KATHMANDU: Vice President of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact Operations, Fatema Z. Sumar is returning home today wrapping up her four-day visit to Nepal.

During her stay in Nepal, she held talks with top political leaders, including Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, political leaders, government officials, businessmen and community leaders.

MCC Veep Sumar had arrived in Nepal on last Thursday to obtain the first-hand information as to the MCC and ask the Nepal government to decide whether MCC assistance is needed or not.

During the meetings, she discussed the required next steps to implement the $500 million MCC-Nepal infrastructure program, and addressed the clarification questions provided by Nepal’s Ministry of Finance.

The government has promised to implement the agreement by reaching a national consensus. The visit of the US delegation has been almost fruitless due to sharp differences within the ruling coalition over the MCC.

Prior to negotiating and signing the compact in 2017, the Nepal government had designed the 5-year grant program to provide more reliable electricity and lower power and transportation costs for all Nepalis.