Citizen investment trust is a public financial organization that encourages the general public to save through its different schemes and programs. It was established on 18th March 1991 but came into operation only on 15th January 1992.CIT has it’s a head office in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu and operates in other parts of the country through its two branch offices in Pokhara and Biratnagar.
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Citizen Investment Trust known as Nagarik Lagani Kosh is established in 1999 under the Citizen Investment Trust Act, 1990. CIT is the only sole company that acts as an investment trust.
Citizen Investment trust known as Nagarik Lagani Kosh is a statutory institute with ownership of the Government of Nepal that can run as a public financial organization and it is established under the Citizenship Investment trust act 2047. It was founded on 18th March 1991 but it started its operation on 15th January 1992. The main function of this trust is to manage and operates the different types of retirement schemes and mutual fund programs to encourage the people for saving so that the fund can be utilized in the different development projects.
The trust operates according to the citizen investment trust act 2047. The main objective of this trust is to increase investment opportunities through encouraging the general public to save portion of their income. It acts as an investing platform for people by investing collected savings in a lower risk but profitable projects.
Citizen investment trust has played an important role to develop the capital market of Nepal. Various scheme and plan has been launched under CIT schemes. Example of that scheme are:
- ESG retirement fund Deposit.
- Citizen unit scheme.
- Investors’ Account Scheme.
- Gratuity Fund scheme
Citizen investment trust (Nagarik lagani kosh) collects deposit and distribute deposit in form of loan on an easy and very reasonable interest rate. CIT provides sense of deposit that directly helps to increment of Nepalese Capital Market.
Citizen Investment trust has successfully completed it for two decades and now it has been organizing different retirement programs like Pension fund, Gratuity fund, and mandatory insurance fund program. It has been operating Employee saving growth retirement fund and insurance funds for Civil Service’s employees, Teachers, Nepal Army’s Employees, Nepal Police’s Employees, Armed Police Force’s Employees, and other institute’s employees. It is situated in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu and its branch offices are in Pokhara and Biratnagar.
Why Nagarik Lagani Kosh is important?
Nepal, being a developing country requires a lot of investment in productive sectors. In such a context, CIT collects small funds from the public and invests the accumulated fund in profitable sectors as hydropower, infrastructure development, tourism and so on. For instance, the trust has billions of investment in the Upper Tamakoshi Project. In the last two decades of operation of CIT, it has remarkably assisted in the growth of capital market and overall economy of the Nation.
In a country with GDP Per-capita of 682.20 $(2016), its appreciable that CIT has increased saving culture among citizens and has gained the trust of over 500000 clients majority of them being civil service employees, Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed police force employees since its operation. CIT properly invests the collected fund in productive sector in such a way that their clients get good return without having to worry about risk associated with the investment. It makes the investment process simpler and less riskier. In a nation with very less investment culture, CIT encourages public to save in order to invest.
Objectives of CIT (Citizen Investment Trust)
With the development of financial institutions in Nepal, saving habits of people has increased remarkably but the investment is still a very big deal for the general public. In such a scenario CIT has been able to make investment simpler and secured. On one hand CIT is assisting in the Economic growth of the Nation through its investments and on the other hand, people are receiving a good return on their savings.
It is a platform that connects the money available in the market with sectors that require investments. As we know saving leads to capital collection and investment which eventually leads to increased employment, productivity and improved living standards. This is the objective that drives CIT, they collect small funds to invest in large and profitable sectors. CIT is open for all Nepali citizens be it residential or non-residential. Even people with very low income can invest in different schemes in this trust.
In addition to these, the trust has recently introduced mandatory insurance programs for employees of several institution namely: Citizen Unit scheme, Employees saving growth retirement Fund, Fund for insurance (Nepal Army),Insurance Fund (Nepal Police ), however we cannot overlook the fact that the mandatory deposit reduces the taxable income of the employees which eventually reduces governments tax revenue. Since, it is a publicly financed organization, People feel secure about their money and the trust also has maintained that faith of clients till the date.
- To attract Nepalese in the saving programs conducted by CIT.
- To invest the fund of CIT in prioritized sectors like hydropower, tourism, infrastructure development, capital market instrument.
- To enhance the capital market services.
- To be established as one of the premier institutions in the field of capital market and to contribute to the development of the country.
- To increase the fund by saving programs.
- To analyze the investment and manage it on the basis of risk.
- To promote capital market service.
Nagarik Lagani Kosh has a mission of co-operation and partnership, innovative management system, research and development, optimum mobilization of means and resources, modern information technology, effective client services, good governance, and healthy competition.
It has five year strategy plan which you can download at www.nlk.org.np.
Nagarik Lagani Kosh ebanking, Mobile banking
With a high level of inflation, high percentage of income is spent on consumption these days and it’s tough for people to save, its appreciable how CIT is operating so well and is attracting many clients every day. The shares of CIT currently sell at Rs 3250 today. CIT isn’t a solely profit guided organization, the main motive is to make investment process simpler and more secured for the general public.
CIT these days is adopting innovation and technology, it has started E-service and has recently launched its Mobile Application to reach more people. However, its service is still confined to developed cities only. CIT is still not accessible to people from remote areas so it needs to launch more schemes and operate in such a way that it covers a wider range.
CIT Mobile Application
Nagarik Lagani Kosh Functions
Its major functions can be categorized as follows.
Saving Mobilisation
To operate different kinds of retirement schemes like pension funds, gratuity fund, insurance fund etc.
Investment and financing
To invest the saving funds in the low risks sectors. For this, CIT may invest in corporate shares, debentures, and government securities. It also provides loans and finances to corporate bodies.
Capital Market services
It has been providing Trustee services and corporate finance services to it.
According to the CIT website, the CIT’s share ownership pattern is as shown in the figure below:
Currently, it has been providing following programs and schemes:
- Citizen unit scheme
- Employee saving growth retirement fund
- Investor’s AC scheme
- Pension/Gratuity fund scheme
- Insurance fund program
Citizen Investment Trust: Contact
CIT Corporate Office
New Baneshwor, Kathmandu
977-1-4781673
email: info[at]nlk.org.np
Website: www.nlk.org.np for more detail.
Boards of Directors
It has one chairman, six members, and one executive director. The current chairman is Mr. Mahashram Sharma and the executive director is Mr. Ram Krishna Pokharel. Other six members are:
- Madhu Kumar Marasini
- Sitaram thapaliya
- Manidev bhattrai
- Bharat Basnet
- Pramod Bhattarai
- Govinda mansigh Karki
For more information, go to the official website of Citizen investment trust. It is www.nlk.gov.np. You can also directly click on this link given here. Besides, you can get different notices and publications from CIT. If you have any problems, then you can directly contact to the address given below:
