Nepal – Slovak Republic Relations

Background
It is one of the countries formed after nonviolent separation of former Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993. It is one of the landlocked countries in Europe with most of the parts constituted with rugged mountains. It has parliamentary democratic system of governance. The country is divided into 8 administrative regions with capital at Bratislava. September 1st is observed as national holiday (constitution promulgated in 1992).

Bilateral Relations
The diplomatic relations between Nepal and the Slovak Republic was established on 4 March 1994. The Nepalese Embassy to Germany is concurrently accredited to the Slovak Republic. Likewise, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic to India is accredited to Nepal. The relations between the two countries have been marked by cordiality, goodwill and friendship. Slovakia is member of both EU and NATO.

Cooperation
As an EU member, cooperation from Slovak Republic comes through EU channels. Former Czechoslovakia had provided some scholarships to Nepalese students especially in the fields of engineering, medicine and other technical subjects.

 

Trade/Investment
Trade between Nepal and the Slovak Republic is nominal, which is shown below:

 

Year Export Import Total Trade Balance
2009 42874 276070 318944 -233196
2010 47305 712423 759728 -665118
2011 54093 645461 699554 -591368
2012 27765 448638 476403 -420873
2013 73438 179891 253329 -106453
2014 65686 626672 692358 -560986
2015 47468 591595 639063 -544127
2016 60386 455751 516137 -395365
2017 180777 276382 457159 -95605
2018 74342 2110838 2185180 -2036496
2019 51860 69553 121413 -17693

(Source: TEPC; Amount in US $)

Major Export items:

  • Miscellaneous articles of base metal
  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted
  • Works of art collectors pieces and antiques
  • Carpets and other textile floor coverings
  • Musical instruments: parts and accessories of such articles.
  • Coffee, tea mate and spices

Major Import items:

  • Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus: parts and accessories thereof
  • Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof: sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
  • Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances: parts thereof
  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof
  • Plastics and articles thereof
  • Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted

Investment

From the beginning till 15 July 2020

 

No. of Projects Total project cost Total fixed cost Total working capital Total amount of foreign investment No. of employment
1 5 4 1 5 21

(Amount in million NRS)

 

Tourism
Although the number of Slovakian tourists visiting Nepal is very low, somewhere around 1000-2000, there is a possibility of increasing the current number of visitors through promotional activities.