New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) Nepal and India held comprehensive discussions on development cooperation, focusing on post-flood reconstruction, trade, investment, energy and connectivity, as the two sides looked to strengthen and broaden their longstanding economic partnership.
Nepal’s Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle held an official bilateral meeting with India’s Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Thursday, according to a post by the Embassy of Nepal in India on social media platform X.
The two ministers discussed a wide-ranging set of issues related to development cooperation and areas of mutual interest between the two neighbouring countries.
The discussions placed particular emphasis on post-flood reconstruction, trade and investment, along with cooperation in the energy sector and improving connectivity between Nepal and India.
The meeting also covered other areas of mutual interest aimed at strengthening and broadening the longstanding economic partnership between the two countries.
“Dr. Swarnim Wagle, Finance Minister of Nepal, had an official bilateral meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs of India, in New Delhi today,” it said.
“The two ministers had a comprehensive discussion on a wide-ranging set of issues related to development cooperation, with a focus on post-flood reconstruction, trade, investment, energy, connectivity as well as other areas of mutual interest to strengthen and broaden longstanding economic partnership between Nepal and India,” it added.
Both sides emphasised the importance of further strengthening the trade and economic partnership between India and Nepal, the statement reads.
Nepal’s finance ministe is on a three-day visit to New Delhi at the invitation of the Indian government. His visit comes as Nepal assesses the economic damage from recent disasters and begins planning reconstruction.
The bilateral engagement comes as Nepal and India continue to work on areas of economic and development cooperation, with connectivity, energy and trade remaining important components of their relationship.
–IANS
pk