NAFIJ & Nabil Bank Train Journalists on Economic Reporting in Nepal
21st June 2025, Kathmandu
Stakeholders at a recently concluded “Advanced Banking Training for Economic Journalists” emphasized the pivotal role of media in addressing and overcoming growing public disillusionment.
NAFIJ & Nabil Bank Train Journalists
The two-day training, organized by the Nepal Economic Journalists Association (NAFIJ) with support from Nabil Bank, aimed to enhance the reporting capabilities of journalists covering the banking sector.
The training, held at Lemon Tree Premier, Budhanilkantha, from Friday, June 20, to Saturday, June 21, 2025, brought together key figures from the financial and economic sectors. Discussions centered on the current state and challenges of banking, as well as obstacles hindering national economic development.
Key Voices and Insights
Prominent speakers included:
Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha, Member of the National Planning Commission
Bam Bahadur Mishra, Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
Nar Bahadur Thapa, former Executive Director of NRB
Bhuvan Dahal, former President of the Nepal Bankers’ Association
Manoj Gyawali, CEO of Nabil Bank
On the first day, Sandeep Babu Paudel, Nabil Bank’s Head of Finance, presented on “Profit Determination in Banking.” SP Deepak Raj Awasthi of Nepal Police and Pravesh Paudel, Nabil Bank’s Information Security Officer, also provided insights on digital financial literacy.
A panel discussion on “Economic Development and the Way Forward” was moderated by former NAFIJ President Modnath Dhakal, featuring Nar Bahadur Thapa, Bhuvan Dahal, and economist Nishant Khanal.
Call for Factual and Positive Reporting
On the second day, Nabil Bank CEO Manoj Gyawali articulated the banking sector’s expectations from the media, urging factual reporting given that banks operate with public savings. While acknowledging that banks aren’t without faults, he stressed the importance of discerning right from wrong in reporting.
Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha of the National Planning Commission highlighted how declining social trust and the spread of unqualified and unverified economic commentary by the media contribute to public disillusionment. He urged journalists to balance reporting problems with showcasing positive developments in the banking and economic sectors.
NRB Deputy Governor Bam Bahadur Mishra echoed this sentiment, appealing to journalists to understand the sensitivity of the financial sector and disseminate accurate information.
NAFIJ President Menuka Karki stated that such training would empower journalists to produce more impactful and in-depth reporting. She also addressed public concerns over rising non-performing loans, calling on NRB to find solutions and urging banks to facilitate easier credit flow to entrepreneurs to combat national pessimism.
Panel Discussion: Understanding Disillusionment
Key points from the panel discussion included:
Nar Bahadur Thapa attributed rising public disillusionment to the government’s failure to implement strategic development plans post-2072 B.S. constitution promulgation. He argued that public hope would return only when these plans are executed and credit is channeled into productive sectors.
Bhuvan Dahal pointed to ineffective capital expenditure as a disruptor of the economic cycle. He emphasized that factual media strategies, coupled with government initiatives, are essential to restore public trust and economic optimism.
Economist Nishant Khanal noted a mismatch between public expectations and the actual pace of development as a source of frustration, stating, “Although data shows significant development progress, the public has not felt the benefits, leading to frustration.”
In conclusion, speakers agreed that despite challenges, improving economic indicators are present. They urged the media to focus on disseminating factual and positive information to help alleviate public disillusionment among the Nepalese.
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