Santosh Narayan Shrestha, the newly appointed chairman of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), reiterated his commitment to aligning SEBON's initiatives with national economic goals. 

While officially assuming office as SEBON’s chairman on Wednesday, November 27, Shrestha addressed his first day in office and shared his vision for developing a more dynamic and robust capital market, focusing on investor interests and overall market development.

Shrestha's appointment was finalized by the Cabinet on Monday, November 25, as the position had been vacant for nearly a year. On Tuesday, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel administered the oath of office to Shrestha.

In his address, Shrestha noted several key priorities, including relocating SEBON to its own premises, as the regulatory body currently operates from a rented building. 

He also acknowledged the ongoing progress in establishing a new stock exchange and pledged to accelerate its development with the government's support.

Addressing concerns over delays in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Shrestha reassured stakeholders that IPOs would resume as scheduled. "Many tasks have been delayed due to the lack of leadership," he said. "I am committed to completing pending projects, expanding the scope of the capital market, and safeguarding the interests of investors."

In his first official act as chairman, Shrestha approved the registration of bonus shares of Everest Bank.