Foreign Direct Investment and It’s Impact of Economic Growth: Nepal Case

Shiba-Raj Pokharel(포카렐 쉬바라저),Sang-Lae LEE(이상래),Bishnu-Prasad Pokharel(포카렐 비스누 프라사드) 전북대학교 산업경제연구소 2013 아태경상저널 Vol.5 No.1

오늘날 많은 개발도상 국가들이 경제발전의 도구로서 외국인 직접투자(FDI)를 유치하기 위해 노력하고 있다. 네팔은 남아시아에서 가장 자유주의적 국가이고 FDI를 유치하기 위하여 다양한 정책을 펼치고 있지만, 남아시아지역협력연합(SAARC)에서 FDI가 적은 국가 중 하나이다. 본 연구에서는 1990년부터 2010년까지 네팔의 경제성장과 FDI의 관계를 검증하였다. 구체적으로 네팔의 FDI 유치에 영향을 미치는 요인들을 조사하고, 이러한 요인들과 FDI의 관계를 실증적으로 분석하였다. 세계경제지표(WEI, 2012), 국제통화기금(IMF), 네팔 상경부에서 수집한 자료를 가지고 선형회귀분석을 사용하여 분석하였다. 분석 결과, 네팔의 FDI는 시장 규모와 정(+)의 강한 상관관계가 있음이 밝혀졌다. 노동력 및 GDP는 FDI와 정(+)의 상관관계를 보였으나 유의적이지 않았다. 결론적으로 FDI는 네팔의 경제성장에 긍정적으로 기여하고 있으며, 보다 많은 FDI를 유치하기 위하여 적극적으로 무역을 개방하고 국내투자를 활성화 하여야 할 것으로 보인다. Today many countries strive to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) because of its acknowledged benefits as a tool of economic development and Nepal is also one of them. In this paper, we study the relationship between FDI and economic growth in Nepal for the period 1990-2010. For this study, we, investigate the factors that affect FDI inflows to Nepal and analyze the empirical relationship between FDI and these factors. We used secondary data sources from the World Economic Indicator (2012), International Monetary Fund, Department of Industry, Commerce and Supply of Nepal. Data are analyzed using multiple linear regression. The results indicate that FDI in Nepal is strongly and positively correlated to market size. It is also positively correlated to the labor force and GDP but not significant between them. FDI contributes positively to economic growth and the components of FDI do have a positive impact.

Remittance and Informal Money Transfer Systems

Shiba Raj POKHAREL(포카렐 쉬바라저),Bishnu Prasad POKHAREL(포가렐 비스누 프라사드),Young-Soo RA(라영수) 전북대학교 산업경제연구소 2012 아태경상저널 Vol.4 No.3

외화의 주요 수입원인 노동자 송금은 네팔의 경제에 중요한 역할을 담당하고 경상 수지 흑자의 실질적인 구성 요소가 되어 있다. 본 연구의 주요 목적은 송금 유입이 네팔의 경제 발전에 기여하고 있는가, 만약 그렇지 못하다면 그 원인을 찾고 송금의 활용도를 모색하는 데 있다. 연구 결과, 노동자의 송금과 GDP의 관계는 부(-)로 통계적으로 유의하게 나왔다. 그러므로 네팔에 있어서 국외로부터의 송금의 실질적인 GDP의 상승에 기여하지 못한다고 할 수 있다. 하지만, 설문조사 결과, 공식채널의 높은 수수료로 인하여 송금의 많은 부분이 비공식 채널을 통하여 이루어지고 있으며, 그 송금의 대부분이 토지와 건물 구매와 같은 비생산적인 부분에 사용되고 있다는 것이 밝혀졌다. 따라서 노동자의 송금이 국민경제에 도움을 줄 수 있도록 적극적인 정책과 노력이 필요할 것으로 보인다. Workers’ remittance as major sources of foreign currency plays an important role in the economy of Nepal and has become a substantial component of current account surplus in the balance of payments. The major objective of this study was to investigate the inflows of remittance, its contribution for economic development of Nepal, utilization of remittance and the channels of remittance. The research has stressed the positive impact of the remittance to the nation. However, a negative correlation with GDP growth. Some socio-economic implications of remittance are also become apparent. This study empirically shows that the higher percentages of remittances are still transferred by informal channels and the remittances used in daily consumption, and other nonproductive areas such as buying land and buildings etc.

Comparative study of essential oil in wild and in vitro cultures of Valeriana jatamansi Jones in Nepal

Pokharel Basanta Raj,Pandey Sushma,Manandhar Mangala Devi,Pant Bijaya 한국식물생명공학회 2023 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.17 No.3

Comparative analysis was carried out to determine the variation in the composition of essential oils of hairy roots produced in vitro and in vivo rhizomes of Valeriana jatamansi Jones collected from three different districts in Nepal i.e., Pyuthan (1200 m), Gulmi (3000 m), Godawari (1400 m) was carried out. In vitro adventitious root proliferation was established in MS media supplemented with Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). GC–MS analysis were performed on the essential oils extracted from the sample. The findings showed that the yield of the essential oil obtained from the hydrodistillation of in vitro adventitious roots and dried rhizomes ranged between 0.52 and 0.80%. The highest percentage of essential oil (0.80%) were produced in the in vitro adventitious roots and minimum in the in vivo rhizomes collected from Pyuthan district, i.e., (0.52%). GC–MS analysis revealed a total of 17 volatile compounds in the essential oil from the dried rhizomes of V. jatamansi Jones from different locations and in vitro adventitious roots. It was found that the compound carotol was present only in sample from Pyuthan district, but absent in other samples. The compound matricarin was found in samples from Gulmi and Godawari district but absent in samples from Pyuthan district and in vitro adventitious roots. Similarly, the compound jatamansone was found in samples from Gulmi, Godawari, and adventitious roots but absent in sample from Pyuthan district. The compounds patchoulinone, 1, 2-butyl octyl ester of benzene dicarboxylic acid, and bis (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate, one of the major compounds were present only in sample from adventitious roots The findings of the present study showed that the essential oil composition in both in vitro and in vivo roots, at different altitudes significantly affect the essential oil content of V. jatamansi Jones.

Thermal, Mechanical, and Electrical Properties of Graphene Nanoplatelet/Graphene Oxide/ Polyurethane Hybrid Nanocomposite.

Pokharel, Pashupati,Lee, Sang Hyub,Lee, Dai Soo American Scientific Publishers 2015 Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Vol.15 No.1

<P>Hybrid nanocomposites of polyurethane (PU) were prepared by in-situ polymerization of 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate (MDI) with mixture of graphene oxide (GO) and graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) dispersed in a poly(tetramethylene ether glycol) (PTMEG). Effects of the fillers, GO and GNP, on the thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of the nanocomposites of PU were investigated. Sonication of the hybrid of GNP and GO with PTMEG enabled effective dispersion of the fillers in the solution than the sonication of GNP alone. The addition of PTMEG in the solution prevented the GNPs from the restacking during the drying process. It was observed that the electrical conductivity and mechanical property of the nanocomposites based on the hybrid of GO and GNP were superior to the nanocomposite based on GNP alone at the same loading of the filler. At the loading of the 3 wt% hybrid filler in PU, we observed the improvement of Young's modulus similar to 200% and the surface resistivity of 10(9.5) ohm/sq without sacrificing the elongation at break.</P>

A hierarchical approach for creating electrically conductive network structure in polyurethane nanocomposites using a hybrid of graphene nanoplatelets, carbon black and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Pokharel, Pashupati,Xiao, Dequan,Erogbogbo, Folarin,Keles, Ozgur,Lee, Dai Soo Elsevier 2019 Composites. Part B, Engineering Vol.161 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Hierarchical organization of carbon nanomaterials is the best strategy to combine desirable factors and synergistically impart mechanical and electrical properties to polymers. Here, we investigate the relaxation behavior of carbon nanofillers filled polyurethane (PU) with special reference to particle size and aspect ratio, filler morphology, filler loading to understand the conductive network formation of fillers in the PU matrix. Typically, an addition of 2 wt% hybrid fillers of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), conductive carbon black (CB) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in PU at 1:1:2 mass ratio (GCM112-PU2) showed lowest surface resistivity ∼10<SUP>6.8</SUP> Ω/sq along with highest improved mechanical properties. Our results demonstrate how hierarchical compositions may function in polymer configurations that are useful for thermal and electrical systems.</P>

Screening of potential chemopreventive compounds from Poncirus trifoliata Raf.

Pokharel, Yuba Raj,Jeong, Ji-Eun,Oh, Soo Jin,Kim, Sang Kyum,Woo, Eun-Rhan,Kang, Keon Wook GOVI VERLAG GMBH 2006 PHARMAZIE Vol.61 No.9

<P>Chemopreventive agents induce a battery of genes whose protein products can protect cells from chemical-induced carcinogenesis. In this study, we isolated three different coumarins compounds (1; poncimarin, 2; heraclenol 3'-methyl ester and 3; oxypeucedanin methanolate) from Poncirus trifoliata Raf., and studied whether these compounds increase glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression and activity in the H4IIE cell-line (a rat hepatocyte cell line). CDNB (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene; GST subtype-nonspecific) and NBD (7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole; GSTalpha-type-specific) assays revealed that compound 1 most potently increased GST enzyme activities. Western blot analysis using subtype-specific antibodies confirmed that these three coumarins also selectively increased GSTalpha-protein expression, and that compound 1 most actively induced GSTalpha. In contrast, the expressions of the GSTmu and GSTmu subtypes were not altered by these three coumarins. Reporter gene analysis using an antioxidant response element (ARE) containing construct and subcellular fractionation assays, revealed that GSTalpha-induction by compound 1 might be associated with Nrf2/ARE activation. These results suggest that these three coumarin compounds from Poncirus trifoliata Raf possess phase II enzyme inducible functions, and in particular, that poncimarin has chemopreventive potential.</P>

Pine sawdust biochar reduces GHG emission by decreasing microbial and enzyme activities in forest and grassland soils in a laboratory experiment

Pokharel, Prem,Kwak, Jin-Hyeob,Ok, Yong Sik,Chang, Scott X. Elsevier BV 2018 Science of the Total Environment Vol.625 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>This study investigated the effects of biochar soil amendment on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in soils. Pine (<I>Pinus koraiensis</I> Siebold & Zucc.) sawdust biochar was produced at 300 and 550°C with and without steam activation (coded as BC300-S, BC550-S, BC300 and BC550, respectively). They were applied to forest and grassland soils at 1.5% (<I>w</I>/w) rate in a 100-day laboratory incubation experiment. Application of BC550 significantly reduced cumulative CO<SUB>2</SUB> emission from the forest soil by 16.4% relative to the control (without biochar application), but not from the grassland soil. Biochar application did not have significant effects on CH<SUB>4</SUB> uptake from either soil. Application of BC550 and BC550-S reduced the cumulative N<SUB>2</SUB>O emission by 27.5 and 31.5%, respectively, in the forest soil and 14.8 and 11.7%, respectively, in the grassland soil, as compared to the control. The effects of BC300 and BC300-S on cumulative CO<SUB>2</SUB> and N<SUB>2</SUB>O emission was not significant in both soils, except for the significant reduction in cumulative N<SUB>2</SUB>O emission from the forest soil by BC300-S. The effect of BC550 and BC550-S on N<SUB>2</SUB>O emission persisted until the end of the 100-day incubation indicating possible long-term effects of these biochars. We conclude that BC550 and BC550-S had the highest potential to reduce CO<SUB>2</SUB> and N<SUB>2</SUB>O emission in the 100-day laboratory incubation experiment. These biochars should be tested in long-term field trials to confirm their potential for mitigating CO<SUB>2</SUB> and N<SUB>2</SUB>O fluxes in real ecosystems with a relevant time frame.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> BC550 reduced cumulative CO<SUB>2</SUB> emission from forest soil in laboratory condition. </LI> <LI> BC550 reduced GWP of emissions from forest soil. </LI> <LI> BC550 and BC550-S reduced cumulative N<SUB>2</SUB>O emission from forest and grassland soils. </LI> <LI> Effect of BC550 and BC550-S in N<SUB>2</SUB>O flux persisted until the end of 100-day incubation. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Thermal and mechanical properties of reduced graphene oxide/polyurethane nanocomposite.

Pokharel, Pashupati,Lee, Dai Soo American Scientific Publishers 2014 Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Vol.14 No.8

<P>Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) based polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites have been successfully prepared without using solvent by in-situ polymerization. RGO was derived from microwave (MW) irradiation of graphite oxide (GO) powder prepared by a modified Hummer's method. A minimum amount of poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMEG) was added during the dispersion of RGO in a solvent to stabilize the graphene sheets and to prevent RGO from the restacking after the removal of the solvent. After the reaction of RGO with 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), we obtained the concentrate of RGO in MDI with a minimum amount of PTMEG. Our method facilitated the fine dispersion of RGO in PU elastomers and improved the interfacial strength between RGO and PU. With the incorporation of 2.0 wt% of RGO, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the PU nanocomposites increased by 30% and 50%, respectively without sacrificing the elongation at break. It was found that the crystalline portion of hard segments of the PU was lowered by the RGO in the nanocomposites.</P>

Screening of potential chemopreventive compounds from Poncirus trifoliata Raf.

Pokharel, Raj,Jeong, Ji-Eun,Oh, Soo Jin,Kim, Sang Kyum,Woo, Eun-Rhan,Kang, Keon Wook 충남대학교 형질전환복제돼지연구센터 2007 논문집 Vol. No.10

Potent protective effect of isoimperatorin against affatoxin B₁-inducible cytotoxicity in H41IE cells : bifunctional effects on glutathione S-transferase and CYP1A

Pokharel, Yuba Raj,Han, Eun Hee,Kim, Ji Young,Oh, Soo Jin,Kim, Sang Kyum,Woo, Eun-Rhan,Jeong, Hye Gwang,Kang, Keon Wook 충남대학교 형질전환복제돼지연구센터 2007 논문집 Vol. No.10