Business in Nepal, Kathmandu

The objectives of the subject “Foreign Trade and Business in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal” are the following:

1. To analyse the Nepalese Economy and Foreign Trade (Import, Export, FDI)
2. To know the business opportunities in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
3. To explore the Nepalese trade relations with the country of the student
4. To know the Nepalese Free Trade Agreements
5. To examine the profile of Nepalese companies
6. To develop a business plan for the Nepalese market

Nepalese Market Access and Free Trade Agreements (FTA).

1. Nepal and the Hindu Economic Area
2. Bay of Bengal Initiative (BIMSTEC)
3. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
   1. South Asian Free-Trade Area (SAFTA)
4. Asian Clearing Union (ACU)
5. South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)
6. India-Nepal Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
   1. Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and FDI agreement between India and Nepal
7. Bangladesh-Nepal Trade, Payments, and Transit Agreement
8. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) (Dialogue Partner)
9. Generalised System of Preferences (European Union)

Trade Facilitation Programs

1. World Trade Organisation (WTO)
   1. WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
   2. WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
   3. WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)
   4. WTO Agreement on Preshipment Inspection (PSI)
   5. WTO Agreement on Safeguards (SG)
   6. WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)
2. World Customs Organisation (WCO)
   1. Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC)
3. International Road Transport Union (IRU)
4. International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
   1. Convention Relating to Temporary Admission (Istanbul Convention) - not a member
5. Customs Convention on Containers (CCC, UN) - not a member

Asian Trade and Economic Organisations

1. Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED)
2. Asian Development Bank (ADB)
3. Boao Forum for Asia
4. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
5. Colombo Plan
6. Asia Cooperation Dialogue (in the process of accession)

Global Organisations

1. United Nations (UN)
   1. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
   2. International Trade Centre (INTRACEN)
   3. World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
2. World Bank (WB)
3. World Trade Organisation (WTO)
4. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
5. World Customs Organisation (WCO)
6. Nepal is eligible for the European Investment Bank

The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

1. Borders of Nepal: India and China
2. Nepal is a Landlocked country
3. Nepalese Capital: Kathmandu
4. Area of Nepal: 147,181 square kilometres
5. Nepalese Population: 26.49 million people (74% works in the agriculture sector)
6. The official language of Nepal is Nepali
   1. English is used in business
7. Abolition of Slavery in Nepal: 1926

The main religion of Nepal is Hinduism, the second-largest is Buddhism (Mahayana)

1. Lord Buddha was born in Nepal
2. Nepal belongs to Hindu Civilisation/Buddhist civilisation

Nepalese Economy

1. Nepal has deep economic and cultural ties with India
2. Strong economic reforms and liberalisation: financial system, FDI
3. The main business opportunities in Nepal are tourism, agriculture, hydro-power, infrastructure, mining, and IT
4. The main Nepalese economic activity is agriculture (33% of the GDP)
5. The main Nepalese crops are rice and wheat
6. Open to FDI in near all the sectors of the Nepalese economy
   1. Nepal Investment Board is the official body
7. Special Economic Zone
8. Top Nepalese sectors attracting FDI are energy, services, manufacturing, tourism, construction agriculture, and minerals
9. The main investors in Nepal are China, India, the USA, South Korea, and Japan
10. Nearest Port of Nepal: Calcutta (India), Chittagong, and Mangola (Bangladesh)
11. Top Nepalese export products: Hand Knotted Woolen Carpet of Nepal, Readymade garments, Pashmina Products, Handicraft, and Leather Goods