India ‘ready’ to announce special aid package for Nepal

June 7, 2006
2 MIN READ
A
A+
A-

India has expressed readiness to provide special aid package to Nepal for the recovery of the flagging Nepalese economy and infrastructure development.

Indian PM Dr Singh welcomes Koirala at Delhi airport Tuesday.(Photo source : AP)
Talking to reporters in New Delhi after a meeting between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his Indian counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh, Wednesday morning, India’s minister of state for External Affairs, Anand Sharma, said that India was set to announce a special economic package to Nepal.

“As far as the economic need and infrastructure projects [in Nepal] are concerned, the Indian Prime Minister has on his part expressed full commitment. I am informed by the delegates participating in the meeting that on the basis of the priority area that have been discussed today, a package of economic assistance will be provided to Nepal,” state-owned Radio Nepal quoted Sharma as saying.

The details of the aid package would be made public through a joint statement by the Prime Ministers of the two countries at the end of Koirala’s four-day tour to New Delhi, according to the Indian minister. He said homework to finalise the aid package was underway.

Sharma also said India was in favour of bringing the Maoists into the political mainstream and that the Maoists “should stand by their commitment to democratic politics by giving up violence”.

His statement came after Koirala met Dr Singh at the latter’s residence this morning.

Media reports earlier said Nepal was seeking assistance worth Rs 75 billion from India spread over the next five years.

PM Koirala arrived in New Delhi Tuesday evening with his 41-member entourage on a goodwill visit.