Kathmandu, April 3
The loss to the country’s economy due to the 15-day nationwide lockdown can range between one and two per cent of the gross domestic product, according to the Asian Development Bank.
Unveiling its Nepal Macroeconomic Update today, Asian Development Bank revised downward its projection for Nepal’s economic growth to 5.3 per cent in fiscal 2019-20 from its earlier forecast of 6.3 per cent, largely due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Unveiling the Nepal Macroeconomic Update today, ADB stated that the outbreak of this disease and subsequent nationwide lockdown imposed from March 24 to April 7 had hit the manufacturing and service industries hard.
| Loss measured in constant prices | |||
| Scenario I | Scenario II | Scenario III | |
| Agriculture | 1069.8 | 1663.7 | 2733.5 |
| Loss as a percentage of sector GDP | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1 |
| Industry | 1721.4 | 3552.2 | 4234.5 |
| Loss as a percentage of sector GDP | 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.1 |
| Services | 5763.9 | 8640.1 | 9982 |
| Loss as a percentage of sector GDP | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.1 |
| Wholesale and retail trade | 1835.1 | 3145.9 | 3801.3 |
| Loss as a percentage of sector GDP | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Hotel and restaurant | 442.8 | 590.3 | 664.1 |
| Loss as a percentage of sector GDP | 0.09 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Transport, storage and comunications | 450.2 | 2251 | 2701.2 |
| Loss as a percentage of sector GDP | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Total loss (economy-wide) | 8555.1 | 13856 | 16950.1 |
| Total loss as a percentage of GDP | 1 | 1.6 | 2 |
(Rs million) |
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Interestingly, while the government had lowered the budget size for the ongoing fiscal by Rs 147 billion in February owing to its failure to boost capital spending, it has not yet made any revision to its growth target of 8.5 per cent and its aim to keep inflation under six per cent this fiscal.
While the Manila-based lender stated that the country’s average annual inflation would inch up to six per cent in fiscal 2019-20, up from 4.6 per cent a year earlier, it acknowledged that the temporary closure of international borders over COVID-19 concerns had already nudged up food prices. “The average annual inflation in fiscal 2019-20 could be higher than the anticipated rate if the situation further worsens due to COVID-19 pandemic.”
In its projection of economic impact of COVID-19 on Nepal, ADB has considered three scenarios.
The first scenario is based on the current situation faced by Nepal and policy measures implemented thereof.
The nationwide lockdown has brought major economic activities to a standstill. Manufacturing industries have closed their operations, with only those producing essential items — medical supplies, food and dairy products — remaining open. Apart from those providing essential services, all other offices have been closed. Domestic and international trade has substantially slowed down.
If this situation normalises soon and the lockdown is removed from April 8, the loss to the economy
Read the full story on The Himalayan Times
The post Lockdown to shave up to 2pc off GDP: ADB appeared on Nepal123.com.
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