KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Barsa Man Pun engaged in discussions with Akihiko (Aki) Nishio, Vice President of Development Finance, and Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank, during a meeting held in Washington last night.

Expressing his appreciation to Vice Chairman Akihiko (Aki) Nishio for agreeing to host the 21st meeting of the International Development Association (IDA) in Nepal, Minister Pun emphasized the importance of enhancing World Bank engagement in the country.

In his appeal, Minister Pun urged the World Bank to consider augmenting subsidiary loans and aid to Nepal, emphasizing the significance of such support in bolstering the nation’s development efforts.

Additionally, Minister Pun commended the World Bank’s involvement in significant infrastructure projects in Nepal, including the 1,063 Megawatt Arun Project and the 635 Megawatt Dudh Koshi Project, highlighting the positive impact of these initiatives on the country’s energy sector.

The meeting underscored Nepal’s commitment to fostering partnerships with international organizations like the World Bank to accelerate its socio-economic development agenda.