KATHMANDU: Nepal and India on Thursday signed seven agreements to boost cooperation in several areas including trade and energy.
Following the bilateral meeting held at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Prime Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a press conference and announced the signing of various MoUS and agreements.
Prime Minister Dahal and his Indian counterpart Modi signed an MoU on the agreement aimed at extending trade and transit and construction of the Siliguri-Jhapa Petroleum Pipeline.
Meanwhile, they also jointly laid the foundation for the construction of Sunauli Bhairahawa Integrated Checkpost.
The two Prime Ministers also inaugurated the Nepalgunj-Rupadia Integrated Checkpost along with Bathana-Biratnagar Cargo Train.
The two countries also signed a long-term power agreement between the two countries, and to construct the Pukhot-Karnali Hydropower Project.
Similarly, they also signed an agreement for the construction of Lower Arun hydropower project under Indian investment.
Indian Prime Minister Modi said they would continue to strive to take India-Nepal ties to Himalayan heights after signing the agreements.
PM Modi and PM Dahal jointly launched projects such as handing over of Kurtha-Bijalpura section of railway line; inaugural run of an Indian railway cargo train from Bathnaha (India) to Nepal Customs Yard; inauguration of Integrated Checkposts (ICPs) at Nepalgunj (Nepal) and Rupaidiha (India); and ground breaking ceremony of ICP at Bhairahawa (Nepal) and Sonauli (India).
Likewise, others include ground breaking ceremony of phase-II facilities under Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline; and ground breaking ceremony of Indian portion of Gorakhpur-Bhutwal Transmission Line being built by a JV of PGCIL and NEA.
Similarly, Nepal and India also signed MoU/Agreements including:
Renewal of Nepal-India Transit Agreement
Establishment of integrated check post at Chandni Dodhara
Agreement to build a petroleum pipeline from Amlekhganj to Chitwan and from Siliguri to Charali in Jhapa.
69 MW lower Arun with an Indian company
Agreement to be made by Fukot Karnali Indian Company
Cooperation agreement between the Institute of Foreign Affairs Studies and Sushma Swaraj Institute, and an Agreement between Nepal and India to conduct financial transactions through QR code.
The MoU also includes a Treaty of Transit between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal; an MoU between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal for cooperation in the field of Petroleum Infrastructure; and an MoU between Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) and the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Nepal.
Likewise, others include an MoU between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal for the development of infrastructure at Dodhara Chandani check post along Indo-Nepal Border; and Project Development Agreement of Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project between M/S SJVN and the Investment Board of Nepal.
The two sides also agreed on MoU between NHPC and VUCL, Nepal for the development of Phukot Karnali Hydroelectric Project; and MoU between NPCIL and NCHL, Nepal for cross-border payments.
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