Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli was on his maiden 6 days visit to India aimed to strengthen ties by clearing the misunderstanding between both nations. Oli and NaMo discussed a range of bilateral issues.
During the visit both nations has signed 7 agreements which are briefed as below:
- Utilization of US$ 250 million Grant component of GOI’s Assistance package for Post-earthquake reconstruction assistance
US$ 100 million would be utilised for construction of 50,000 houses in 14 severely earthquake affected while US$ 50 million each would be utilised in health, education and cultural heritage sectors.
- Strengthening of road infrastructure in the Terai area of Nepal
MoU will enable speedy implementation of remaining work on 17 Roads in Package 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Terai Road Phase-I project, totalling 518 kms.
- MoU between Nepal Academy of Music and Drama and Sangeet Natak Academy
To enhance relations in the field of performing arts through exchanges of experts, exponents, dancers, scholars and intellectuals.
- Letters of Exchange on Transit Routes:
(i) Transit between Nepal and Bangladesh through Kakarbitta – Banglabandh corridor: This would result in simplification of modalities for traffic of goods between Nepal and Bangladesh while transiting through India.
(ii) Operationalization of Vishakhapatnam Port
- Letters of Exchange on Rail Transport:
(i) Rail transport to/from Vishakhapatnam
(ii) Rail transit facility through Singhabad (West Bengal) for Nepal’s Trade with and through Bangladesh.
- Inauguration of Muzaffarpur – Dhalkebar transmission line [Initial supply of 80 MW, to be augmented to 200 MW by October 2016 and 600 MW by December 2017]
The Nepal portion of the 400 KV Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar transmission line is being implemented by GoN, worth US$ 13.5 million.
- Establishment of Eminent Persons Group
The EPG comprises 8 members with each country nominating four members – parliamentarian, lawyer, economist and civil society activist. The EPG has now been constituted. It would review bilateral relations and recommend measures to further enhance ties.
KP Sharma Oli visit to Hindustan Unilever Limited
He visited Hindustan Unilever Ltd, located at the Industrial Park in Mumbai and urged the company to increase investment in Nepal and proposed collaboration in producing goods in Nepal and exporting to India.
Keys:
What was the reason for misunderstanding between Indo – Nepal?
There was an agitation led by the Indian origin Madhesis against Nepal’s newly promulgated Constitution. Their main complaint was that the constitution failed to give them a greater say, including specially-designated states for them.
- The agitation led to blockade in Nepal which resulted in choked imports of petroleum, medicines and earthquake relief material from India.
Nepal Capital – Kathmandu
Nepal Currency – Nepalese rupee