Nepal Foreign Affairs (KATHMANDU, 6 May) – Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat has said the improvement of cross-border infrastructure and connectivity between Nepal and India provides further opportunities for expansion of trade and investment.
Delivering a keynote address at the inaugural session on ‘enhancing bilateral economic cooperation with countries having diplomatic relations with Nepal’ organized in New Delhi for Delhi-based ambassadors and diplomatic missions concurrently accredited to Nepal on Friday, he has reiterated in Nepal-India connectivity. The Symposium that held for two days was joint undertaking of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal, the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi, the Institute for Strategic and Socio-economic Research and the Pavilion Group Nepal.
According to MOFA, Minister highlighted that there is a consensus among the political parties in Nepal on the need and importance of foreign investment to achieve economic growth and realize the country’s vision of development. ”Nepal is an open and liberal economy. The investment in Nepal is fully protected.” he said.
Minister Mahat elaborated on the prospects and opportunities of investment in the areas of comparative advantage in Nepal including hydropower, tourism, agro-industry, infrastructure and manufacturing. The Minister of State of External Affairs of India, VK Singh also addressed the symposium highlighting deep-rooted Nepal-India relations and substantial engagements between the two countries in trade, investment, tourism and other components of economy. He assured of India’s continued support to Nepal’s development efforts.
Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Ambassador of Nepal to India, made the welcome remarks in the programme. Prof. Bishwambher Pyakuryal, Chairman of ISSR, chaired the session.
Honourary Consul of Nepal to Scotland Sunita Poddar handed over a chequeamount of £45,000,collected following the devastating earthquakes in Nepal, to Foreign Minister during the programme to be deposited in the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund.