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ABB, the 130-year-old global technology leader in power grids, electrification prod­ucts, industrial automation, and robotics and motion, on Nov 21 hosted the ABB Technology Day for 250 Nepali companies. At the event companies from different sectors such as utilities, transport and infrastructure engaged in a series of workshops with ABB experts, accompanied by an exhibit of latest technology in various sec­tors. In addition, discussions were held with key companies from the utilities and the industry segments.

Nepal is looking to increase its installed power capacity to 15,000 MW by 2027, with more than 10 per­cent expected to come from renew­able energy. It also hopes to bring down power transmission and dis­tribution losses to 15 percent. ABB technologies, deployed for commu­nication in 80 percent of the electric­ity authority’s power substations, are expected to help with these goals.

Nepal is also planning to add 10,000 MW of hydro-electricity over the next decade. ABB has already provided a host of technology solu­tions and systems for various hydro projects in the country, from uni­fied automation systems, digital gov­ernors, synchronizers and various other power management solutions in projects like Lower Modi, Panauti, Sunkoshi and Puwa Khola.

“We are hosting our first Technol­ogy Day for Nepal at a time when this great mountain country is taking a big leap for the next level of growth to improve the lives of its citizens,” said Karthik Krishnamurthi, Coun­try Head of Sales and Marketing & Account Management, ABB India. “Be it in clean solar energy, mak­ing power transmission more effi­cient, improving energy access and quality, or reducing carbon emis­sions and facilitating energy sav­ings in industries, transportation or homes, ABB technologies can be instrumental to partner sustainable growth in this country blessed with multiple natural splendors.”

Mahesh Mahato, Managing Direc­tor, Cosmic Electrical Engineering Associates Private Limited added, “Nepal is planning a massive expan­sion in its hydro power generation in this decade and providing licenses for new solar plants to be set-up for clean power in the country. At such a time, such interactive workshops and discussions provide a great exposure to the next level technologies of digi­talization and analytics, which can be deployed to make a strong, reliable and sustainable grid in Nepal.”

With a robust internet and smart phone penetration—1 in 2 Nepalis has internet access—Nepal is poised to make a leapfrog in digital technol­ogy. ABB has provided technology solutions to optimize space, safety, cost and energy savings for the power requirements of datacenters, which will be the mainstay of data, telecom and start-up companies in the valley.

The newest addition to the Airbus family of com­mercial aircraft, the A220, has made its first visit to Nepal as part of a world demonstration tour.

Offering unsurpassed performance and superior passenger comfort in the small single-aisle market, the A220-300 in an airBaltic livery went on display at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, on November 11 and 12.

The aircraft, which can accommodate 145 pas­sengers, is on a demo tour of four countries includ­ing China, Nepal, Turkey and Thailand. It offers exceptional performance, comfort and profitability and is well-suited for high altitude airports such as Kathmandu.

As the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market, the A220 delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency and true wide-body comfort in a single aisle aircraft. The aircraft brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least a 20 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft. With a range of up to 3,200 nautical miles (5,020 km), the A220 gives the performance of larger single aisle aircraft.

With an order book of over 400 aircraft to date, the A220 has all the credentials to win the lion’s share of the 100- to 150-seat aircraft market.

The government on Nov 11 appointed Raman Nepal as the executive director of Citizen Investment Trust (CIT).

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) had published a notice calling for appli­cations for the top post of CIT on September 24. Altogether five can­didates had filed applications for the post of the executive director.

The post of the exec­utive director had been lying vacant after for­mer executive director Ramkrishna Pokharel tendered his resigna­tion in August. After Pokharel’s resignation, the MoF had appointed Chandra Kala Poudel, joint secretary at MoF, as executive director of CIT on a temporary basis.

At present, CIT operates retire­ment fund, CIT unit scheme, pen­sion/gratuity fund, investors A/C scheme, civil employee’s insurance fund, teachers insurance, army employee’s insurance fund, police employee’s insurance fund, APF employee’s insurance fund, reserve fund and other institutional employ­ee’s insurance fund. CIT currently has 609,374 members with funds worth Rs 109.84 billion.

 In light of dwindling greenery of Kathmandu and virtually no open space for gardens and backyards in its houses, a special store spe­cializing in indoor plants has just opened. Located in Jhamsikhel, in front of Moksh Restaurant, Plant Shop Kathmandu sells a variety of indoor plants like Succulents, Palms, Crotons, Snake plants and Monstera. But selling plants is just one of its fortes. Along with a myriad of plants for sale, the shop offers services seldom provided by other nurseries in Kath­mandu. If the plants bought from the shop wither to an extent that there is an imminent chance of the plant dying, Plant Shop will try to revive those plants for you for free.

According to Maya Ghale, the owner of the shop, there should be a “reasonable chance” of the withering plants surviving in order to access such rehabilitative ser­vices. “For instance you cannot expect us to revive a Cacti with rot­ten roots,” says Ghale. She adds that if the shop personnel are free they are also willing to accept and revive plants that not bought from their shop.

Apart from free plant repairs, Plant Shop also offers consultation services to those looking to deco­rate their homes with indoor plants. “For first-timers, we recommend plants that require less care. But our suggestion also depends on the kind of decoration you want in your home,” she says. Moreover, Plant Shop warns visitors of hazards of keeping indoor plants—for example related to their toxicity and their potential to cause an allergic reac­tion—which can be major concerns if there are kids or pets in your house. Besides providing these services the shop also sells gardening accessories like flowerpots.

“Both my parents and grandpar­ents were enthusiastic about tending plants, and so I was constantly sur­rounded by greenery. Such greenery ensured that I too inherited the same enthusiasm to experiment with the plants in the garden, thus giving me the same set of skills that I would have otherwise acquired with formal education in tending plants,” she says. According to Ghale the same motivation inspired the Plant Shop. She specifically wanted to promote indoor plants that require less care and can be easily accommodated even in the crammed homes of Kath­mandu.

In two months of its existence the shop has already garnered a lot of attention. According to Ghale, the place is not only a site where plant-lovers can buy plants to adorn their homes but also a place where people can enjoy the balance between concrete and greenery. The next step for Ghale? To con­duct workshops to further promote indoor plants.

For customers who want to know more about the plants on sale at the Plant Shop, visit its Instagram page plantshopktm or contact theplant­[email protected]