Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun underscored the significance of electricity as a priority sector that has a direct bearing on socio-economic transformation of Nepal.

An interaction programme on ‘Nepal-China Economic Co-operation Forum: Prospects of Investment in Nepal’s Energy Sector’ held in Beijing on Tuesday, Minister Pun outlined Nepal government’s plan to develop 15,000 MW electricity in 10 years.  The Minister shed light on the key role of foreign investments in achieving the target and invited the Chinese enterprises to utilize the opportunities for investment in Nepal’s hydropower for win-win outcomes for both countries.

Nepal’s Ambassador to China Leela Mani Paudyal, in his welcome remarks, said the forum was organied with a view to facilitating dialogue between Nepali policymakers and Chinese enterprises, and for exchanging ideas and experience on further accelerating Chinese investment in the generation of hydropower in Nepal. He assured full support and co-operation of the Embassy of Nepal in facilitating such investments.

Highlighting investment potentials in Nepal’s hydropower sector, Nepal Electricity Authority Managing Director Kulman Ghishing said it is the most appropriate time to invest in Nepal due to large demand for electricity inside the country and in the region.

The event featured presentations on Nepal’s investment climate and the prospects of hydro-electricity development in the country.

China Association for International Economic Co-operation Vice-President Guo Hongle welcomed the Minister and other delegates from Nepal, and hoped that the interactions would promote business co-operation between the two countries and create new opportunities in further advancing Nepal-China economic co-operation.

The programme was organised under the aegis of the Embassy of Nepal, in collaboration with China Association for International Economic Co-operation.

The forum brought together Chinese energy companies and entrepreneurs, as well as senior government officials of Nepali, businessmen and representatives of companies from Nepal for interactions on facilitating Chinese investments in Nepal’s hydropower sector. More than one hundred and twenty participants including representatives from public and private sector companies of Nepal and China, senior office-bearers of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), representatives of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and media person took part in the programme.

Lawmaker Shyam Kumar Shrestha, National Planning Commission member Krishna Prasad Oli, and Anup Kumar Upadhyay, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI) were also present.

Minister Pun attends BRI Energy Ministerial Conference

The delegation of Energy Minister also attended a Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference in Shuzhou, a city in southeastern Jiangsu Province of China, on Thursday.

Saying that the countries associated in Belt and Road Initiative will take the advantage of mutually beneficial cooperation to realise sustainable economic growth and development enabling to further expand friendship, enhance economic relation, deepen cooperation and promote people-to-people contacts, Minister Pun noted: "Belt and Road Initiative is ingrained within the concept of mutual respects of each other's core values, enhances mutual trust and promotes win-win cooperation to realise prosperity and development of each other."

Minister Pun also said that with regional and trans-boundary integration and connectivity in different areas of connectivity including the energy sector under BRI, Nepal stands ready to reap the benefits of a dramatic improvement in production, distribution and consumption of goods and services including electricity, provided that the best collaborative initiative are taken towards that end.

The conference was attended by ministers from 35 countries.

The conference organised under the theme "Belt and Road Energy Partnership as a New Engine for Global Energy Development, Future Energy and Unimpeded Trade of Energy Commodity" was attended by Minister Pun, Secretary Upadhyay, among other delegations of the minister.