Golchha and H4HN’s ‘Ashraya’ initiative

KATHMANDU:

Nepal’s leading corporate house, Golchha Organisation has tied up with Habitat for Humanity Nepal (H4HN) for a social campaign, ‘Ashraya’, in an effort to build economical and efficient houses for the victims of the recent devastating earthquake in Nepal. In total, the campaign will build 1,000 houses across Nepal for the victims, as per a press statement issued on Thursday. GO Automobiles Pvt Ltd and Hansraj Hulaschand & Co have contributed Rs 12.81 million for the ‘Ashraya’ campaign. To start off the campaign, Habitat for Humanity Nepal is taking up a pilot project in Pipaltar VDC of Kavre district, where they will be building 100 houses within 100 days, as per the statement. The contract for the campaign was signed between Almudena Bartayres, national director of Habitat for Humanity Nepal, Rick Hathaway, area vice president, Asia-Pacific Office of Habitat for Humanity International, Inc, Shekhar Golchha on behalf of Hansraj Hulaschand & Co Pvt Ltd and Akash Golchha on behalf of GO Automobiles Pvt Ltd. — HNS

Goma’s new service

KATHMANDU: Goma Air has started Kathmandu-Dang service after reopening of Tarigaun Airport of Dang after gap of seven years. The company’s aircraft on Thursday landed at Tarigaun Airport at 1:00pm and passengers and crew members were welcomed by the chief district officer and representatives of Tulsipur Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The airlines will fly twice-a-week, on Mondays and Thursdays, to Dang from Kathmandu via Surkhet. As a part of the plan to expand service, it has started service on Pokhara-Jomsom route from Tuesday. Jumla, Simikot, Dolpa, Bajura and Talcha of Mugu are some of the destinations that Goma is flying being based in Surkhet and Nepalgunj. — HNS

ONGC Videsh listing

MUMBAI: The government wants to list ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of top oil explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), a company executive said. “We have received a letter from the ministry on listing of ONGC Videsh,” the executive said, adding the divestment department of the finance ministry was pushing for a sale. The executive did not wish to be named as the matter is not public. He added that ONGC executives would favour delaying a listing, given current low oil prices. — Reuters

P’pines GDP growth

MANILA: Sluggish government spending slowed Philippine economic growth in the first quarter of this year, officials said on Thursday. The country’s GDP grew by 5.2 per cent in the first quarter, down from 5.6 per cent a year earlier and 6.6 per cent in the last quarter of 2014. Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the slow pace of public spending, particularly in construction, resulted in growth that was lower than government and market expectations. — AP

Amazon’s free delivery

NEW YORK: Amazon wants to make your impulse buys even more impulsive. The e-commerce powerhouse is offering free same-day delivery service in some cities to its Prime loyalty club members. Amazon says starting Thursday over one million items including books, electronics and vacation gear will be eligible for same-day delivery in 14 metro areas including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area and Philadelphia. Orders over $35 are eligible for the service. They need to be placed by noon and will be delivered by 9:00pm. — AP

Source: THT