Bilateral investment and economic cooperation with Bangladesh discussed

NL Today

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Dhaka: Sunil KC, vice-president of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), met Home Minister of Bangladesh Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday and requested him to consider Nepal as a serious and reliable investment market for the hydroelectric power. Minister Khan said he is positive about making investments in Nepal and promote bilateral economic relations between the two countries.  He further said that he would raise the issue with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

KC also met Salman F Rahman, Private Industry Investment Adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss bilateral investment and economic cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh. The discussion was focused on promotion of Nepal-Bangladesh joint ventures in hydroelectric power in order to bring power from Nepal to Bangladesh. Emphasis was also given on promoting the government investments in Nepal and private-to-private investments by bringing the Indian companies on board so that power sectors can grow smoothly in Nepal and fulfill the demands of Bangladesh in few years of time.

Adviser Rahman said that the government of Bangladesh seriously wants to make an investment once the government of India is convinced and agrees to facilitate the cross border power trade. He further informed that talks are going on to import the 50MW power immediately from Nepal to Bangladesh, which will be a game changing project between Nepal and Bangladesh, once realized.

During the discussion, KC also urged Rahman to prioritize making investments in Nepal’s hydro power and developing the cross border transmission lines and collaborating on the biggest infrastructure projects. Rahman said that Bangladesh will make around USD 3 billion investments in Nepal from the government and private sectors in days to come.