Political pressure groups and leaders:
Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL also known as
Prahanda, chairman; and chief negotiator, Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI,
from Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist]; numerous small, left-leaning
student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese
antimonarchist groups
International organization participation:
AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTSO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Jai Pratap RANA
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. MALINOWSKI
embassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 411179
FAX: [977] (1) 419963
Flag description:
red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping
right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized
moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun
Economy Nepal
Economy - overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the
world with 42% of its population living below the poverty line.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood
for over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP.
Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural
produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Textile and
carpet production, accounting for about 80% of foreign exchange
earnings in recent years, contracted in 2001-02 due to the overall
slowdown in the world economy and pressures by Maoist insurgents on
factory owners and workers. Security concerns in the wake of the
Maoist conflict and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the
US have led to a decrease in tourism, another key source of foreign
exchange. Since 1991, the government has been moving forward with
economic reforms, e.g., by reducing business licenses and
registration requirements to simplify investment procedures,
reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off
civil servants. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its
potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign
investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in
other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size
of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its
landlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to natural
disaster. The international community's role of funding more than
60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of total
budgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient of
growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $37.32 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)