Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 593 Sat. January 28, 2006  
   
Business


Nepal's trade deficit widens by 51pc


Surge in imports and less than expected performance of major exportable commodities in the international market have widened the Nepal's trade deficit by 51 percent during the first four months of 2005/06 fiscal year, according to a central bank report reaching here yesterday.

According to the report from Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of the country, the deficit for the period is valued at 35.74 billion Nepali rupees (510 million US dollars).

During the same period of 2004/05, trade deficit was 23.66 billion rupees (338 dollar, down by 8.3 percent as compared to the similar period of the previous year.

A significant surge in imports by 36.5 percent and relative to a rise in export by 17.2 percent widened trade deficit in four months of the 2005/06 fiscal year, which started on July 16, 2005, the report stated.