Nepal will export nearly 1,000 MW of electricity to India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said after meeting his Nepalese counterpart Arzu Rana Deuba in New Delhi on August 19. He went on to describe the development as a “new milestone“.
About their talks
According to EAM Jaishankar, their talks covered cooperation across diverse areas including energy, trade, connectivity and infrastructure development. Discussed the multifaceted India-Nepal cooperation including in energy, trade, connectivity and infrastructure development.
1000 MW of electricity to India
Glad to note that Nepal will be exporting close to 1000 MW of electricity to India, a new milestone. Their wide-ranging discussions covered various aspects of the multifaceted cooperation between India and Nepal.
Bilateral matters of mutual interest
In Kathmandu, Foreign Secretary Misri called on Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba. They discussed bilateral matters of mutual interest & ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all sectors. Additionally, the Indian Foreign Secretary also called on President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
7th India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting
Earlier this year, EAM Jaishankar visited Nepal for the 7th India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting in Kathmandu on January 4, 2023. The meeting, which he co-chaired with Nepal’s Foreign Minister NP Saud, saw discussions on a wide range of issues like trade and economic relations, connectivity projects, and defence cooperation.
Bilateral cooperation between India and Nepal
Bilateral cooperation between India and Nepal spans various sectors including trade, energy, water resources, health and education infrastructure, and cultural exchanges. Recent years have also seen a continued momentum in major infrastructure and connectivity projects in Nepal.
Assistance to Nepal
- In 2017, India pledged to provide financial assistance of USD1 billion to Nepal for reconstruction in areas hit by the 2015 earthquake.
- This included a grant of USD 250 million for Housing (USD 100 million), Education (USD 50 million), Health (USD 50 million), and Heritage (USD 50 million). The remaining USD 750 million is in the form of a Line of Credit (LoC).
- Additionally, since 2003, the Government of India has undertaken over 551 High Impact Community Development Cooperation (HICDPs) in Nepal across various sectors, completing 490 projects. These projects are part of the ‘Nepal-India Development Cooperation’ initiative.