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The government of Nepal has signed a loan agreement worth 34.59 billion Japanese yen (around Rs 31.76 billion) with the Government of Japan for the Koteshwor Intersection Improvement Project. 

The agreement was signed and exchanged today at the Ministry of Finance in the presence of Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal.

The loan Nepal is receiving through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has a grace period of 10 years and a repayment period of 30 years. The annual interest rate for the loan is 0.2 percent. Under the project, an underpass and a flyover will be constructed along the Koteshwor–Jadibuti section. 

Once these major infrastructures are built, traffic congestion in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and along the BP Highway is expected to ease significantly. 

The project will be implemented by the Department of Roads under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

Finance Secretary Dr Ghanashyam Upadhyay and Japan’s Ambassador to Nepal, Maeda Toru, signed the exchange notes related to the agreement, while Dhaniram Sharma, Chief of the International Economic Relations Division at the Ministry of Finance, and JICA Nepal’s Chief Representative, Matsuzaki Mizuki, signed the loan agreement on behalf of their respective sides.

On the occasion, Finance Minister Khanal pledged to use his tenure to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Nepal and Japan, stating that the loan support from Japan is significant for improving the Kathmandu Valley's traffic system. 

The Japanese Ambassador said that once the project is completed, it will bring substantial improvements to traffic management in the Kathmandu Valley. 

He also highlighted the long-standing friendly relations between Nepal and Japan.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the Department of Roads, the Embassy of Japan, and JICA Nepal were present at the ceremony.

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai has argued deep-rooted structural impediments, limited access to international markets, widening digital divides, resources constraints and increasing climate related impacts were some of the challenges facing the least developed countries (LDCs).

Foreign Secretary Rai made such an observation in his remarks at the High-level Meeting on 'Forging Ambitious Global Partnerships for Sustainable and Resilient Graduation of LDCs' in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday. 

He was speaking as the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the group of LDCs. 

Rai called for robust global solidarity and ambitious partnership for smooth, sustained, and irreversible graduation of the LDCs, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Moreover, he also addressed at the session entitled 'High-level Ministerial Dialogue on strategic pathways for navigating sustainable graduation amid challenging global development landscape and unlocking new opportunities'. 

On the occasion, Secretary Rai shed light the key areas – agriculture, hydropower, tourism, manufacturing, ICT and human capital – that hold immense potential for Nepal’s economic transformation despite the challenging global development landscape and expressed Nepal’s keen interest to working closely with development partners, the UN systems, and the international community for sustained graduation.

He also had an inspection visit to the Embassy of Nepal in Doha in the afternoon. 

The Embassy officials were instructed to protect and promote Nepal’s national interest as well as make every possible effort to deliver best services to Nepali migrant workers living in Qatar.

The Foreign Secretary is in his three-day visit to Doha to take part in the High-level Meeting jointly organized by Qatar government and the UN- Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, and the Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island States (UN-OHRLLS).

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has vowed inclusive development and governance initiatives that focus on the rights of people with disabilities (PWD). 

The government has solidarity to the advocacy for PWD's rights and their leadership for the achievement of sustainable development goals, she reminded.

Giving a message of best wishes on the occasion of 34th International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, PM Karki said the government is committed to health, education and employment to the PWD. Even their participation, social security and rehabilitation are equal priorities.

"We have the state policy to create an atmosphere for dignified and equitable life of PWD by taking into account their socioeconomic status and severity of disability," PM Karki reminded, adding that barriers to PWD's access to physical infrastructures, government and legal services would be wiped out gradually. Once all three tiers of government make collaborative efforts to create employment and foster entrepreneurship among the people with disabilities, it would result in success, according to her.

The PM also informed that Nepal's constitution and existing laws have addressed the social, economic, cultural and political rights of PWD. 

She wished all stakeholders made effective advocacy for PWD's rights.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has underscored the need for including people with disabilities (PWD) in all state mechanisms. 

Effective enforcement of legal and constitutional provisions on PWD's rights is imperative, the President reminded.

In a message given on the occasion of the 34th International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, the Head of State extended best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers living in the country and abroad. 

The PWD must be included in all state entitlements and opportunities of education, health and employment with due recognition, Paudel added.

President Paudel reminded, "Nepal's constitution has guaranteed rights to dignified life to the people living with disabilities and their access to public services. 

The national charter has also expected an equal, prosperous and just society based on the principles of proportional inclusion and participation. So, all sorts of discrimination against PWD must be eliminated."

He further reminded the urgency of creating PWD-friendly infrastructures to ease their access to office, schools, public vehicles, road, park, temples and private buildings. Equally important is ditching negative perspectives toward PWD and continuing advocacy for inclusion, equality and rights to such people.

Creation of a favourable atmosphere for PWD requires all sides' efforts- government, households, society and organizations.

The Day has been observed every year since 1992 at the initiative of the United Nations for the protection and promotion of the rights of people living with disabilities. The theme for this year is “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.”