Nepal Infrastructure Summit kicks off

Kathmandu / Feb 19: Nepal Infrastructure Summit 2017 began in the Capital today under the theme ‘Private Sector as an Indispensible Partner.’

Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) is the main organizer of the Summit while the Government of Nepal and Youth Community for Nepalese Contractors (YCNC) are co-organisers.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to inaugurate the two-day Summit this evening. However, discussion sessions have already started since the morning. The Summit has been organised with an objective of preparing a draft for the infrastructure development of Nepal.

Discussion on the issue of ‘Expanding Public and Private Partnership’ was held in the first session programme chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority, Govinda Pokharel, member of the National Planning Commission, Hirendra Man Pradhan, Mission Chief of DFID, Gail Marzetti, and Khadga Bahadur Bisht of IPPAN, among others stressed that ‘Public and Private Partnership’ was the successful model for the development and added that partnership and trust between both sides was must for the same.

Saying the government has adopted the policy of promoting the investment in private sector, DPM Mahara said that the government was committed to creating environment conducive for the same.

He added that the government has been carrying out necessary activities to revise the existing laws and rules. The DPM said that the government was in process to pass the laws required for the public and private partnership soon.

Former Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai presided over the second session of the programme.

On the occasion, he said Nepal should prioritize to construct the road networks in the country for overall development. He further argued that Nepal should be a dynamic bridge between two neignouring countries, China and India for its speedy development.

Similarly, former Finance Minister Surendra Pandey opined for effective implementation of the projects, rather drafting multiple projects in the name of development.

He added that the Nijgadh-Kathmandu Fast Track and Kathmandu-Rasuwagadhi Railway projects should be prioritized.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong said that Nepal could benefit from the Chinese ambitious project One Belt: One Road (OBOR). She further added that her country was supporting Nepal’s infrastructure development was willing to make additional support for the same.

Likewise, former Minister Uma Kanta Jha, national planning member Dr Swarnim Wagle, CNI chair Haribhakta Sharma opined for effective infrastructure development of the country.

Over 30 experts, high level government officials, Ministers, policy makers and development partners are attending the Summit.

Railway Minister of India, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu is also in the capital to take part in the summit.

The Summit is to serve as a discussions forum for public-private partnership (PPP) modality, similar models in regional and international level, condition of infrastructure development, investment on infrastructure development, green infrastructure among other issues.

The organizers believe that the Summit will be useful for collecting investment for infrastructure development particularly, in agriculture, energy and infrastructure sectors of the country. RSS