Kathmandu, Jan. 14: Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek said he would raise the issue of Bhutanese refugees during his Bhutan visit that began today after he departed from here this morning completing his three-day official visit.

“Since I have discussed with the Nepalese Government about the refugee issue, it will also be natural for me to ask the Bhutanese Government how they assess the situation and see that the problem can be solved,” the Norwegian Minister told The Rising Nepal before boarding the Bhutan bound Druk Air’s aircraft this morning. “This is a serious problem and we will have to see how it can be solved.”

Vollebaek’s departure to the Dragon Kingdom, originally scheduled for yesterday afternoon, was delayed  till this morning due to the late arrival of the aircraft yesterday evening. Flight KB 108 of the Bhutanese national flag carrier could not fly back with the high level Norwegian delegation yesterday evening since Paro Airport in Bhutan does not operate after dusk.

Vollebaek said that the Norwegian business delegation he had brought with him was very impressed by the discussion they held with Nepalese business community. “They feel that the economic and business relations between Nepal and Norway has been strengthened considerably during this visit.”

“We are also looking at other areas specially apart from the hydropower sector. We also discussed telecommunication as an area of possible co-operation. We will now pursue all these developments. One of the heads of the Norwegian Trade Council was also in my delegation. The Norwegian business community will work as a follow up of this visit. And now with our Embassy opened in Kathmandu, our officials here also can handle the matter.”

Arild H. Blixrud, Director of Norwegian Trade Council, who headed the business  delegation that had come with Vollebaek, said that Norwegian will have the good experience to work with Nepal within hydropower and this will also establish a very good relation for Nepal in the Norwegian business community. “This is the first time we are here with such an impressive delegation and I think we will consider now how to explore the possibility in other areas apart from hydropower,” he told this daily.

Blixurd further said we that the Norian wanna-be investors in Nepal would concentrate on infrastructure projects. “Of course, hydropower tops the list among our priorities in the infrastructure sector but we are also interested in other areas like telecommunication, transport system, and so on.”

He also said that the Norwegian businessmen who were in the business delegation will discuss with the companies that already have the experience of working in Nepal. “They are the best ambassadors.”

The Norwegian Foreign Minister was seen off at the Tribhuvan International Airport by Foreign Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Arjun Jung Bahadur Singh and Norwegian Charge d’Affaires.