The Nepalese government is set to launch an online platform called the ‘Investor Portal’ in coordination with Nepal Rastra Bank, through which Nepali citizens can purchase Citizen Savings Bonds and Foreign Employment Savings Bonds as internal loans from May onwards. The aim is to increase public participation in these savings bonds, which currently have a very low share in the government’s internal debt.
The Investor Portal is currently in the testing phase and will be open to the public from April. The public can apply and make payments online through the portal, which has been developed to make the process of purchasing savings bonds more accessible. Citizen Savings Bonds are medium and long-term government bonds that have a five-year term and offer a reasonable return to small savers. Foreign Employment Savings Bonds, on the other hand, have a higher interest rate and are aimed at bringing in foreign currency earned by Nepalis working abroad through legal means. Both types of bonds provide interest every six months time to time.
