KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has urged the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to establish a policy for granting concessional loans to Nepal.
During a courtesy meeting with a delegation led by RMP Rathnayake, the Director of AIIB, the Prime Minister highlighted Nepal’s ongoing need for concessional borrowing facilities, which AIIB currently lacks. He emphasized that the absence of such concessional financing options hinders Nepal’s access to AIIB funding. The Prime Minister urged the policymakers within AIIB to consider addressing this issue.
Expressing the government’s commitment to achieving high economic growth alongside good governance, institutional development, social justice, and prosperity, the Prime Minister sought AIIB’s support in financing, technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and mobilizing private capital.
Prime Minister Dahal mentioned ongoing AIIB-funded projects in Nepal’s energy sector and emphasized the potential for investment in hydropower, tourism, information technology, and other infrastructure projects. He encouraged AIIB to explore investment opportunities in these sectors.
Highlighting Nepal’s plans to host the Third Nepal Investment Summit (NIC) on April 28-29, the Prime Minister expressed hope for high-level participation from AIIB, which would contribute to creating an investment-friendly environment conducive to Nepal’s development priorities.
He informed the delegation about Nepal’s revised policies aimed at promoting private and foreign investment, urging AIIB to invest confidently in Nepal.
The delegation, led by Rathnayake, included AIIB Vice President and other senior officials.
Rathnayake assured that AIIB considers Nepal a priority as one of its founding members and is positive about increasing its investment in Nepal’s development endeavors.
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