Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 14

In order to bridge the trade deficit with France, Nepal needs to increase economic activities with the country, feel businessmen.

Business sector people expressed this opinion while speaking at the eighth annual general meeting of Nepal France Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NFCCI) held on Friday.

During fiscal year 2000-01, exports from Nepal to France stood at over Rs 676 million, while imports from France during the same period was worth Rs 1.08 billion. In the year 2002-03, Rs 453 million worth of goods were exported to France and goods worth Rs 1.59 billion were imported, says an NFCCI statement.

Exports from Nepal to France have been mostly in carpets, readymade garments and handicraft including Nepali paper, according to the chamber. Import from France to Nepal has covered a large basket of things including electrical, mechanical equipment and aircraft space parts, says the statement.

The eighth annual general meeting of NFCCI on Friday also re-elected Shyam Mohan Shrestha to the post of president of the chamber.

Shrestha has runs the representative (GSA) office of Air France in Nepal for long. Similarly, C P Khetan of Mutual Trading Co has been elected to the post of vice-president of the chamber. Bal Chandra Bajracharya and Mahen Shrestha respectively have been elected to the post of general secretary and treasurer. Other elected executive members of the chamber are Pawan K Agrawal, Basant Malla, Kedar Man Singh, Kishore Chandra Bade Shrestha, Rajiv Aryal, Ramesh Khetan and Jay Ram Shrestha.

The chamber is comprised of Nepali businessmen and industrialists involved in various fields through developing links with French business circles, in one way or the other.

Some of the French companies are also involved with the chamber in a bid to expand trade and economic ties between Nepal and France.

The chamber reiterates that it has been working continuously to boost trade and industrial relations between France and Nepal.

Besides enhancing trade and economic activities between Nepal and France, the chamber also recommends visa for Nepali businessmen visiting countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Belgium. In October last year, NFCCI participated in the International Tea Trade Expo in Paris along with some important Nepali tea producers.

The chamber also plans to organise a Nepal Trade Promotion Expo in Paris in the first week of November 2004.