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Other Information
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Economy
Nepal is a developing country with an agricultural economy. In recent years, the country's efforts to expand
into manufacturing industries and other technological sectors have achieved much progress. Farming is the
main economic activity followed by manufacturing, trade and tourism. The chief sources of foreign currency
earnings are remittance from the overseas workers, merchandise export, services, tourism and Gurkha Army
remittances. The annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is about US$ 4.3 billion.
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Art
Nepali art has been deeply influenced by religion since very early times. Early art of Nepal can be seen
as stone sculpture and temple architecture. Other art include Newari Pauva and Tibetan Thanka paintings,
wood and metal crafts, ceramics and clay pots, textiles, paper, carpet, music and literature. Contemporary
Nepali art represents two distinct segments, traditional idealistic paintings and the contemporary western
style works. The contemporary painting is specially noted for either nature based compositions or compositions
based on Tantric elements or social themes. Nepali painters have also earned international reputation for
abstract works based on these themes. Nepal produces its own group of Artists and Craftsmen who have their
own unique specialization in their respective artistic fields.
Kathmandu Valley houses a number of museums and art galleries displaying art work of the past and present. Some are:
The National Museum at Chhauni, Museums at Kathmandu Durbar Square, Museum of Natural History at Swayambhu, National
Library at Puchowk, Kaiser Library at Thamel, National Birendra Art Gallery at Naxal, Asa Archives at Tangal,
National Art Gallery at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, National Woodworking Museum at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Bronze
and Brass Museum at Bhaktapur, Nepal National Ehnographic Museum at Bhrikuti Mandap. Museums outside the Kathmandu
Valley are such: Dhakuta Museum, Hattisar Museum in Bhimphedi, Mustang Eco Museum in Jomsom, Tharu Cultural Museum
in Thakurdwara and International Mountain Museum in Pokhara.
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Trade
Commerce has been a major occupation in Nepal since early times. Being situated at the crossroads of
the ancient trans-Himalayan trade route, trading is second nature to the Nepali people. Foreign trade is
characterized mainly by import of manufactured products and export of agricultural raw materials. Nepal
imports manufactured goods and petroleum products worth about US$ 1 billion annually. The value of exports
is about US$ 315 million. Carpets are Nepal's largest export, earning the country over US$ 135 million per
year. Garment exports account for more than US$ 74 million and handicraft goods bring in about US$ 1 million.
Other important exports are pulses, hides and skins, jute and medicinal herbs.
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Manufacturing
Manufacturing is still at the developmental stage and it represents less than 10 percent of the GDP.
Major industries are carpets, garments, textiles, leather products, paper and cement. Other products made in
Nepal are steel utensils, cigarettes, beverages and sugar. There are many modern large-scale factories but the
majorities are cottage or small scale operations. Most of Nepal's industries are based in the Kathmandu Valley
and a string of small towns in the southern Terai plains.
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Agriculture
Eight out of 10 Nepalese are engaged in farming and it accounts for more than 40 percent of the GDP. Rolling
fields and neat terraces can be seen all over the Terai flatlands and the hills of Nepal. Even in the
highly urbanized Kathmandu Valley, large tracts of land outside the city areas are devoted to farming.
Rice is the staple diet in Nepal and around three million tons are produced annually. Other major crops
are maize, wheat, millet and barley. Besides food grains, cash crops like sugarcane, oil seeds, tobacco,
jute and tea are also cultivated in large quantities.
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Related Links:
Introduction ,
Ethnic Distribution
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| Recent Vacancies |
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| Contact Details |
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P.O. Box: 5513, Gairidhara 423
Kathmandu, Nepal.
Tel: 977-1-4428756, 4427705
Fax: 977-1-4435467
E-mail: himlor@himhols.wlink.com.np |
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| Useful Links |
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