It's not official yet, but if a proposal discussed between Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Sujata Koirala comes to fruition, India will supply four million Machine Readable Passports to Nepal at US$4 apiece, manufactured by India's state-owned Indian Security Printers. If the deal falls apart, then Nepalis may have problems travelling on conventional passports after 2015. See 'Grounded!'(#466).

Going global
Global Bank opened its 24th branch in Chettrapati last week. It will provide services like business loans, consumer loans, small and medium loans, Letters of Credit, bank guarantees and remittance services. Also, the bank is expected to open new branches in Kupondole, Bhairahawa, Phikkal and New Baneswor soon.

Seeing double
Nabil Bank formally inaugurated two new branches in Satdobato and Kuleswor on 22nd January. Being the nation's first joint venture bank, it believes in breaking new ground and setting new trends in the Nepali market. The bank now has 15 branches in the Valley and 37 points of representation across the nation.

e-pay
F1Soft International launched eSewa.com, Nepal's first online payment gateway. It claims to provide an easy and secured online payment system that will cover instant fund transfers to and from bank accounts. Laxmi Bank will be the first bank to make eSewa accessible to its customers.

Traffic gifts
Hansraj Hulaschand and Company, the sole authorised distributor of Bajaj two-wheelers in Nepal, donated a Pulsar 180cc motorcycle to the regional traffic police office in Narayanghat last week. The company had previously gifted the Kathmandu Metropolitan Traffic Police Office six Pulsar motorcycles for use by its Quick Response Team.