Nepal and UK Officials Discuss Potential for Economic Collaboration

LONDON: A high-level bilateral meeting took place today between Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat of Nepal and UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anne Marie Trevelyan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in London. The discussions revolved around various aspects of the Nepal-UK relationship with a focus on economic collaboration.

Finance Minister Mahat underscored the significance of foreign investments from the UK, emphasizing the economic challenges Nepal has been confronting due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, mounting domestic and international debts, and a shortage of available capital for investment.

He particularly noted the UK’s growing commitment to green energy following the recent COP-26 conference, which presents a promising opportunity for substantial investment in Nepal, especially in sectors such as information technology, education, and tourism.

Minister Mahat also appealed for support in addressing the adverse effects of climate change in Nepal, despite the country’s relatively minimal contribution to global climate change.

Furthermore, the Finance Minister urged the British government to consider unresolved issues concerning ex-Gurkhas.

In response to these discussions, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Trevelyan reaffirmed the UK’s dedication to Nepal’s development and expressed optimism regarding increased investments from the UK in areas deemed a priority for Nepal. She assured continued support and collaboration between the two nations in pursuit of their mutual objectives.