KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Barsha Man Pun, on Sunday said it was a matter of delight for the country’s economy to move in the right direction amid COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic growth of the country for the fiscal year, 2019/20 increased 2.28 percent amid lockdown, which is the government’s achievement, he said.

This is a positive sign in the country’s economy when economies of the big countries across the globe have witnessed negative growth due to the infection, read a statement issued by the Ministry.

Nepal is on the list of 18 countries across the world having positive economic growth during the virus, said minister Pun.

It was good news that progress on mega hydropower projects including in Upper Tamakoshi and Bheri-Babai Diversion and Sikta Irrigation Project continued during the lockdown, he said.

As a result of progress in economic growth for the FY 2019/20, the ministry’s fiscal progress reached 72.91 percent and physical progress 74.32.

Stating that the government has declared an energy decade until 2085 B.S., he also pledged to increase the country’s total power production to 15,000 megawatts.