. KATHMANDU: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has adopted more flexibility in the loans directed by the central bank.

The central bank has also added new industries to the list of industries that have already been on priority loan. Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), issuing a directive to banks and financial institutions (BFIs), has added tourism, information technology and communication technology-based industries and export industries based on domestic raw materials.

Earlier, agriculture, micro, cottage, small and energy sectors were included. The commercial banks are required to disburse at least 10 per cent loan to agriculture sector from mid-January 2083. Earlier, there was a provision to invest 11 percent by Ashad end 2082, 12 percent by Ashad end 2083, 14 percent by Ashad end 2084 and 15 percent by Ashad end 2085.

From mid-January 2083, at least 20 percent of the total loan credit has to be disbursed in the specified areas. These include tourism sector, micro, cottage, small and medium enterprises (up to Rs 30 million÷business and up to Rs 50 million loan in case of manufacturing industries), energy sector, information technology and communication technology-based industries and export industries based on domestic raw materials.

Similarly, if the minimum percentage of loan in the agriculture sector is not 10 percent, it can be counted in the total percentage specified in clause (a) and (b) of the loan in the agriculture sector.

The “B” class financial institutions licensed by this bank should disburse at least 20 percent of the total loan and credit and the “C” class financial institutions should disburse at least 15 percent of the loan in the following areas.

Agriculture, tourism, micro, cottage, small and medium enterprises (loans up to Rs 30 million and loans up to Rs 50 million in case of manufacturing industries), energy sector, information technology and communication technology-based industries and export industries based on domestic raw materials are included.