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Rhythm Of Ties

A leading Korean group performs traditional dances in Kathmandu

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Apart fromgrowing economic relations, Nepal and the Republic of Korea are now going to have closer cultural ties as well.

Coinciding with the Visit Korea Year 2001, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea organized the 2001 Korean Traditional Dance Group Performance at the Birendra International Convention Center on May 22.

Korean dance : Rich culture

A team of artistes from the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater (SMDT) staged the performance of traditional Korean dance. "The cultural exchanges will boost our relations at the people's level," said Kim Jin-Sik, Counsellor and Consul at the Embassy.

The dance program covered a variety of performances including Taepyong Mu, Drum Dance, Ganggangsuwollae, Salpuri, Cheon-do, Fan Dance, Chum Bon, Mask Dance and Janggo Drum Dance. Each of the dances involving different kinds of movements were testimony to the rich culture and tradition of Korea.

The SMDT is a leading force in Korean traditional dance. The theater travels around the world introducing the rich cultural heritage of Korea through a diverse repertoire. The vibrant dance performances enable the audience to appreciate the beauty of the Korean dance and get a taste of the rich Korean tradition. As the country is achieving great success in economic development, Koreans are deeply attached to their traditions and culture.

Nepal and the Republic of Korea established diplomatic relations in 1974. Ever since, the range and volume of bilateral ties has been expanding. The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Korean government's body, is involved in various development projects in Nepal.

Some of the major KOICA activities include its help in the computerization of the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chameliya Hydroelectric Project, study of Kanti Rajpath and so on. The KOICA has also been helping Nepal by sending trainers, experts, doctors, taekwondo instructors and volunteers.

The Republic of Korea is also an important trading partner of Nepal. Electronic items, vehicles, chemicals are the major goods imported from the Republic of Korea whereas goods exported there include carpet, pashmina and agriculture products. But the balance of trade is heavily in favor of the Republic of Korea.

Nepal imported goods worth US$26 million from the Republic of Korea in 1999, which came down to $20 million in 2000. The decline in this trade volume was mainly because in the latter years, South Korean car companies like Hyundai and Daewoo opened up their assembly plants in India and began marketing their products to Nepal through those plants itself. Last year alone the volume of the imports of cars from these companies was around $20 million.

Recently, Golchha Organization, a leading business house of Nepal, in collaboration with the Daewoo company has opened an assembly plant in Nepal for manufacturing television. "In future, car assembly plants could also be opened in Nepal," said Kim.

Hama Bags ISO Award

Hama Iron and Steel Industries Pvt Ltd, a leading producer of iron rods, has recently been awarded the international ISO 9001-2000 for manufacturing high-class rods. Established in 1990, the plant is spread over a 2,000-square-meter area in Simara, in Bara district. The industry started production in 1993 and has already attracted investment worth Rs 200 million. Though it took off with an annual production capacity of 8,000 metric tons of rods, the modernization and expansion efforts introduced from time to time have raised the capacity to 30,000 metric tons annually. "Despite the existing recession in the country, the industry has been successful to carve a separate niche for itself in the market because of its unending commitment towards consumer satisfaction," reads a press release issued by the industry. The industry claims that although several iron industries have shut down because of adverse conditions, Hama has been able to occupy 15 percent of the market share in the country. "Our products are used in many major projects like Manipal Medical College, Taragaon Regency Hotel, Bagmati Irrigation Project and Modi Khola Hydro Power Project, among others." The industry says it is also eyeing the burgeoning market for iron rods in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The industry is also planning to manufacture blades, angle, channel, binding, wire, nails apart from rods. It currently employs 250 workers. Lack of proper government policies, high interest rates of banks, lack of physical infrastructures, unhealthy competition, bureaucratic hassles, political instability, breakdown of law and order and obstruction in electricity supply are some of the major problems faced by the industry.