Kathmandu, August 28 Nepal and Saint Lucia today established formal bilateral diplomatic relations in New York. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Amrit Bahadur Rai, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the United Nations Cosmos Richardson signed a joint communiqué to this effect at a brief ceremony held at the Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia to the United Nations. On the occasion, the two ambassadors expressed confidence that formal diplomatic relations would prove instrumental in bringing the two countries and their people closer in bilateral and multilateral forums. They also discussed measures to further deepen and expand relations, read a press release issued by the New York-based Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations. The two ambassadors also jointly informed Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres about establishment of Nepal- Saint Lucia diplomatic relations today. A small island country in the Caribbean Sea, with its capital at Castries, Saint Lucia covers a land area of 617 sq km and has an estimated population of 170,000. Tourism is a major contributing sector of the economy which accounts for about 65 per cent of the total GDP. Many tourists visit the island country because of its volcanic origin and its location in the path of the northeastern trade winds and warm tropical maritime climate. Chief exports are bananas, cardboard cartons, clothing, coconut products and electronic goods. Saint Lucia became member of the United Nations on 18 September 1979 following its independence from Great Britain. Both Nepal and Saint Lucia are members of the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement. With this development, the number of countries with which Nepal has established diplomatic relations has reached 167, reads the release.