KATHMANDU: Embassy of India in Kathmandu has organized ‘India-Nepal Development Partnership Conclave’ in Kathmandu.
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport NarayanKaji Shrestha, Prabhat Kumar, OSD at Ministry of External Affairs of India and Ambassador of India to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, jointly inaugurated the conclave.
The event was organized by the Indian Embassy in collaboration with Centre for South Asian Studies to mark 75 years of India’s independence as well as 75 years of establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Nepal.
The Conclave witnessed 75 Development Partnership Projects by India in Nepal that have been successfully completed April 2022 till date in multiple sectors of India-Nepal partnership.
During, experts and government officials discussed on strengthening the cross border connectivity for mutual benefit and projects implementation.
It is noted that India’s SJVN Limited through its fully owned subsidiary SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company (SAPDC), is executing one of Nepal’s transformative Public Private Partnership Project of 900 MW Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project. This is the largest Foreign Direct Investment in Nepal. SJVN is also executing 669 MW Lower Arun Hydro Project & 490 MW Arun-4 Hydro Project on the same Arun river basin.
Earlier, Minister Shrestha has held a discussion with Indian officials on the progress and problems surrounding the projects funded by the Government of India.
During the courtesy meeting in Kathmandu today, the minister urged the Indian team including Additional Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of India Prabhat Kumar to expedite physical infrastructure projects funded by the Indian government.
Minister Shrestha took a concern about the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway funded by India and the projects constructed with loans from Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank), and he urged secretary Kumar for felicitating the projects, said the MoPIT Secretary Keshab Kumar Sharma.
“The discussion was not intense as there took place a courtesy meeting. But, a serious discussion took place on resolving problems surrounding the projects, and speeding up them,” he said.
The meeting also focused on the Kathmandu-Raxaul railway, and other projects, he added. The designing of the railway in detail is underway.
It was also agreed upon to constantly continue such discussion, and seek all available ways to resolve problems revolving these projects, it has been said.
