During his meeting with Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal at the latter´s office in Singha Durbar, minister Krishna said protests targeted against Indian business undertakings in Nepal had eroded the confidence of Indian businesspersons to make further investments in Nepal.[break]
According to the prime minister´s foreign relations advisor Milan Raj Tuladhar, the visiting Indian minister said the Indian business sector is looking for massive investment opportunities and that Nepal could be the most appropriate place provided the security situation improves. The Indian minister pointed out the need to work together for confidence building measures.
Sources said PM Khanal assured the Indian delegation that the government would improve law and order situation in the country. He said security and stability in Nepal after the successful conclusion of peace process and constitution drafting process would greatly help address Indian security concerns.
Krishna told PM Khanal that India attaches highest importance to Nepal in its foreign relations and it would be a willing partner in Nepal´s development.
The meeting also dwelled on the ongoing peace process and constitution drafting process in Nepal. The prime minister had apprised Krishna on the progress in constitution drafting and peace process.
“We did mention about the peace process and writing of the constitution - the twin responsibilities that rest with the prime minister. And I am sure both these issues are being addressed by the prime minister,” Krishna told media persons after the meeting.
Shortly after landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Krishna held a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who has also been given the responsibility of foreign minister. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to activate bilateral mechanisms that exist between Nepal and India and expedite implementation of various India-funded projects that have been stalled lately.
The Indian side had raised the issues of avoidance of double taxation, line of credit and Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement during the meeting. “We held discussions on a gamut of issues, including review of the agreements reached in the past and also on ways to activate the bilateral mechanisms that exist between our two countries,” foreign secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai told media persons.
Minister Krishna, who arrived in Kathmandu for a three-day official visit, is accompanied by Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, advisor to the external affairs ministry Raghavendra Shastry and five other officials. Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood and senior officials from the embassy in Kathmandu were also present at the meetings.
Minister Krishna also called on President Dr Ram Baran Yadav later in the afternoon. A dinner party was organized for various political party leaders at the Indian embassy in the evening.
Krishna renews invitation to PM Khanal
Minister Krishna has renewed India´s invitation to PM Khanal to visit India.
According to the prime minister´s foreign relation advisor Milan Tuladhar, Krishna repeated Indian´s PM´s earlier invitation to Khanal and asked him to visit India. “PM Khanal has also extended his invitation to Indian PM to visit Nepal,” Tuladhar said. Sources close to the prime minister said Khanal is keen to visit India before he flies to Istanbul to take part in the fourth UN conference on Least Developed Countries on May 7.
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