Background of the Country
Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world having US$ 220.00 per capita income. The Nepalese economy is predominantly an agricultural economy. About 81 percent of the population is engaged in the agriculture sector whereas about 86 percent of the population lives in the rural sector of the country. Agricultural sector contributes 40 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. According to the National Living Standard Survey 1996, about 42 percent of the population were found to be living below poverty line but at the end of the Ninth Plan 2001, the figure has comedown to 38 percent.
Nepal has been witnessing planned development efforts since the last four and a half decades. The Ninth Five Year Plan has just completed in 2001. The objectives envisaged in most of the plans aim at reducing poverty. However, the intensity of poverty in the country calls for massive and genuine efforts.
An Overview of Financial System
The history of modern financial system of Nepal was begun in 1937 with the establishment of the Nepal Bank Ltd. (NBL) as the first commercial bank of Nepal with the joint ownership of government and general public. As mentioned above, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) was established after 19 years since the establishment of the first commercial bank ( i.e.,NBL). After the establishment of NRB, Nepal witnessed a systematic development of the financial system. After the restoration of democracy in 1991, Nepal has clearly been following a liberalized economic policy and witnessing diversification in financial system. As a result, various banking and non-banking financial institutions have come into existence. As of mid-July 2002, there are 16 Commercial Banks, 16 Development Banks, 5 Regional ...