Nepal and India are exploring possibilities of signing new infrastructure projects and new areas of cooperation between the two countries while pushing for the implementation of already signed big projects during Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to the southern neighbour next week.

Deuba will embark on a five-day official visit to India on August 23—his first after becoming the prime minister in June and fourth as the prime minister in the last two decades.

According to officials, both sides are likely to make an official announcement of the visit on Friday. 

Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Nepal’s ambassador in New Delhi, said efforts are underway to explore new areas of cooperation between the two countries but stopped short of giving details, saying it’s still “work in progress”.

Multiple sources involved in finalising the agenda of the visit told the Post that some new ideas and areas of cooperation are being discussed. 

“While focus will be on giving momentum to the already signed projects, there is a realisation from both sides that new areas of cooperation should also be explored,” said an official. 

During their visit to India as prime ministers, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had focused on implementation of the of past pacts and agreements rather than signing on new deals. 

Full-fledged implementation of big projects like Arun 3, Upper Karnali and Pancheshwor Multipurpose are high on agenda of PM Deuba for his upcoming Delhi visit. Various technical and procedural issues have hampered the progress of these projects. 

Both sides are discussing inauguration of the Arun 3 Project jointly by prime ministers of both the countries, but for this some technical issues need to be sorted out, according to sources. 

Ambassador Upadhyay said that unresolved issues at the bureaucratic level will be taken up with the political level during the visit. 

Other issues like Nepal’s access to electricity market in India, implementation of the energy bank, exchange facility of currency notes demonetised by India, inundation of Nepali villages and towns due to infrastructure constructed by India will also be discussed during the visit, said the official.