Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: In an impending visit that underscores the burgeoning bilateral relations between India and Nepal, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to embark on a pivotal journey to Kathmandu.
This strategic trip is anticipated to culminate in the signing of two significant accords pertaining to long-term energy cooperation and a marked increase in Indian financial commitment to Nepalese developmental projects.
Jaishankar will lead a high-level Indian delegation at the seventh meeting of the Nepal-India joint commission, a premier diplomatic conduit for the two neighbours to assess and enhance their multifaceted ties. Although awaiting a formal announcement, sources reveal that Jaishankar’s arrival in Kathmandu is slated for Thursday morning, where he will engage with his Nepalese counterpart, Foreign Minister NP Saud.
The visit, Jaishankar’s first since 2019, is set against a backdrop of shared interests and mutual respect.
Among the expected outcomes is the signing of a long-term energy agreement, a historic step that will see India importing 10,000 megawatts of Nepalese hydropower over the next decade. This agreement stems from the vision laid down during Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to India last year, promising a robust foundation for energy trade and the practical utilization of Nepal’s abundant water resources.
In a parallel move to boost grassroots development, India is poised to amplify its investment in Nepal’s Highimpact Community Development Projects (HICDPs). The budget for these small-scale yet impactful projects is set to quadruple from the existing Rs50 million to Rs200 million per project, reflecting India’s desire to significantly enhance its contribution to Nepal’s infrastructure growth.
Since its inception in 2003, over 535 HICDPs have been undertaken by the Indian government in Nepal, with the majority successfully reaching completion.
