Kathmandu, May 30
"We are planning to forge a long-term energy deal with
India during this visit. Agenda in this regard are for attracting Indian
investment in Nepali electricity projects, constructing cross-border
transmission lines, and facilitating energy export to Bangladesh through
India," Minister for Foreign Affairs, N.P. Saud said while speaking at a
press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
India is the largest potential market for Nepal’s
electricity.
By the end of the next fiscal year, the country's installed
electricity capacity would reach 3,600 Megawatt and during the wet season, the
country would have enough surplus energy which needs to be sold in the regional
markets.
Likewise, the PM-led delegation would discuss about opening
alternative border points to facilitate the cross-border trade as the
Birgunj-Raxaul border has been overcrowded.
FM Saud said that Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj are
the potential alternatives. Currently, Bhairahawa witnesses the second biggest
cross-border trade but infrastructure on the Indian side is still poor. Nepal
wants better roads and rail tracks at these points for seamless trade and cargo
movement.
According to him, a new cross-border motorable bridge over
the Mahakali River would be developed in Jhulaghat of Sudurpaschim Province to
create connectivity with Uttarakhand state of India. Jhulaghat is also the
western end of the Mid-Hill Highway being constructed for more than a decade.
Both the countries have agreed to build the bridge but it has not been
implemented. The visit would make sure the construction of the bridge.
Likewise, another bridge connecting Darchula of Nepal and
Dharchula of India has already been contracted out to undertake the
construction work.
According to the Foreign Minister, this visit would also
take some steps to promote the market of Nepali agriculture produce in India.
Border and other issues and disputes that have long been stalled would be
discussed.
Similarly, agenda of inaugurating the completed Integrated
Check Post (ICP) and initiating new ICP and Inland Containers Depot (ICDs) are
also in the schedule.
Prime Minister Prachanda is starting his maiden foreign trip
as the PM of Nepal with a 4-day visit to India on Wednesday at the invitation
of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. He will lead an 88-member delegation
that includes his daughter Ganga Dahal, Foreign Minister Saud, Finance
Minister, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and
Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and
Transport, Prakash Jwala and Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies,
Ramesh Rijal, Nepali Ambassador to India, secretaries, and senior officials of
the government.
During the visit, PM Prachanda is scheduled to pay a
courtesy call on President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and Vice-President,
Jagdeep Dhankhar.
According to MoFA, he will hold delegation-level talks with
his Indian counterpart Modi at Hyderabad House on Thursday, June 1 and
participate in a luncheon organised by the latter. A joint press meet by the PM
duo would follow the meeting.
The Prime Minister will address Nepal-India Business Summit
in New Delhi jointly organised by Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (FNCCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and interact
with business leaders of both countries. He will also interact with the Nepali
community in India over a welcome reception being hosted by the Ambassador of
Nepal to India, Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma.
PM Prachanda is also scheduled to visit Ujjain and Indore,
Madhya Pradesh before returning to Kathmandu on June 3.
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