About Nepal:
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and the poorest in Asia with wide discrepancies among the Nepalese people depending on geographic location, ethnicity, caste and gender. More than 25 pct. of its 30 million people live under the international poverty line of less than USD 1.25 a day.
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and the poorest in Asia with wide discrepancies among the Nepalese people depending on geographic location, ethnicity, caste and gender. More than 25 pct. of its 30 million people live under the international poverty line of less than USD 1.25 a day.
The decade-long civil war between Government forces and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) claimed more than 16,000 lives and displaced thousands more. The war was finally brought to a halt when seven political parties and the Maoists signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) in November 2006. In 2008 elections were held and a Constituent Assembly was formed to draw up an inclusive and democratic Constitution. The country is still recovering from the civil war and progress on the implementation of the CPA has been slow. A lasting political agreement on a Constitution and other elements of the CPA is still pending.
Economic growth is adversely affected by the conflict and political challenges and is still low. Some of the reasons for the low productivity and investment are political instability, corruption, poor infrastructure, and lack of political attention to long term strategic planning for a stronger domestic economy.
However, Nepal also has considerable development potential since the country has a large and relatively cheap labour force, access to raw materials (especially in the agro-industry), access to the Indian and Chinese markets, and great potential for increased earnings from tourism.
Geography
Capital: Kathmandu. Approximately 2.5 million in Kathmandu Valley
Area: 147,200 sq.km (43,000 sq.km Denmark)
Population: 30 million
Population growth per year: 1.7% (2011)
Language: Nepali is the official language
International dialling code: +977
Time: GMT +5.45 hrs
Terrain: Terai - the flat river plain of the Ganges in the south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in the north.
Area: 147,200 sq.km (43,000 sq.km Denmark)
Population: 30 million
Population growth per year: 1.7% (2011)
Language: Nepali is the official language
International dialling code: +977
Time: GMT +5.45 hrs
Terrain: Terai - the flat river plain of the Ganges in the south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in the north.
Source: World Bank
Economy
GDP: USD 18.9 billion (2011)
GDP per capita: USD 619 (2011)
Annual growth in GDP per capita: 4.2 % in 2010 (estimate) (WB)
External debt: USD 3.9 billion
Development assistance per capita: 29 USD
Danish project/program support: 2009: 187 million DKK; 2010: 166 million DKK; 2011: 199 million DKK; 2012: 206 million DKK; 2013: 160 million (est.)
Main exports: Carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grains
Inflation: 10% estimate 2012
Major trading partners: India 64%, EU 11%, US 7%, Bangladesh 7%, China 3%
Major industries: Tourism; carpets, textiles and handicrafts; small rice, jute, sugar and oilseed mills; tobacco; cement and brick production
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
GDP per capita: USD 619 (2011)
Annual growth in GDP per capita: 4.2 % in 2010 (estimate) (WB)
External debt: USD 3.9 billion
Development assistance per capita: 29 USD
Danish project/program support: 2009: 187 million DKK; 2010: 166 million DKK; 2011: 199 million DKK; 2012: 206 million DKK; 2013: 160 million (est.)
Main exports: Carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grains
Inflation: 10% estimate 2012
Major trading partners: India 64%, EU 11%, US 7%, Bangladesh 7%, China 3%
Major industries: Tourism; carpets, textiles and handicrafts; small rice, jute, sugar and oilseed mills; tobacco; cement and brick production
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Source: World Bank, UNDP
Government
Nepal is a parliamentary democracy with a largely ceremonial President as Head of State and a Prime Minister as Head of Government. A 601-seat Constituent Assembly (CA) was elected on 10 April 2008, but in May 2012 the CA was dissolved and no new Constituent Assembly has yet been elected. An interim Constitution has been in place since 2008. A new and permanent constitution has yet to be agreed upon. The government is presently constituted by technocrats.
Head of State President: Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
Head of Interim Election Council (Prime Minister): Khil Raj Regmi
Foreign Minister: Madhav Prasad Ghimire
Finance Minister: Shanker Prasad Koirala
Major Political Parties
Unified Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist (Chairman: Pushpa Kamal Dahal/'Prachanda'), Nepali Congress (President: Sushil Koirala), Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (Chairman: Jhalanath Khanal), Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic(Chairman: Bijay Gachchhadar)
