Nepal-France trade ties discussed

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb. 22: FNCCI acting president Binod Bahadur Shrestha and FNCCI Honourary Trade Representative to France Mukunda Man Amatya during a meet have stressed increasing trade activities between the two countries and to attract French investors to Nepal.

They also discussed the tourism flow into Nepal and strengthening economic and other cooperative activities at the government and the private sector level, a press release states.

To established economic and trade relations with foreign countries and attract foreign investments in the country FNCCI has appointed honorary trade representatives in the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Russia, France, Qatar and the United States of America. This shows feeorts are being made for strengthening economic and professional relation and attracting foreign investments and technologies, the release states further.

France is a major trade partner of Nepal. In the fiscal year 2057/58 the total exports from Nepal to France was worth more than Rs. 676 million. Likewise, imports from France exceeded Rs. 1.8 billion. In that year Nepal suffered a loss of Rs. 408 million. Major exports to France are readymade goods, carpets, handicrafts, woolen goods, Nepalese papers, paper products and leather goods. On the other hand, Nepal imports electronic and machinery equipment, oil seeds and food items.

As per the record of May 2002, eight projects like hotels-restaurants, ready made garments, mineral water, leather goods and bricks with French investments have received certificates and other three are in process of acquiring them.

French tourists visiting Nepal in the year 2000 were 24,506 in 2000 and declined by 14 per cent in 2001 to reach 21,000.

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