Apropos of the news story “Trade deficit widens to Rs. 310 billion” (THT, December 24, Page 13), we can perhaps use the trade formula with the US to turn the table on this massive deficit with our two giant neighbours.

At a symposium to commemorate 70 years of cooperation between US and Nepal, a young man informed at his presentation that Nepal enjoys almost 50 percent trade surplus with the oldest democracy in the world. At the same event, he also informed the audience that Nepal can now export 76 products to the US as against only 66. Perhaps the government and the private traders should join hands in taking advantage of the offer and start manufacturing the 76 products for export to the US to increase our trade surplus. They should also lobby for export of Nepali unskilled labour to the US, which can immediately widen our trade surplus.

Of course, luxury tourism can further augment our surplus. As for the mammoth deficit with our immediate neighbours, particularly India, we should see some narrowing the gap when our resilient traders at state-of-the-art SEZ in Bhairahawa start exporting 75 percent of their produces to India. Just have to make sure that our traders do not fulfill their pledge by producing, for example, 100 carpets and exporting 75 of them. Our smart traders are totally capable of such a caper.

Our federal structures consisting of seven grand Pradeshes would also help in mitigating our trade woes.

Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu

Christmas

It is time to say Merry Christmas. Also, it is time to remember the teachings of Jesus Christ. According to Mark 12:31, Jesus said, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” This is the secrets of our survival.

A machine is built by assembling separate parts. Thus, every mechanical part needs to cooperate with its neighbouring parts to ensure smooth running of a machine. If a part starts competing with its neighbouring parts then the machine will breakdown due to a mechanical failure. Not only does this condition hold good in the case of a machine, but also when it is concerning a human body or a human society. This is a crucial factor to running of any system, be it a simple or a complex machine and be it a village or an urban society.

Recently, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi has started a campaign called “100 million for 100 million”. Currently, almost 168 million or 10 per cent of the world’s population in 5-17 age group are trapped in labour and over half of them are exposed to hazardous work all over the world. A famous song reminds us that we are the world, we are the children. But there are still more than 100 million children out of school. The idea of the campaign is to mobilize 100 million youth across the world for shaping a better future of 100 million less-privileged children.

Indeed, it can usher in an ideal world. If everyone of us takes the responsibility of just one helpless child in our neighbouring then everyday in our calendar will truly be a real Merry Christmas!

Sujit De, Kolkata