Finance Minister holds talks on reconstruction projects

Kathmandu February 8- Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel met External Affairs Minister of India, Sushma Swaraj, in New Delhi on Sunday and held discussions regarding the mobilisation of reconstruction assistance pledged by India and other issues on bilateral economic cooperation.

Finance Minister Paudel left for New Delhi, yesterday, on a three-day visit. He is also scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley today.

“Finance Minister Paudel discusses reconstruction assistance and briefs External Affairs Minister on political situation, remaining constitutional issues & PM Oli’s visit to India,” tweeted Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs, India.

Minister Paudel also informed that his visit to India is a preparatory visit before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s upcoming visit to India.

Talking to mediapersons at Tribhuvan International Airport before his departure to New Delhi, Minister Paudel said that he will also be engaged in finalising some reconstruction projects, which are going to be implemented under the assistance of the government of India.

The Indian government had pledged assistance of $1 billion, including 25 per cent grant for rebuilding infrastructure that was ravaged by the devastating earthquakes of April and May at International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction (ICNR) held on June 25, last year.

Foreign Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi, Finance Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi and Joint Secretary Baikuntha Aryal are in the delegation led by the finance minister. Source: THT