Kathmandu, May 14
Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Nepal Narayan Prakash Saud called on the Prime Minister of
Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, at Ganobhaban, Dhaka, Sunday afternoon.
During the meeting, the
two discussed the matters of bilateral relations such as trade,
investment, energy cooperation, and tourism as well as the wellbeing of the Nepali
students studying in Bangladesh, informed the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka in a
statement.
The Foreign Minister
underlined the steady growth of Nepal-Bangladesh cooperation and stressed the
need to ramp up efforts to strengthen economic linkages, read the statement.
Prime Minister of
Bangladesh expressed satisfaction over the excellent state of bilateral
relations and highlighted the need to build on the progress and further the
areas of cooperation.
Foreign Minister Saud was
in Dhaka to participate in the 6th Indian Ocean Conference which was
organised under the theme of ‘Peace, Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient
Future’ from 12 to 13 May in Dhaka of Bangladesh. He went to Dhaka on Friday on
a 3-day visit and returned to Kathmandu on Sunday.
Earlier, speaking at a
conference on 'Realising energy cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh' on
Saturday, Minister Saud underscored Nepal’s immense hydropower potential and
Bangladesh’s growing energy needs and maintained that energy cooperation could
be a ‘win-win partnership’ between the two countries.
He stressed
the role of enhanced connectivity in realising energy trade and urged the
private sector to seize the opportunities available in hydropower sector.
According to the embassy, the event was organised with a view to promoting
dialogue among key stakeholders and fostering collaboration in energy sector between
the two countries.
Independent Power
Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN) made a presentation on energy collaboration
between Nepal and Bangladesh. They expressed their desire to work
closely with relevant stakeholders of Bangladesh to facilitate investment in Nepal’s
hydropower sector. Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari,
highlighted the significance of strengthening energy cooperation for the
economic advancement and sustainable development of both countries.
Likewise, Salman Fazlur
Rahman, Member of Parliament of Bangladesh and Advisor to the Prime Minister on
Private Industry and Investment, underscored the opportunities in power sector cooperation,
and stated that a partnership between Nepal and Bangladesh could meet the
latter’s increasing energy demands and promote green and sustainable
development.
Energy Secretary, Dinesh
Kumar Ghimire, reiterated that Nepal's commitment to enhancing energy linkages with
Bangladesh and emphasised the government’s willingness to materialise power
trade in the near future.
Power Secretary of
Bangladesh, Md. Habibur Rahman, expressed the readiness of the Government of
Bangladesh to explore avenues for joint ventures and knowledge sharing in the
field of energy.
The embassy informed that
the programme was attended by about 100 participants including members of
parliament, high-ranking government officials, business leaders, major energy
entrepreneurs from both Nepal and Bangladesh, Dhaka-based Nepali professionals,
and media persons, among others.
Foreign Minister Saud was
accompanied by his spouse, Jyotshna Adhikari, Ambassador Bhandari, Deputy Chief
of Mission, Lalita Silwal and Second Secretary, Ranjan Yadav on the
occasion.
Published in Friday Supplement of The Rising Nepal daily on 15 May 2023.
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