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Exploring Potentials A pioneer bilateral chamber
eyes at immense potential offered by Germany By A CORRESPONDENT Though Germany is one of the biggest export
markets for Nepali goods, Nepal has not been able to fully tap the opportunities
available there. "Although we have achieved a lot in the last ten years, we have not
utilized the full potential of our ties with Germany," said Ram Thapa, honorary Royal
Nepalese Consul in Cologne, Germany. With the Europe moving toward a single currency
regime since January 2002, there are tremendous opportunities for Nepal, said Thapa.
Agreed B. K. Shrestha, President of the Nepal-German Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (NGCCI), "Despite big possibilities to attract direct foreign
investment and technology from Germany, we have not been able to achieve the full
potential." German investment could be brought in the areas of manufacturing,
hydropower, telecommunication, information technology and infrastructure sector, he said. Germany is the single largest market for
Nepalese hand-woven carpets. In 1999/2000, Nepal's total exports to Germany stood at R
7511 million whereas imports from Germany stood at Rs 1500 million. "Bilateral trade
between Nepal and Germany traditionally has shown a vast surplus in favor of Nepal. This
could also be seen as a kind of economic support, in addition to our official development
assistance that places Germany among Nepal's three or four most important donors,"
said Rudiger Lemp, German ambassador to Nepal, addressing the tenth AGM of the NGCCI on
Dec. 14. He also lauded the role played by the NGCCI in promoting bilateral trade and
investment, with the support of GTZ and other organizations, between the two countries. |
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