Kathmandu, July 15 -- Trade is an engine of growth. Many countries in East Asia and in the immediate neighbourhood have transformed their economies by excelling in export-led trade. But Nepal somehow missed this opportunity. Rather, we became import-dependent. The continuous trade deficit for most of the last two decades has not only weakened competitiveness, but it has also negatively impacted industrialisation, employment generation and economic growth. The challenge for Nepal is to correct this course. The decade-long civil conflict and the subsequent prolonged transition is over. It is high time that we strengthen trade competitiveness, promote export and attempt to cut down the soaring deficit. There could be many ways for this to ha...