Transborder Himalaya: Processos de Transnacionalismo nos Empresários e Trabalhadores Nepaleses em Lisboa

In this study, we analyze the processes of transnationalism involved in the activities of the Nepalese immigrant entrepreneurs and workers in Lisbon. In particular, we detail the general characteristics of the recent Nepalese immigration to Portugal and the salience of transnational coethnic networks, among Nepalese entrepreneurs and workers in Lisbon. This is a qualitative and quantitative research, combining participant observation, the field diary and ethnographic method, with semi-structured interviews to36 Nepalese entrepreneurs and 30 Nepalese workers in the city of Lisbon. We describe, in detail, the profiles of the Nepalese businessmen and workers, their similarities and differences, aiming to determine whether there is reconstruction or reproduction of the Nepalese ethnic groups in the Nepalese immigration and exploring transnational practices among them. We scrutinize the main determinants of entrepreneurship for the Nepalese immigration in Lisbon, as well as the specific role of transnational coethnic networks in such entrepreneurship and on the insertion of Nepalese immigrants in the local labor market. We draw conclusions about the particular characteristics of the Nepalese entrepreneurs, detailing their financing strategies and specific ways of entrepreneurial development, and we also justify the use of the term "ethnic economy(ies)", to describe their business activities. Furthermore, we ponder the modes of transnationalism observed and the forms of aid to the development of Nepal, declared by our interviewees. Finally, we compare our results with those obtained regarding other south-asian immigrants in Lisbon, as well as other Nepalese immigrations in Europe and the world - in addition to synthesizing our contributions, and indicating some useful pathways for future research and inquiry.