Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Remittance inflows increased 23.9% to Rs 436.36 billion in the first two months of fiscal year 2026/27, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
The growth in remittances, however, was slower than the 33.1% increase recorded in the same period of the previous fiscal year, according to the macroeconomic situation report for the first two months of fiscal year 2026/27.
In US dollar terms, remittances increased 13.5% to $2.85 billion during the review period, compared with a 27.6% growth in the same period a year earlier.
In the month of Bhadra (mid-Aug to mid-Sept) alone, Nepal received Rs 221.31 billion in remittances, up from Rs 174.67 billion in the same month last year.
Net secondary income, which largely reflects transfers from abroad, increased to Rs 469.44 billion during the two-month period from Rs 384.88 billion a year earlier.
The number of Nepali workers obtaining first-time approval for foreign employment declined to 78,320 from 90,198 in the same period last year. However, the number of Nepalis renewing their labour approvals increased to 52,163 from 45,884.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s external sector indicators remained positive, with both the current account and overall balance of payments recording surpluses.
The current account surplus widened to Rs 169.04 billion in the review period from Rs 130.97 billion a year earlier. In US dollar terms, the surplus increased to $1.11 billion from $936.7 million.
The overall balance of payments (BoP) surplus rose to Rs 187.68 billion from Rs 153.68 billion in the same period last fiscal year. In US dollar terms, the surplus increased to $1.23 billion from $1.10 billion.
Gross foreign exchange reserves increased by 4.3% to Rs 4,065.78 billion in mid-September from Rs 3,897.67 billion in mid-July. In US dollar terms, reserves rose 4.6% to $26.48 billion from $25.31 billion over the same period.
Of the total reserves, those held by the central bank expanded by 4% to Rs 3,610.76 billion, while reserves held by banks and financial institutions other than the central bank rose 7.2% to Rs 455.01 billion. Indian currency accounted for 21.3% of the total foreign exchange reserves.
The central bank says the existing reserves are sufficient to cover 20.9 months of prospective merchandise imports and 17.8 months of merchandise and services imports.
Foreign investment inflows also improved during the review period, with foreign direct investment (FDI) in the form of equity, excluding reinvested earnings, increasing to Rs 2.98 billion from Rs 1.27 billion in the same period last year.
Travel income rose 28.6% to Rs 14.94 billion, while travel payments declined 13.1% to Rs 41.10 billion. Payments for education-related travel fell 9.8% to Rs 29.55 billion.
Despite the improvement in travel income, spending on travel abroad continued to exceed earnings from foreign visitors, resulting in a net outflow under the travel account.
Net capital transfers declined to Rs 1.53 billion during the review period from Rs 2.20 billion a year earlier.
