Kathmandu. Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said the government was committed to expanding access to capital for all. Speaking in the federal parliament on Tuesday, he said the government has given priority to the development of the capital market.

The Nepse index reached 1259.0 points in mid-July 2076 BS. It was 1362.4 points in mid-July 2077 BS. In mid-July 2078 BS, the index stood at 2822.7 points. Thus, the Nepse index has more than doubled in the last one year.

The government has said that the Nepse index has risen sharply due to the entry of new investors in the capital market and easy availability of financial resources. V.S. In mid-July 2077 BS, the ratio of market capitalization to GDP was 45.8 percent, while in mid-June 2078 BS, the ratio has remained at 98.8 percent.

Similarly, the number of financial institutions is higher among the companies listed in the capital market while the presence of companies in the manufacturing sector is low. It is said that institutional and policy reforms are needed to mobilize capital for the development of productive sector through capital market.

In order to raise the morale of investors, regulation and monitoring by the concerned bodies has to be made more effective and the capital market has to be made well-governed, transparent, technology-friendly and accountable. It is mentioned that there is a need to promote automated system in the capital market and develop healthy market system by protecting the interest of investors by increasing the access of small investors.