India’s PM Narendra Modi’s Nepal visit concludes
The two-day Nepal visit of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded on August 4, 2014.
Highlights of Mr. Modi’s Nepal visit:
- Mr. Modi is the first Indian PM to Nepal in 17 years. He was welcomed by the guard of honour.
- He addressed the Nepalese Parliament.
- Aim was to forge a new relationship with Nepal and to begin a new chapter in bilateral ties that will serve as a model and catalyst for regional collaboration.
- Mr. Modi gave a ‘HIT’ formula for Nepal expressing India’s willingness to help Nepal build Highways (H), Information highways (I) and Transways- transmission lines (T).
- He promised to grant Nepal 10,000 crore Nepali rupee concessional line of credit, for its development.
- He announced India’s keenness to double power supply to Nepal.
- India would help Nepal in building pipelines to help transport oil to Nepal.
- The scholarships to students from Nepal would be increased.
- India extended help to Nepal to enable it to emerge as a major exporter of herbal medicines.
- India would also help develop the tourism potential of Nepal, both as a spiritual, and adventure tourism destination.
- Mr. Modi extended assistance to Nepal in the fields of organic farming, and soil health.
Key agendas of PM’s Nepal visit:
The aim was to forge a new relationship with Nepal and to begin a new chapter in bilateral ties that will serve as a model and catalyst for regional collaboration.
The main agenda of the visit was to give impetus to negotiations on a power trade between the two nations.
Negotiators were trying to resolve the differences over the power agreement aimed at tapping Nepal’s estimated 42,000 MW hydro-electric potential to meet domestic demands and also supply India’s power-deficient economy.
Currently, Nepal has an installed capacity of 600 MW as its development has been hindered by years of political turbulence. Nepal is still grappling with the transition to a constitutional republic after the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
Nepal’s ties with India are also significant to tackle the emergence of China as the strongest power in South Asia.