Political pressure groups and leaders: Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRAHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI, from Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist, chief negotiator]; numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups
International organization participation:
AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MICAH, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC,
SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK,
UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO,
WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kedar Bhakta SHRESTHA
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 James F. MORIARTY
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. Security
concerns in the wake of the Maoist conflict and the 11 September
2001 terrorist attacks in the US have led to a decrease in tourism,
a key source of foreign exchange. 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, its civil strife,
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 - $38.29 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2003 est.)