PM Narendra Modi to visit Nepal tomorrow

Vikrant

Gold Member
Apr 20, 2013
8,317
1,073
245
The U.S.
I think it is a good decision by the Indian PM. Nepal and India have so much in common that a sound alliance between the two makes sense.

---

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a visit to Nepal on Saturday with an aim of taking the bilateral relations to a higher level through further cooperation in economic and other areas.
Modi will be in Nepal for two days during which the two countries are expected to sign agreements in sectors like power. India may also announce economic aid for that country.
This will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Nepal in 17 years, after I K Gujral had travelled there in June 1997, and underlines Modi’s focus on priority to India’s neighbourhood.
The Prime Minister will hold talks with his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala and have the honour of addressing that country’s Constituent Assembly, only the second foreign leader after former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl who had done it in early 1990s.
He will also address Nepalese business community and visit the famous Pashupatinath Temple where he is expected to participate in a special puja. Modi is also expected to meet leaders of various political parties.
During the trip, India is expected to announce economic assistance and the two sides are likely to sign pacts in sectors like power and culture.
Modi’s visit comes just a week after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had travelled there. Modi, who has made it clear that neighbourhood will be the priority of his foreign policy, is making Nepal his second foreign destination in bilateral terms after Bhutan. Koirala had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Modi as Prime Minister at the latter’s invitation on May 26.
India is making efforts to boost bilateral ties in all aspects, including defence, security, training, exercises and connectivity. Cooperation in management of common rivers is a key element of India-Nepal ties. India, which at times, faces floods because of the rivers originating in Nepal, has been imparting training to Nepalese officials to deal with the problem. It has given Rs 200 crore to Nepal for the purpose.
Abhay Thakur, Joint Secretary (North) in the MEA, said there is a need for realtime exchange of flood data. “We are ready to extend assistance in this regard,” he said, adding India is already providing assistance on improving embankments of rivers.
The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited Nepal in 2002 but it was in the framework of multilateral SAARC Summit.
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said India would like to upscale the relationship beyond 2014 amidst its desire to see stable, democratic and peaceful Nepal.

PM Narendra Modi to visit Nepal tomorrow | The Indian Express
 
India announces a one billion dollar financial assistance package to Nepal.

---

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced $1 billion as concessional line of credit to Nepal and proposed a HIT formula for the development of the land-locked country endowed with rich hydropower potential.
Modi, while addressing Nepal Constituent Assembly, said for Nepal, "India has decided to provide Nepal with NRs 10,000 crore ($1 billion) as concessional line of credit for various development purposes."

"This amount is separate from the previous assistance that India has already provided to Nepal," Modi, the first Indian PM to visit the country in 17 years, said.

Earlier, India had provided $250 million line of credit to Nepal through the Exim Bank of India.

The new grant will be utilised for infrastructure development and energy projects as per Nepal's priority, according to Nepalese Foreign Ministry.

Proposing a model development formula for Nepal, Modi said, "I want to HIT Nepal", drawing wide applause from the lawmakers.

Elaborating his strategy, Modi said HIT in his lexicon implies - H:Highways, I:I-ways and T:Transways.



Read more at: PM Narendra Modi announces $1 billion aid to Nepal : North, News - India Today
 

Forum List

Back
Top