The three-day International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction (ICNR) 2015 organised to share the country’s learning and experiences in the post-quake reconstruction with the world concluded on Wednesday.
The ICNR has addressed various thematic areas of recovery and reconstruction, including private housing, cultural heritage, social and public infrastructure, livelihoods and economic recovery, and financing.
It was organised to share Nepal’s experiences in emergency response, reconstruction and recovery, and learn from global experiences and good practices in earthquake risk reduction and management processes.
It also aimed at jointly developing key recommendations for disaster risk prevention, preparedness and management, and develop consensus on the needs, possibilities, and means of disaster risk management for the future.
The organiser of the event, National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), said that the conference was successful to achieve these goals.
Ministers, ambassadors and representatives of friendly counties and delegates of multilateral agencies appreciated Nepal’s timely execution of the reconstruction campaign and said that the world could learn from Nepal’s experiences.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and delegates from the agencies of European Union, United Nations, ambassadors from various countries and representatives of international organisations had congratulated the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and Nepal government.
They also pledged their continued support to Nepal in future disasters and for economic development.
Speaking at the inaugural programme of the conference, President Bidya Devi Bhandari said that Nepal would give priority to the development of resilient infrastructure learning from the lessons taught by the quake.
She appreciated the courage of Nepali people and support of international community in the rescue, relief and reconstruction drive.
Chief Executive Officer of the NRA, Sushil Gyawali, said that the Nepal’s learning in the post-quake rebuilding is well documented and the body of knowledge built during the past six years could be a useful resource for future initiatives.
The NRA has completed the basic reconstruction and rehabilitation works of infrastructures damaged on April 25, 2015 earthquake during almost six years of its establishment and has already handed over the responsibility of remaining works to concerned ministries, departments and agencies.
The first ICNR was organised in 2015 which had drawn the pledges of Rs. 425 billion for post-quake relief and reconstruction. However, actual pledge stood only at Rs. 325 billion.
However, the government estimated cost of the reconstruction stood at US$ 4.9 billion.
The government had established the NRA on 25 December 2015 to carry the post-quake rebuilding and the national reconstruction campaign was launched in January 2016.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 December 2021.
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