, attended key meetings.
“The IMF team is grateful to the Nepali authorities for their warm hospitality and for constructive discussions.”
