Nepal trade deficit widens

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KATHMANDU, June 11 (Xinhua): Nepal's trade deficit continues to widen, as it crossed 70 billion Nepali rupees (around 1.1 billion US dollars) during the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2006-07, local newspaper The Himalayan Times reported today.
According to the macroeconomic situation report released by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), Nepal's central bank, yesterday, total exports fell by 2.9 per cent in the first nine months, while imports registered a growth of 7.4 per cent.
The responsible factors for the dismal performance of the export sector included the unfriendly investment climate, worsening security situation, load shedding and the southern Nepal's Terai general strikes.