Foreign companies operating in Nepal took away Rs7.21 billion in dividends in 2014-15, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) statistics.

The country received foreign direct investment (FDI) worth Rs6.16 billion out of the total FDI commitment of Rs67.25 billion in the last fiscal year, according the Department of Industry.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Pashupati Murarka there are big companies like Unilever, Dabur Nepal and Surya Nepal which were established way back take away dividend based on their business. “However, the FDI flow into the country continues to remain low,” he said.

The hydropower sector topped the list in terms of the dividend outflow (Rs2.87 billion). Industrial sector (Rs2.29 billion) and financial sector (Rs1.79 billion) rounded out the top three. Major hydropower companies with foreign investment include Khimti and Bhotekoshi projects.

According to the NRB, no dividend was paid in the first month of 2015-16, while FDI inflow stood at Rs44.3 million. During the same period a year ago, the FDI inflow stood at Rs 2million.

Official data show the country receives large foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments, but only a fraction of them are translated into actual funding.

According to the NRB, the total foreign funding received after the country was opened to FDI totalled Rs63.42 billion as of mid-July 2015, up 10.8 percent compared to Rs57.26 billion as of mid-July 2014.