SAWTEE in Media

Nepal faces challenges in maximizing its exports to neighboring countries due to production constraints, supply-side issues, and trade barriers. Experts convened by the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) emphasized the need to address these obstacles, particularly in trade with Bangladesh and India. Nepal’s heavy reliance on India for exports, coupled with limited trade diversification, calls for exploring alternative markets as it nears graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

विश्वबैंकले गरेको अध्ययनलाई हेर्दा नेपालको हराएको निर्यात अझै धेरै हुनसक्ने सम्भावना रहेको साउथ एसियन वाच अन ट्रेड, इकोनोमिक्स एन्ड इन्भायरोन्मेन्ट -सावती)का कार्यकारी निर्देशक डा. पारश खरेल बताउँछन् ।

Going by past experience, the progress of the NTIS has not been encouraging," said Paras Kharel, Executive Director, SAWTEE. "For instance, the Board of Trade is required to hold a certain number of meetings in a year as per the commerce policy, but it has not done so for many years. So, the implementation of the NTIS is still doubtful,” he said.

According to Dr. Paras Kharel, the executive director at South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics, and Environment (SAWTEE), the COVID-19 pandemic might be one of the contributing factors to the lackluster implementation of the Trade and Transit Agreement. 

Mr. Purushottam Ojha, Former Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), Government of Nepal, said Nepal’s Commerce Policy and Nepal Trade Integration Strategy, which have identified priority products, should be the basis for negotiating an extension to the trade preferences provided by the US.

A SAWTEE study on Nepal-US trade, presented at the event, finds that Nepal’s merchandise exports to the US in 2021, at US$108.3 million, were lower than what they were at their peak in the late 1990s even in nominal terms.

Despite being granted duty free access to 77 products by the US, Nepal’s export performance in those select products is dismal. Limited utilization of trade preferences necessitates a careful examination of the constraints faced by exporters if Nepal aims at improving export performance through such facilities, experts said during a roundtable discussion on unpacking Nepal-US trade organized by SAWTEE in collaboration with The Asia Foundation.

Madhu Kumar Marasini, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), pointed out that Nepal needs to think outside the conventional approaches and explore new products to export to the US in which Nepal has a comparative advantage.

अनुपातका हिसाबले मात्रै होइन, मूल्यकै हिसाबले पनि नेपालबाट अमेरिका निर्यात घटेको जानकारी साउथ एसिया वाच अन ट्रेड, इकोनोमिक्स एन्ड इन्भायरोन्मेन्ट (सावती)का कार्यकारी निर्देशक डा. पारस खरेलले जनाए ।

Dr. Paras Kharel, Executive Director, SAWTEE, presented a research study done by SAWTEE on unpacking Nepal-US Trade at an event organized by SAWTEE in collaboration with The Asia Foundation.

साउथ एशिया वाच अन ट्रेण्ड, इकोनोमिक्स एन्ड इन्भाइरोमेन्ट (सावती)ले उपलब्ध गराएको तथ्यांकअनुसार द्विपक्षीय व्यापारको २३ वर्षमा ८ वर्ष नेपालबाट हुने निर्यात उताबाट हुने आयातको तुलनामा बढी देखिन्छ । आव २०६१/६२ देखि २०६९/७० सम्म नेपालले आयातभन्दा बढी निर्यात गरेको तथ्यांक छ । त्यसयता नेपालबाट निर्यात कम र उताबाट आयात निरन्तर बढेको देखिन्छ । थप पढ्नुहोस्।  

“Nepal should also develop in its own waterway ports in the country’s rivers—particularly Koshi and Narayani (Gandak) for possible waterway linkage with India,” said Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairperson, SAWTEE, while speaking to the Indian Narrative. Read more

Speaking to the India Narrative, Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairperson, SAWTEE, said, "In line with the provision of treaty, India had exported rice to Nepal in 2007-08 within a month after India imposed global export ban on rice." 

Madhu Kumar Marasini, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), stated that three rounds of negotiations with India have already taken place in connection with revising the trade treaty. 

सावतीले आयोजना गरेको "नेपाल र भारतबीचको व्यापार सन्धि" विषयको छलफल कार्यक्रममा बोल्दै गर्दा उद्योग वाणिज्य तथा आपूर्ति मन्त्रालयका सचिव मधुकुमार मरासिनी भन्छन् ," नेपालले कृषि उत्पादनमा वृद्धि नगरेसम्म यस्ता सन्धिले मात्रै निर्यात बढाउन सहयोग गर्दैन।"

साउथ एसिया वाच अन ट्रेड, इकोनोमिक एन्ड इन्भ्यारोमेन्ट (सावती) ले आयोजना गरेको नेपाल‑भारत व्यापार सन्धीसम्बन्धी छलफलमा नेपाल‑भारत उद्योग वाणिज्य महासंघकी अध्यक्ष सृजना राणाले नेपालसँग वैदेशिक व्यापार मात्रै नभएर लगानीको हिस्सा पनि ठूलो भएकाले सन्धीमा भारतबाट कसरी नेपालले फाइदा लिन सक्छ भन्ने विषयमा जोड दिनुपर्ने बताइन् ।

At a discussion programme on’Nepal India Trade Treaty’ organized by SAWTEE, former commerce secretary, Purushottam Ojha, said that India has many times imposed non-tariff measures has pushed Nepali traders and exporters into troubles. India should at least inform Nepal government about the steps it decided to implement. He further said, "We need to include a separate chapter in the treaty on various aspects that Nepal is facing challenges such as sanitary and phytosanitary standards, quarantine and quality of goods."

सावतीले आयोजना गरेको "नेपाल र भारतबीचको व्यापार सन्धि" विषयको छलफल कार्यक्रममा सरोकारवालाहरुले भन्सार छूटमा व्यापार हुने वस्तुको सूचि पुनरवलोकन गर्नु पर्ने खाँचो औँल्याए।  

क्लिकमान्डु संगको कुराकानीमा सावतीका कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष डा. पोषराज पाण्डेले वैदेशिक व्यापारमा नेपालको खस्कँदो स्थिति र विकासशील देशमा नेपालको स्तरोन्नतिका बारेमा बताउँछन्। 

A conference was held in Kathmand to mark 10 years of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an ambitious effort to deepen regional cooperation and improve connectivity on a trans-continental scale. 

The Kathmandu Post cited SAWTEE’s report on LDC Graduation titled Nepal’s Graduation from the LDC Category: Implications for International Trade and Development in its article "Prospects and pitfalls of end of Nepal’s LDC status".  

नेपाल अहिले अतिकम विकसित मुलुकहरूको समूहबाट स्तरोन्नतिको प्रक्रियामा छ।  यसै सन्दर्भमा सावतीका कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष डा. पोषराज पाण्डेले स्तरोन्नतिका कारण व्यापारमा पर्ने प्रभाव, व्यापारमा सिर्जना हुने अवसरलगायतका विषयमा बिजनेस न्युज संगको अन्तर्वार्तामा कुरा राखेका छन्। 

In the latest podcast with Policy Entrepreneurs Inc, Dr. Paras Kharel, Executive Director, SAWTEE, speaks on Nepal graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category and what it  entails for Nepal’s trade, development and policy space. 

In 2021, Nepal earned the status of power surplus country during the wet season and Nepal even started selling the electricity on a commercial scale. 

बुधवार साउथ एशिया वाच अन ट्रेड इकोनोमिक्स एन्ड इन्भायरोन्मेन्ट (सावती)को आयोजनामा ‘व्यापार सहजीकरण र निर्यात प्रवद्र्धनका लागि आर्थिक कूटनीति’ विषयक अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रम भएको थियो ।

SAWTEE and The Asia Foundation (TAF) jointly organized a seminar on "Trade policy and Economic Diplomacy in Federal Nepal on 28 December, 2022. The event saw the participation of diplomats, policymakers, academicians, journalists and exporters.

“Our trade policies are inclined to promote import rather than export,” said Bharat Raj Paudyal, secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a programme organised by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), a trade think tank, in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Pakistan has excellent legislation and policy frameworks in terms of environment-friendly development and industrialisation, but lacks the capacity and commitment to implement sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The vegetable trade in Nepal’s eastern hill districts seesaws with the seasons, with shipments flowing one way and then the other way as the temperature rises and falls.

Foreign experts including India’s Research and Information System for Developing Countries Director General Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka Research Director Dr Nisha Arunatilake, and Nepal’s South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment Executive Director Dr Paras Kharel joined the programme organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.  

साउथ एसिया वाच अन ट्रेड इकोनोमिक्स (सावती) ले नेपालले सन् २०२६ मा अतिकम विकसित राष्ट्रबाट विकाशोन्मुख राष्ट्रमा स्तरोन्नति हुँदा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय व्यापार र विकास सहयोगमा कस्तो प्रभाव पर्छ भन्ने विषयमा अध्ययन गरेको छ । सावतीले गरेको अध्ययनले नेपालको भारततर्फ उच्च व्यापार रहेकै कारण ठूलो नोक्सानी खेप्न नपर्ने देखाएको छ। 

South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) conducted a new study on “Nepal’s Graduation from the LDC Category: Implications for International Trade and Development” to investigate the implications of graduation for Nepal in the areas of market access, development cooperation, and trade-related policy space. 

Experts have stressed strengthening the formal and informal seed system to protect the indigenous crops and help in food security in South Asia.

South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Kathmandu and Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), Norway jointly organized a regional conference on Suitable Seeds for Food Security to disseminate the findings of the study “Suitable seeds for food security in fragile states” and initiate a discussion around seed security and climate change.

The Kathmandu Post quotes SAWTEE’s discussion paper "Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures in SAARC countries" in its article "Nepali tea growers breathe easier after India lifts ban on blending". 

Nepal Government has decided to lift its four-month-old import ban on some items. But the entry of other products is still blocked. Talking to Kathmandu Post, Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairperson, SAWTEE said that the import ban on selected goods is definitely bringing distortion in the economy. 

Read more. 

Our traders, particularly importers, feel uncertainty now about importing from China. They are not sure any more if they will be able to send the goods to the market, said Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairperson, SAWTEE, while speaking to China Macro Economy. 

Women entrepreneurs and experts addressed the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Nepal and discussed the role of trade facilitation in promoting women-led enterprises access to international markets.

“Businessmen are colluding with politicians to award themselves tariff rebates paid for by tax payers. This is slowly killing Nepal’s industrial and manufacturing potential," says Dr. Posh Raj Pandey while speaking to Nepali Times.  

Read more.

"Last year’s export growth of Nepal’s potential products was not satisfactory. Obviously, there were problems in the implementation of the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy, "Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairperson at SAWTEE said.  

Read more. 

Experts discussed the challenges faced by the Nepali pharmaceutical industry in the context of the new intellectual property regime after Nepal’s graduation from the group of least-developed country (LDC) in an interaction organized in Kathmandu on Tuesday. 

Read more. 

सरकारको उचित सहयोग हुन सक्यो भने अबको केही वर्षमै मुलुकलाई आत्मनिर्भर बनाउन सकिने दावी उद्योगीको छ । स्वदेशी उद्योगलाई प्रोत्साहन गर्ने सरकारी नीति र उपयुक्त वातावरण बन्न सक्यो भने छिट्टै नेपाललाई औषधीमा ८० देखि ९० प्रतिशत आत्मनिर्भर बनाउन सकिने तर्क उद्योगीहरूको छ ।  

 थप  सामग्री 

In a workshop “Preparedness of Nepal’s pharmaceutical sector in the face of LDC graduation” organized by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) and Third World Network (TWN), Mr. K.M. Gopakumar, Senior Research and Legal Advisor, TWN, emphasized that an apt policy response is needed to minimize the impacts of LDC graduation in domestic producers and to ensure access to medicine in an affordable way.   

Read More  

“एलडिसी स्तरोन्‍नतिमा नेपालको औषधी क्षेत्रको तयारी” भन्ने विषयमा साउथ एशिया वाच अन ट्रेड, इकोनोमिक्स एण्ड इन्भारोमेन्ट (सावती) र थर्ड वर्ल्ड नेटवर्कले आयोजना गरेको अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रममा बोल्दै बौद्धिक सम्पदा संरक्षण समाज नेपालका कार्यकारी समिति सदस्य डा. प्रतिभा पाण्डे भन्छिन्, “नागरिक समाजको हैसियतले हामीले अनुसन्धान तथा विकासलाई सुदृढ गर्न सरकारको क्षमता अभिवृद्धि गर्नुपर्छ।” 

थप  सामग्री  

युनेसक्याप र सावती द्वारा आयोजित "पोलिसी डायलग अन इकोनोमिक एन्ड सोसल सर्भे अफ एसिया एन्ड द प्यासिफिक २०२२" मा सहभागी भई  सावतीका अनुसन्धान निर्देशक पारस खरेल भन्छन् ," सरकारले आगामी बजेटमा राजस्व लक्ष्य २८ प्रतिशत वृद्धि गरेको छ। आयात भने २० प्रतिशत घटाउने भनेको छ। अहिले राजस्वको करिब ५० प्रतिशत स्रोत आयात हो। यो कसरी सम्भव हुन्छ?"

In response to increasing prices of petroleum products and talks on involvement of private sector in power trading, Paras Kharel, Research Director at SAWTEE said, “A thorough assessment of private sector capacity is needed. Bringing in the private sector alone will not end the fuel price hike” while speaking to The Kathmandu Post.

विश्वभर खाद्यान्न संकटको चर्चा सुरु भए लगतै नेपालमा पनि खाद्यान्न संकट आउन सक्ने भन्दै नेपाल उद्योग वाणिज्य तथा महासंघले पूर्व तयारीमा लाग्न छलफल गरिसकेको छ।  

नेपाल उद्योग बाणिज्य महासंघले राजधानीमा आयोजना गरेको ‘आर्थिक स्थायित्वका लागि महासंघको पहल अन्र्तगत विद्यमान विश्वव्यापी खाद्य र इन्धन संकटको प्रभाव’ विषयक अन्तरक्रिया कार्यक्रममा बोल्ने क्रममा, सावतीका अनुसन्धान निर्देशक, डा. पारस खरेल भन्छन्, “पेट्रोलियम आयातकै कारण देशको अर्थतन्त्रमा धक्का लागिरहेका कारण विद्युत महसुल कम गरेर विद्युत खपत बढाउनमा प्रोत्साहन गर्नु पर्छ”।

The government wants to allow the private sector to participate in power trading, particularly to export power to India, because Nepal is expected to have excess energy during the rainy season, and India is more ready than ever to provide market access to Nepal’s power.  

On 02 April, 2022, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Narendra Modi had effective bilateral discussions in New Delhi especially with agreement made on the Joint Vision Statement on Power Sector Cooperation where both the parties agreed upon expanding and further strengthening mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in the power sector.  

The 5th BIMSTEC Summit adopted the BIMSTEC Charter for the first time and also highlighted the importance of trade and energy, transport, digital, and people-to-people connectivity. The Summit which involved leaders from South and Southeast Asia is looked as a bigger opportunity to increase integrations and collaborations in Bay of Bengal region.The Summit ended on March 30, at Colombo in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairperson at SAWTEE participated virtually in the 5th summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation(BIMSTEC) hosted by Sri Lanka. The summit was concluded with the participation of leaders from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The summit adopted the BIMSTEC Charter and discussed the ways of deepening BIMSTEC cooperation. 

Read More

Speaking at a program entitled ‘Current economic status and Forthcoming Budget FY 2022/23’, Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairperson at SAWTEE urged the government to look after the economic health of the country and focus on promoting sustainable economic growth. Dr. Pandey said that the MoF should act in line with looking for sustainable economic growth of the country rather than just looking for collecting more revenue and enforcing populist programs to buy votes.

13^th March- Speaking at a session “Infrastructure connectivity in Bay of Bengal region” in Second Bay of Bengal Economic Dialogue 2022, Dr. Paras Kharel, Research Director at SAWTEE said that the region can coherently plan infrastructure and put some sort of pressure to steer countries towards implementation of projects.
The Dialogue was hosted by the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM). Read More

Lack of coordination between varied government agencies has made Nepal’s progress in industry and export a dull one. 

The failure of industry promotion agencies under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and export promotion agencies under the Ministry of Finance to harmonise their actions has led to near-zero implementation of a number of facilities created to promote industry and export says the report entitled “Trade Policy Coherence and Coordination in Nepal: An Exploratory Assessment”.  

The report was jointly published by SAWTEE and The Asia Foundation. Read here. 

Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairperson of SAWTEE stressed the adoption of cross-border paperless trade to reduce trade cost and time and facilitate overcoming challenges of a capacity gap, mutual recognition, and harmonization. 

7th December- Dikshya Singh discussed the impact of COVID-19 on major crops which totally disrupted the availability, accessibility, and affordability of the food supply chains in Nepal.

April 28: Experts have cautioned that flawed policies that do not recognize gender-differentiated impacts of policies and reforms may end up hurting women entrepreneurial ecosystem.

They expressed such view during a webinar titled ‘Gender Dimensions of Trade Facilitation: Evidence from Nepal’ organised by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) on Tuesday, April 27.

In response to the food system challenges resulting from the pandemic shock, the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) and the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) undertook a joint study, funded by Southern Voice.

भारत सरकार नेपालबाट हुने भटमास–तेलको आयात रोक्न वा त्यसमा परिमाणात्मक बन्देज लगाउन भारतीय खाद्य–तेल उत्पादकको दबाबमा छ 

चालू आर्थिक वर्ष ०७७/७८ को प्रथम नौ महिनाको वस्तु निर्यातमा ३० प्रतिशत हिस्सा रहेको भटमासको तेल निकासी हटाउने हो भने निर्यात वृद्धि २० प्रतिशत नभएर ७ प्रतिशत ऋणात्मक हुन्छ । त्यसैगरी, पाम–तेललाई हटाउँदा ०७६/७७ मा निर्यात वृद्धिदर ०.६ प्रतिशत नभ​ई ८.५ प्रतिशत ऋणात्मक थियो भने ०७५/७६ मा निर्यात वृद्धिदर १९.४ प्रतिशत नभई ६.६ प्रतिशत मात्र थियो । भारत सरकारको दृष्टि यी वस्तुमा परेको छ । भारत सरकार नेपालबाट हुने भटमासको तेलको आयात रोक्न वा त्यसमा परिमाणात्मक बन्देज लगाउन भारतीय खाद्य–तेल उत्पादकको दबाबमा छ । भारत सरकारले पाम–तेललाई गत वर्ष (सन् २०२०) जनवरीमा ‘रेस्ट्रिक्टेड’ वस्तुमा सूचीकृत गरेपछि एक वर्षयता पाम–तेलको निकासी ठप्प छ । पाम–तेलको स्थानमा भटमासको तेलको तीव्र निर्यात वृद्धि भएपछि गत मार्च महिनामा भारत सरकारले नेपाल सरकारलाई भटमासको तेल–उत्पत्तिको प्रमाणपत्र (जुन भन्सार महसुलविना भारत प्रवेश गर्न चाहिन्छ) वास्तविक उत्पत्तिको आधारमा जारी नभएको आशंकामा छानबिन आग्रह गरेको थियो । 

मुलुक यतिबेला कोभिड–१९ संक्रमण महामारीको दोस्रो लहरको चपेटामा छ। दोस्रो लहरमा संक्रमण तीव्र फैलिन थालेपछि काठमाडौं उपत्यकाका तीन जिल्लासहित धेरैजसो जिल्लामा निषेधाज्ञा लागू गरिँदा फेरि देश नै बन्दाबन्दीको अवस्थामा पुगेको छ। संक्रमितको बढ्दो संख्यालाई स्वास्थ्य पूर्वाधारले धान्ने अवस्था नरहँदा संक्रमण रोकथामका लागि फेरि एकपल्ट बन्दाबन्दीको उपाय अपनाउनुपरेको छ। जसका कारण महामारीबाट थलिएको अर्थतन्त्र लयमा फर्किन नपाउँदै फेरि थलिएको छ।

थप सामग्री : https://www.himalkhabar.com/news/123403

झन्डै डेढ दशकअघि बाङ्ग्लादेशसँगको व्यापारमा नेपाललाई वार्षिक चार अर्ब रुपैयाँभन्दा धेरैको नाफा थियो। तर अहिले चित्र ठ्याक्कै उल्टिएको छ। यो आर्थिक वर्षको सात महिनाको तथ्याङ्क हेर्दा नेपालले झन्डै ३६ करोड रुपैयाँ बराबरको निर्यात गरेको छ भने तीन अर्ब रुपैयाँभन्दा धेरैको आयात गरिरहेको छ।

गत वर्ष चैत ११ गते लकडाउन घोषणा गरिएपछि नेपालीहरूले चीनबाट सुरु भएर विश्वव्यापी फैलिएको कोरोनाभाइरस महामारी आफ्नै दैलोमा आइपुगेको अनुभूति गरे।यो एक वर्षको अवधिमा करिब पौने तीन लाख मानिस सङ्क्रमित भए भने तीन हजारभन्दा धेरैको ज्यान गयो। जनस्वास्थ्यका अतिरिक्त महामारीले सबभन्दा धेरै प्रभाव जनजीविकामा पार्‍यो। लकडाउन सुरु भएको एक वर्षमा नेपालमा के कस्तो असर देखियो त?

Nepal’s graduation from the least-developed country (LDC) status was welcomed at a South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) webinar on Tuesday. The potential loss from losing preferential market access when Nepal graduates from the category of LDC can be overcome by negotiating better regional and trade deals in the next five-year transition phase, speakers said. 

Nepal’s graduation from the least-developed country (LDC) status is a cause worth celebrating experts pointed out during a webinar organized by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) on Tuesday. 

५० वर्षसम्म संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघको अल्पविकसित राष्ट्रको सूचीमा रहेको नेपालले केही साताअघि यो सूचीबाट स्तरोन्नति हुने सिफारिस पायो। योसँगै यसले नेपाललाई पुग्ने फाइदा र आइपर्ने चुनौतीबारे बहस सुरु भएको छ। 

The webinar titled ‘Towards recovery: Women entrepreneurs coping with the pandemic’ was organized to disseminate the findings of a small-scale survey of women entrepreneurs engaged in the manufacturing sector conducted by SAWTEE to examine the impact of the pandemic on their ability to do business. The survey found that 61 percent of the women-owned businesses reported having been affected severely by the pandemic and the lockdown measures; 57 percent of the respondent sought loans to cope with the pandemic; 56 percent of the respondents used e-commerce platforms for sales or promotion during the period. Further, 92 percent of the respondents were not aware of any support facilities offered by the government, revealed Ms. Dikshya Singh, Senior Research Officer, SAWTEE.

“Nepal must realise that aid and trade preferences are not permanent fixtures. They will cease to exist as the country moves up the development ladder. The long-term solution to Nepal’s problems is capacity enhancement in almost every sector. Perhaps, it should also do some soul-searching on how countries like Bangladesh were able to leapfrog while it remained where it was,” says Paras Kharel, research director, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), a prominent think-tank.

A four-day discourse on Bay of Bengal Economic Dialogue 2021 on ‘Post-COVID Challenges in the Bay of Bengal Region’ began yesterday via Zoom. 

Experts and private sector organizations have expressed worry that the unfolding political development and the subsequent unrest in the country could delay the process of economic recovery. 

The country has recently headed towards economic recovery with an increase in economic activities despite the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the National Planning Commission (NPC), Nepal’s economy has faced a loss of Rs 322 billion during the pandemic.

In December 2017, the National Planning Commission held a discussion with Qatari officials on short- and medium-term opportunities to export for Nepali agricultural produce to Qatar as countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council imposed a blockade on the natural gas-rich nation.

अहिले प्रधानमन्त्रीको संसद् विघटन संवैधानिक हो वा होइन भनेर निक्र्योल हुन बाँकी छ । सर्वोच्च अदालतले संवैधानिक वा असंवैधानिक जे भने पनि नेपाल भने डार्क टनेल (अँध्यारो सुरुङ) मा छिरिसक्यो । त्यो भनेको हामीले संविधान बनायौं । दुई वर्षसम्म अविश्वासको प्रस्ताव ल्याउन सकिँदैन भनियो । अर्को सरकार गठन गर्ने विकल्प नहुँदा मात्र संसद् विघटन गर्न सकिन्छ भनियो, तर अहिले अर्को अवस्था आयो । राजनीतिक स्थिरता भनेको नीतिगत स्थिरता पनि हो । नीतिगत स्थिरता हुँदा निजी क्षेत्र र लगानीकर्ता उत्साहित हुन्छन् । अर्थतन्त्र सही गतिमा जान्छ । यस्तोमा लगानी बढ्छ, रोजगारी सिर्जना हुन्छ अनि पो समृद्धि प्राप्ति हुन्छ । यस्तो अवस्थामा चुनाव हुनु भनेको मतलब पनि फराकिलो दृष्टिकोणमा अस्थिरतामा छि¥यांै । 

Like during previous shocks, the pandemic once again renews the call to build a ‘self-reliant’ economy. But will the government listen and act, or miss the opportunity once again like it did in the aftermath of the earthquakes and the unofficial Indian embargo in 2015? 

Experts have sought a proper policy response by the government to address the adverse consequences in the livelihoods of the returned migrant workers following the global spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). 

Addressing the virtual meeting titled “Lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic: Labour migration and remittances in South Asia” organized by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) on Tuesday, the experts also stressed on the need for an effective role on the part of the local governments to record profiles including the skills of returned migrant workers to help them integrate in the local economy. 

Finding a job in the midst of a pandemic when companies are laying off staff or slashing salaries is no easy task.

But many job hunters like Sheshraj Lamichhane, who began to look for work after becoming unable to continue with the Roads Department, are finding opportunities in new avenues spawned by Covid-19.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated powerful trends towards de-globalization, looking inwards by abandoning regional cooperation is not a solution for the South Asian countries and an improved connectivity and cooperation through renewed political commitment to regional and sub-regional initiatives can benefit the region and engender the much needed reforms in multilateralism and globalization, according to the experts in a virtual meeting organized by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) in association with Biruni Institute, Afghanistan, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), India, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan and Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), Colombo.

Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, Secretary (Commerce) at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Nepal, asserted that enhancing mutual trust is the fundamental factor needed to deepen regional integration in South Asia in a way that produces tangible outcomes.

Addressing a webinar on South Asia, Dr. Aryal offered way-forward for deepening regional integration in South Asia, which includes, “establishing strong supply chains, improving trade infrastructure and connectivity, following the regional growth patterns carefully, embracing the use of digital technologies, improving the business environment, and improving mutual cooperation”.

Dhan Bahadur Shah of Kailali opened an eatery in Kalanki area. But, less than two months after he started the business, the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to close the place in March. 

Shah`s house owner waived the rent of his business outlet for two months, and the landlord reduced the rent by 50 percent to Rs 10,000 a month for the next few months. "But it is still difficult to pay the rent and meet other family expenses when your business is shut down," said Shah, venting out his frustration. 

साउथ एसिया वाच अन ट्रेड, इकोनोमी एण्ड इनभायरोमेन्ट (स्वाति) का अध्यक्ष पोषराज पाण्डे अर्थतन्त्र र विकासका विषयमा गहिरो अध्ययन राख्ने थौरै नेपालीहरुमध्येका हुन्  । त्रिभुवन विश्व विद्यालयबाट व्यवस्थापनमा स्नातकोत्तर गरेका पाण्डेले भारतको पञ्जाव विश्वविद्यालयबाट अर्थशास्त्रमा विद्यावारिधि गरेका हुन् । 

South Asia, the world’s most populous region, could be the next hotspot for the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments across the region are faced with the grim calculus of trading off health for the economy which is in lockdown. Coherent national strategies, backed by regional cooperation efforts, are the way forward for economic recovery in South Asia.

COVID-19 has sparked both a public health emergency and an economic shock in South Asia. As of 24 April, South Asia accounted for 1.5 per cent of global cases, while the US accounted for 32 per cent, and the EU for 34 per cent. South Asia has moved from the fastest-growing region in the world in 2019 to a slow growth scenario in 2020. Trade, investment and tourism have collapsed. Stock markets have tumbled and business confidence is vanishing. Daily life has been disrupted and millions face poverty. Some speculate that a return to pre-COVID-19 normal life can only occur once a vaccine is readily made available sometime in 2021.