Kathmandu, Feb. 29: The Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party met under the chairmanship of parliamentary party leader and Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai at the Prime Minister’s residence, Baluwatar today.
The meeting discussed matters concerning effective enactment of already introduced and other new bills in the parliament in consultation with the opposition party leaders in an amicable atmosphere.
Ways to make the activities of the subject committees formed by Nepali Congress more effective were also discussed on the occasion.
Addressing the meeting, Pprime Minister Bhattarai urged the nc mps to play an effective role in making the parliamentary session beginning tomorrow more effective and fruitful.
According to parliamentary party secretary Benup Raj Prasai, Prime Minister Bhattarai also urged nc mps to take into confidence the opposition mps while preparing legislation since legislation passed in parliament are for all Nepalese people.
NC president Girija Prasad Koirala called for effective role of the nc mps in making discussions on bills more constructive, and formulating effective laws.
He also urged the nc mps to unite for the resolution of serious problems facing the country and for strengthening the party.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information and Communications Ram Chandra Paudel stressed the need for the nc mps to actively cooperate in the implementation of the government’s policies and programmes.
NC general secretary Sushil Koirala stressed the need to maintain discipline within the party so as to resolve the problems facing the country.
Meanwhile, Whip of the ruling party at the House of Representatives Tek Bahadur Chokhal has said that all Nepali Congress mps will present themselves united in the 17th session of the parliament begining tomorrow.
Talking to rss today, Mr Chokhal said the parliament will function not on the basis of a majority but through national consensus.
Expressing the confidence that about 14 bills presented in the previous session of the parliament and currently under discussion in the committees will be passed in this session, Mr Chokhal said the parliament will also discuss the 300 queries registered.
He also said that the Some Nepal Act Amendment bill relating to internal administration presented in the 16th session will be passed through national consensus taking into consideration the suggestions put forth by the opposition parties.
Stating that a solution to any problem can be found within the parliament and not from the streets, Mr Chokhal expressed confidence that the session will be successful in resolving problems of the nation through creative support from the opposition parties.
Kathmandu, Feb: 29 : A number of children alight from buses at Kathmandu bus park every morning in a confused state of mind. Uncertainty and suffering can be read on their faces.
Even though the future of these poor children hailing from the villages of the terai and the hilly regions is a risky one in a metropolitan city like Kathmandu, they are anxious to try their luck here. No doubt, most of them will face hardship and even danger in the struggle for survival.
This is a problem not only in Nepal, but exists more of less in all nations of the South Asia region.
According to the International Labour Organisation office for Asia and Pacific region and ipec, around 250 million children are involved some way or other in economic activities in the underdeveloped countries of the world.
About 60 per cent of the total population of child labourers live in South Asia alone. Of these, 2.6 million are to be found in Nepal.
The emergence of child labour in Nepal is not the outcome of poverty and want alone, chairman of the Child Workers Concern Centre, Nepal (ciwin) Gouri Pradhan says. It is the outcomes of social and economic factors and cultural tradition.
In addition to the poor economic condition of the people in Nepal, the social fabric, deprivation from education and migration from rural to town areas also attribute to the problem, she adds.
The prevailing trend is that employers give priority to such migrant children whom they can employ at cheap rates and use at will. Their guardians also tend to hire them out as domestic help so that they will not be a bother to themselves.
Ten-year-old Rajendra Chaudhari who came from Siraha district says, ” My uncle brought me to Kathmandu in anticipation of room and board and money and left me with a well-to-do family to do their household work.”
I have to wake up early in the morning and do everything including cleaning, cooking, taking the children of my master to school, and I have no chance to study though I have a keen interest in it. There is nobody to share my grief and pain, he complains.
A large number of children who were brought here with promises of food and shelter have almost the same story to tell and are living in miserable conditions.
According to a survey conducted by ciwin, 60 percent of the total child labour population or 21 thousand who do domestic work are compelled to work 10-12 hours daily and 20 percent work 12-14 hours. Of them, 10 percent are below the age of 10 and 70 percent between 11-14.
Child labourers deprived of remuneration are also large in number. Some get a paltry sum. In other cases, those who brought them to their employers themselves take the money from the latter.
According to the survey, about 31 percent of such child labourers could not get any remuneration from their employers while 10 percent are ignorant of any renumeration due to them.
About 49 per cent never have a chance to go to school while 40 percent drop out after admission. However, 11 percent have made use of this opportunity. But under such harsh conditions it is doubtful if they undertake their studies regularly within and outside school.
It is foolish to insult and ill treat child labourers, social worker Sabina Koirala says. Child labour is not an inherent phenomenon but a result of the ground realities in our society and family. It is also a question of equal opportunity.
Electronic media such as radio and television and newspapers also have been highlighting this issue to a large extent, that with little effect. This shows that there in need for a human conscience rather than just prohibitory laws.
Concerted efforts by national and international organisations is a must for rooting out this social anomaly. Every family in society also has to play a role to discourage this practice.
His Majesty’s Government should adhere to the laws and regulations pertaining to the elimination of child labour as well as the international accords and conventions on child rights in order to properly safeguard the rights and interests of Nepalese children.
Kathmandu, Feb. 29:In anticipation of a bright future for the restored and renovated Garden of Dreams, the first meeting of the Development Board took place. The focus of a five year joint initiative by the Austrian and nepalese governments, the restoration project will bring new public amenities for this central location as part of a novel tourism development scheme. The development Board, acting as legal partner to the project and representative of the government, will alow the national property to be utilised for educational, cultural, and recreational purposes, a model for the development of other nationa; properties. Until recently the historical garden complex which includes Neo-classical pavilions, ponds and plantings had been underutilised and neglected. Oeko-Himal, the local representative of the Australian Aid assistance, envisions the restored garden as a centre of urban life, a green haven in the midst of modern Kathmandu.
Constructed by Field Marshall Kaiser Shamsher in the 1920’s, the garden is one if the outstanding examples of colonial architecture in South Asia. Conservation Architects Goetz Hagmueller and Erich Theophile have carefully researched the history of the complex tracing the architectural and literacy precedents for the Field Marshall’s ambitious project. Mr. Lok Bhakta literary precedents for the Field Marshall’s ambitious project. Mr. Lok Bhakta Rana, son of the Field Marshall, serves as representative of th family who donated the property in trust to HMG, and was today appointed Member Secretary of the Development Board. The Honorable Mr. Jayaram Giri, Secretary of the Minister of Tourism, serves as Chairman of the Board. Other Board members include: representatives of the Nepalese Tourism Board, Mr. Prashant Singh, Private Sector experts in tourism and culture, Mr. Karna Shakya, and representative of the Austrian donor agency Oeko-Himal, Mr. Goetz Hagmueller.
Work has already begun to clean and restore the garden complex; future plans include new income-producing activities–cafes, cultural events, and eco-exhibits–which will support ongoing operating and maintenance expenses. The long-term profits from the restored complex have been earmarked to restore the Kaiser Shamsher’s personal library, housed in the adjacent Ministry of Education, and another Nepalese Monument deserving of both local and international interest and care.
Kathmandu, Feb 29:A workshop with an objective to contribute to the national assessment process of Beijing +5 review in Nepal was organised by UNDP here today. Speaking at the workshop as chief guest, State Minister for Women and Social Welfare Kamala Pant said, “the issue before us is not only the property rights and discrimination against women should be addressed as a whole.”
Stressing the need for the government to be sensitive to women’s issues, the State Minister said, “we need to work more as we are yet unable to change the laws in spite of the guarantee against discrimination provided in the Constitution.”
Deputy Speaker Chitralekha Yadav as the guest speaker stressed that State obligations expressed by Nepal in ratifying the CEDAW and Beijing Declaration must be met and the process of change hastened.
Expressing her commitment to an equitable society, Yadav said,” It is time for us to evaluate what we have achieved in the post-Beijing period about the twelve critical areas of concern.”
Sahana Pradhan, the president of Communist party of Nepal-ML said,” Rights of women are an integral part of human rights,” and lamented that the existing laws are not in accordance with the guarantee of fundamental rights in the Nepalese Constitution.
Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Saraswati Menon delivered the welcome speech and shed light on the objectives of the workshop. A presentation on Beijing+5 Nepal review was made by Dr Suman Tuladhar.
Conducted by the Assistant Resident Representative (gender) Bharati Silwal, the Nationa Consultation on Beijing+5 workshop concluded with emphasis on economic empowerment and immediate amendments in the existing laws that can only be achieved through greater activism and pressure for equality.
Kathmandu, Feb 29:How does it feel when you meet somebody after decades whom you were close to in times of adversity and struggle? The emotions will certainly be too overwhelming for words.
An Indian citizen who supported many of our freedom fighters during exile met with the Prime Minister today after thirty years. When Ganesh Man Singh broke jail and escaped to Raxaul 55 years ago, Nanda Prasad Sikaria lent a helping hand and offered refuge at Arya Samaj Dharmashala. His hospitality was also enjoyed by people like Kedar Man Vyathit, Gopal Prasad Bhattarai, Tej Bahadur Amatya and Megharaj.
Now 86 year old, Sikaria has come to Kathmandu for the wedding of his grand daughter.
“Whether we say something or not, talk or not, We both just know. We don’t need to talk, he said. “The PM asked me if I needed something, but I have always given until today. So what can I ask for?”
“I never thought he will someday become the Prime Minister.”
Recalling how Tej Bahadur Amatya was killed, Sikariya said, ” He had given me money to keep, which I handed over to his family later.” He also recalled how Shukra Raj Shastri, who was active in Arya Samaj, was hanged.
GaneshMan Singh had established an office at that very Dahrmashala of Arya Samaj in Raxaul and was arrested for Jhar Khor incident and was put in Motihari Jail on the request of the Rana regime.
“We campaigned that political figures should not be extradited and Later he was released, he said. ” Many Nepalese from Benares also received military training in that same Dharmashala.”
Kathmandu, Feb 29:In the Worldnet Dialogue billed as a scene-setter for the upcoming Energy Conference to be held from March 6-8 in Kathmandu, the Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the US Department of Energy, T.J Glauthier, and the Deputy Director of the Global Office of Energy, USAID, Gordon Weynard, fielded a volley of queries from three Nepali panelists on the topic “Emerging Energy Market in South Asia” at the American Center today.
The three Nepali panelists were: Santa Bahadur Pun, Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Water Resources, Ajaya M.Dixit, water resources expert with Interdisciplinary Analysts and Navin Singh Khadka, of this daily, The Rising Nepal.
The queries ranged from affordability of energy to prospects of investments in energy development, market possibilities of energy generated to industrial utilisation of energy, the supply side and the demand side of energy, integration of latest technologies in energy generation to applicability and the relevance of international accords on the sharing and utilisation of water resources.
To a query as to whether the energy generated by hydropower plants built with huge investments would be affordable, Glauthier said the integration of appropriate technologies along with an enhanced and efficient distribution system could help bring down the price of energy for everyday use. He further said that the US, which has collected a lot of experience in energy development, is ready to share its knowledge and expertise in not only generating power in a cost-efficient manner but has the technological capabilities.
To another query as to whether Nepal, which has tremendous hydropower potentials, should export electricity at its own expense and peril, Glauthier stated that though Nepal’s present capacity to utilise all its energy output is not there due to its low absorbing capacity, Nepal could reach such a stage by expediting its pace of industrialisation through the export of surplus energy. However, without adequate energy production, this would not be possible, he further pointed out.
The forthcoming energy meet will not only show-case a whole gamut of projects but also facilitate local and regional projects, Glauthier said while responding to the query as to whether the coming meet will help Nepali entrepreneurs to overcome financial hurdles in their bid to development small hydel projects.
The Deputy Secretary of the US Energy Department opined that any water resources utilisation accords should conform to international agreements on down-stream utilisation and advantages. He made this remark while replying to a panelist’s query as to whether the 1961 US-Canada Treaty that gave Canada the entitlement to half of power generated downstream and which it sold to the US on a long-term basis could be emulated in any other regional pacts.
While pointing out the need to look into the diplomatic aspect of such an issue, he said that all the US ambassadors in the region will also be attending the energy meet.
Gordon Waynard, Deputy Director of the Global Office of Energy, USAID, also said that the forthcoming energy meet will open up vast vistas for the US and the South Asian nations in the field of energy development as it is touted to bring together officials and representatives from the government, non-government and private sectors.
Phillip Hoffman, Director of the American Center, pointed out that the Worldnet Dialogue would act as a scene-setter for the upcoming energy meet to be held in Nepal. Since the production and marketing of energy is of great interest to all South Asian nations, the meet is expected to not only give fillip to energy development projects in the region but also to attract US investors as well.
The forthcoming energy meet, presented by the US Trade and Development Agency (TDA) and co-sponsored by the US Departments of Energy, Commerce and State and the Agency for Internation Development is expected to see government and energy industry leaders from the US and South Asian nations discussing and exploring project opportunities worth US$15-20 billion.
Kathmandu, Feb. 29:Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has said that the 17th session of Parliament beginning tomorrow would find solutions to the current problems through consensus.
“We are preparing for tomorrow’s session that would primarily discuss the 13 Bills tabled during the 16th session,” he said at an interaction organised by Reporters’ Club Nepal here this afternoon.
Speaker Ranabhat said that no new Bills had been registered for discussion as of now. “The two Bills that were registered earlier are technically defunct since the Ministers who introduced them have resigned. But we expect some 35 Bills to be tabled for discussion during this session that will last for about a month,” he said.
The two Bills are Road Board Bill and Nepal Scout Bill (second amendment).
Ranabhat appealed to all the legislator and cabinet members to act responsibly during the House proceedings. “All the parties, despite ideological differences, should forge consensus on the issues related to development, poverty, corruption, peace and security and common welfare in the country,” he said. “Such issues cannot be solved without collective efforts.”
The new session of the House would seek political solution to the Maoist problem that has claimed more than 1100 lives since it began in early 1996, he said. “I will personally take initiatives to find peaceful solution to the problem.”
He expressed happiness over the Maoists’ positive response to the government’s appeal for peace talks. “The talks should begin as soon as possible.”
He accused the government of paying least attention to the infrastructure development and of misusing the resources. “The government that is accountable to people should fulfil their aspirations and take the fruits of democracy to the lowest strata of society.”
Kathmandu, Feb. 29:The government expenditure went up due to a significant growth in development and freeze expenditure during the first half of the current fiscal year, Nepal Rastra Bank said in a press statement today.
“The growth of narrow money has accelerated while that of broad money has decelerated,” the press release said.
Higher budgetary deficit has been observed as a consequence of low resources mobilisation in relation to expenditure. The rate of inflation on point to point basis has come down to a single digit from two digits because of improvement in the prices of food and beverages group. In the external front, although growth rate of export has outpaced that of import, trade deficit has widened substantially due to high volume of imports as compared to exports. The foreign exchange holding of the banking system has recorded a rise due to a surplus in balance of payments emanating from flows of official capital and miscellaneous capital net. The foreign exchange reserve is sufficient to cover merchandise imports of 10 months. The NEPSE share price index has improved in comparison to last month, NRB said.
During the first six months of the fiscal year 1999/00 the broad money has registered a decelerating growth of 6.9 per cent (Rs. 10,546.7 million) amounting to Rs. 163,442.3 million from 11.2 per cent (Rs. 14,172.3 million) during the same period last year. This is mainly due to the decline in the growth of net domestic assets of the banking sector during the review period. Narrow money has, however, accelerated significantly by 9.5 per cent (Rs. 4,862.7 million) as compared to the growth of 4.6 per cent (Rs. 2,065.1 million) last year. The growth rate of time deposit in the review period has slowed down to 5.6 per cent (Rs. 5,684.0 million) from 14.9 per cent (Rs. 12,107.2 million) in the previous year. A downward revision in the interest rate ranging from 1.50 to 2.0 percentage points as compared to mid-January 1998 is attributed to the low growth of time deposit in the review period.
During the review period, bank credit to the private sector has increasec by 7.6 per cent (Rs. 6918.9 million) amounting to Rs. 97710.8 million. Last year, such a credit had increased by 9.7 per cent (Rs. 7423.6 million). Although there has been a growth in import credit, the total credit flow to private sector from the banking system has remained low as compared to that of last year due to slow pick up of credit to industrial and other sectors.
On the fiscal front, government expenditure has increased by 22.6 per cent amounting to Rs. 23,251.2 million as compared to a growth of 8.4 per cent last year. The rise in such an expenditure is mainly due to the significant rise in regular expenditure by 15.1 per cent, development expenditure by 45.7 per cent and freeze expenditure by 28.1 per cent. Expansion of development programmes in the public sector this year has contributed for the significant growth of development expenditure. During the review period, the growth of resource mobilisation stood at 15.7 per cent amounting to Rs. 19,654.6 million as compared to the growth of 17.6 per cent last year. Revenue collection, a major source of resources mobilisation, stood at Rs. 18,119.3 million marking a 13.7 per cent growth as compared to 14.6 per cent growth last year. Another source of resource mibilisation viz., foreign cash grant has increased by 7.8 per cent to Rs. 1,198.4 million. Resources mobilisation has remained lower than the expenditure during the review period resulting in budget deficit of Rs. 3,596.6 million. The government has overdrawn Rs. 346.2 million fron Nepal Rastra Bank along with issuing treasury bills worth Rs. 1,550.0 million to meet the resources gap created by the declining receipts of foreign cash loan.
National urban consumer price index on point to point basis has been recorded at 2.3 per cent during the review period compared to 13.4 per cent last year. The decelerating trend in the price of food and beverages helped to lower down the national price index to a single digit. The price index of the food and beverages group increased slightly by 0.3 per cent in the review period as compared to an increase of 18.5 per cent last year. Despite a pressure in the price of foodgrains, the declining prices of oil and ghee, vegetable, pulses, sugar and sugar product as well as spices has been accountable for the lower growth in the price index of food and beverages. The prices of non-food and services has surged up by 6.1 per cent this year as compared to 4.5 per cent last year. The higher price rise in the non-food and services sub-group is mainly due to upward revision in the prices of petroleum products and electricity. Regionwise, prices in Hills has recorded the highest growth of 3.1 per cent followed by respective growth of 2.4 per cent and 1.8 per cent in Terai and Kathmandu.
On the external front, exports have increased by 41.9 per cent to Rs. 23,517.8 million and imports also have gone up by 35.5 per cent to Rs. 51,783.2 million. In the export side, export of readymade garments, carpet and jewellary followed by Pasmina has shown a growing tendency. During the review period, Rs. 2,710.0 million worth of Pasmina has been exported. However, exports of pulses, tanned skin, and nigerseed have declined during the review period. Export-import ratio, which was 43.5 per cent last year, has increased slightly to 45.5 per cent during the review period. Surge in total import is atributed to higher imports of foodgrains, medicine, cement, textile, thread, glass and transportation goods from India and gold, raw wool, cotton, transportation goods and spare parts, construction materials and steel sheet from third countries. As a result of growth in both exports and imports, total trade has increased by 37.5 per cent in contrast to a decline of 5.8 per cent last year. Share of India in total trade, has increased from 34.9 per cent last year to 39 per cent in the review period.
Based on the available statistics for the first four months of this fiscal year, the balance of payments has remained favourable by Rs. 1,130.9 million. In the review period, the growth in trade deficit outpacing the increase in net service as well as transfer income has resulted in the current acount deficit of Rs. 1,682.1 million.However, a substantial inflow of official capital and miscellaneous capital item net have helped balance of payments to register a sizable surplus. Based on the monetary statistics for the first six months of the current fiscal year, overall balance of payment has recorded a surplus of Rs. 5,793.4 million. As a result, foreign exchange holdings of the banking system has increased by 14.6 per cent to Rs. 8,361.9 million as at mid-January 1999. Of the total reserve, 90.2 per cent accounted for convertible currency and 9.8 per cent for non-convertible currency.
Kathmandu, Feb 29: How does it feel when you meet somebody after decades whom you were close to in times of adversity and struggle? The emotions will certainly be too overwhelming for words.
An Indian citizen who supported many of our freedom fighters during exile met with the Prime Minister today after thirty years. When Ganesh Man Singh broke jail and escaped to Raxaul 55 years ago, Nanda Prasad Sikaria lent a helping hand and offered refuge at Arya Samaj Dharmashala. His hospitality was also enjoyed by people like Kedar Man Vyathit, Gopal Prasad Bhattarai, Tej Bahadur Amatya and Megharaj.
Now 86 year old, Sikaria has come to Kathmandu for the wedding of his grand daughter.
“Whether we say something or not, talk or not, We both just know. We don’t need to talk, he said. “The PM asked me if I needed something, but I have always given until today. So what can I ask for?”
“I never thought he will someday become the Prime Minister.”
Recalling how Tej Bahadur Amatya was killed, Sikariya said, ” He had given me money to keep, which I handed over to his family later.” He also recalled how Shukra Raj Shastri, who was active in Arya Samaj, was hanged.
GaneshMan Singh had established an office at that very Dahrmashala of Arya Samaj in Raxaul and was arrested for Jhar Khor incident and was put in Motihari Jail on the request of the Rana regime.
“We campaigned that political figures should not be extradited and Later he was released, he said. ” Many Nepalese from Benares also received military training in that same Dharmashala.”
Customs offices collect revenue from seizure of smuggled items
Bhadrapur, Mar 1: Mechi Customs Office, Kakarbhitta collected revenue worth Rs 3 million from seizure of smuggled goods over the last three months.
It may be noted that a joint patrol comprising customs officials and police was formed some time back to control smuggling in the border areas.
Last Friday the mobile patrol team seized some smuggled goods including cloth, motor parts and stainless steel utensils on a passenger bus, plate No. Ko. A. Kha. 649, on Kakarbhitta-Birtamod road but later the smuggler group attacked the patrol and decamped with the goods.
Likewise in Chautara, Tatopani Customs Point of Sindhupalchok district collected a revenue amounting over Rs 640.5 million in six months. Of that amount, Rs 2.95 million was collected as customs duties, Rs 91.24 as income tax, Rs 216.96 as VAT, Rs 27.95 from local development tax and Rs 9.44 as SAF Games Tax.
The customs office has a target of collecting revenue worth Rs 1 billion this fiscal year.
Kathmandu, Feb 29: In the Worldnet Dialogue billed as a scene-setter for the upcoming Energy Conference to be held from March 6-8 in Kathmandu, the Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the US Department of Energy, T.J Glauthier, and the Deputy Director of the Global Office of Energy, USAID, Gordon Weynard, fielded a volley of queries from three Nepali panelists on the topic “Emerging Energy Market in South Asia” at the American Center today.
The three Nepali panelists were: Santa Bahadur Pun, Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Water Resources, Ajaya M.Dixit, water resources expert with Interdisciplinary Analysts and Navin Singh Khadka, of this daily, The Rising Nepal.
The queries ranged from affordability of energy to prospects of investments in energy development, market possibilities of energy generated to industrial utilisation of energy, the supply side and the demand side of energy, integration of latest technologies in energy generation to applicability and the relevance of international accords on the sharing and utilisation of water resources.
To a query as to whether the energy generated by hydropower plants built with huge investments would be affordable, Glauthier said the integration of appropriate technologies along with an enhanced and efficient distribution system could help bring down the price of energy for everyday use. He further said that the US, which has collected a lot of experience in energy development, is ready to share its knowledge and expertise in not only generating power in a cost-efficient manner but has the technological capabilities.
To another query as to whether Nepal, which has tremendous hydropower potentials, should export electricity at its own expense and peril, Glauthier stated that though Nepal’s present capacity to utilise all its energy output is not there due to its low absorbing capacity, Nepal could reach such a stage by expediting its pace of industrialisation through the export of surplus energy. However, without adequate energy production, this would not be possible, he further pointed out.
The forthcoming energy meet will not only show-case a whole gamut of projects but also facilitate local and regional projects, Glauthier said while responding to the query as to whether the coming meet will help Nepali entrepreneurs to overcome financial hurdles in their bid to development small hydel projects.
The Deputy Secretary of the US Energy Department opined that any water resources utilisation accords should conform to international agreements on down-stream utilisation and advantages. He made this remark while replying to a panelist’s query as to whether the 1961 US-Canada Treaty that gave Canada the entitlement to half of power generated downstream and which it sold to the US on a long-term basis could be emulated in any other regional pacts.
While pointing out the need to look into the diplomatic aspect of such an issue, he said that all the US ambassadors in the region will also be attending the energy meet.
Gordon Waynard, Deputy Director of the Global Office of Energy, USAID, also said that the forthcoming energy meet will open up vast vistas for the US and the South Asian nations in the field of energy development as it is touted to bring together officials and representatives from the government, non-government and private sectors.
Phillip Hoffman, Director of the American Center, pointed out that the Worldnet Dialogue would act as a scene-setter for the upcoming energy meet to be held in Nepal. Since the production and marketing of energy is of great interest to all South Asian nations, the meet is expected to not only give fillip to energy development projects in the region but also to attract US investors as well.
The forthcoming energy meet, presented by the US Trade and Development Agency (TDA) and co-sponsored by the US Departments of Energy, Commerce and State and the Agency for Internation Development is expected to see government and energy industry leaders from the US and South Asian nations discussing and exploring project opportunities worth US$15-20 billion.