UAE-Nepal Trade Push: UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi met President Ram Chandra Paudel and Nepal’s senior ministers under “UAE Trade Days,” with talks focused on boosting trade and investment ties. Energy for Growth: PM Balendra Shah told IPPAN energy is the “basis of economic transformation,” promising coordination on PPA facilitation, transmission and grid access, land/forest hurdles, and investment-friendly reforms. Monetary Policy Watch: Nepal Rastra Bank unveiled a “cautiously flexible” monetary policy for FY 2026/27, aiming for 7% growth, 5.5% inflation, and stable liquidity/FX management. Liquidity Move: NRB called bids to collect Rs 60 billion via a 19-day deposit collection instrument. Markets: NEPSE slipped 1.13 points to 2,600.78, but daily turnover jumped to Rs 6.86 billion. Regional Power Integration: The EU launched a €5m, four-year South Asia energy connectivity project in Kathmandu to expand cross-border electricity trade across Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Startup Ecosystem: IN-SPAN Center of Excellence formalized an Executive Board and a three-year roadmap to strengthen Nepal’s startup ecosystem through India collaboration. Cannabis Regulation: Gandaki Province unanimously legalized cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial use under a licensing and monitoring framework. Tech/Connectivity: Starlink bandwidth exports got authorization in Bangladesh, but Nepal’s regulatory approval remains the key hurdle for access. Capital Market Milestone: Kratikal Tech’s IPO on India’s BSE was oversubscribed 205.08 times, signaling growing cross-border investor interest in Nepali-linked ventures.