Nepal hosts the permanent secretariat of a trade bloc.
 Nepal's international trade greatly expanded in 1951 with the establishment of democracy; liberalisation began in 1985 and picked up pace after 1990
 It has seven national political parties recognised in the federal parliament: Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, People's Socialist Party and Janamat Party

