External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Nepal and co-chaired the 7th India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting along with Foreign Minister of Nepal N P Saud in Kathmandu today.
There were two important agreements between India and Nepal, the first being a long-term agreement on power trade and another agreement to enhance investment in High Impact Community Development projects. There was a signing of the MoU for Cooperation in Renewable Energy Development between Nepal Electricity Authority and NTPC Limited.
EAM also witnessed the launch of the Service Agreement for Munal Satellite developed by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology between Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and NewSpace India Limited.
With the signing of the agreement, the bilateral understanding to export 10,000 megawatts of electricity from Nepal to India in the next ten years has been materialized. NHPC, an Indian PSU looks forward to cooperation in the Power sector in Nepal apart from undergoing projects of 750 MW and 450 MW projects in Seti River and 480 MW Phukot Karnali Hydroelectric Project. SJVN, another PSU of India is developing 669 MW and 900 MW HEP projects in the Arun River. Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Gopal Sigdel, and India’s Energy Secretary Pankaj Agrawal signed the agreement paper on behalf of their respective sides.
EAM gave a courtesy visit to the President of Nepal and Prime Minister Prachanda before the start of the JCM meeting. He also met Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN UML chief K P Sharma Oli today.
EAM also interacted with the National Cricket Team of Nepal and Cricket Association of Nepal officials today in Kathmandu.
Sweta Singh(Kathmandu)