Why trade loopholes don’t make an economic strategy

A better export assessment considers not just export volume, but also the domestic value it creates.

For years, the discourse on revitalising Nepal’s economic performance has centred on boosting its exports. As for the latest fiscal year , imports account for 87 percent of Nepal’s total trade, compared to just 13 percent for exports. But the last couple of years have been encouraging. Nepal experienced an impressive 77.8 percent increase in year-on-year export revenue from FY 2023-24 to 2024-25. Against this backdrop, it is important to ask: Have high numbers addressed the economic frustrations of the populace?