Submit your Article

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the 16th periodic plan will focus on integrated infrastructure development and extension and utilization of information technology.

Addressing an inaugural session of the National Development Council's meeting in Kathmandu today, the Prime Minister said the 16th plan will accord priorities to the agricultural commercialization, promotion of product-based industries, employment-based education and quality healthcare services.

High priority should be given to promotion of tourism, creation of domestic job opportunities and development of integrated settlement, according to the Prime Minister. To address this need, the plan is required to focus on innovation and entrepreneurship development through youth-targeted domestic and foreign investment, according to the government head.

Stating that the government acknowledges the private sector as instrumental for economic prosperity, the Prime Minister said the plan has endorsed the facilitating roles of government, community, non-government and development partners in efforts aiming to find economic prosperity.  He said he is hopeful that the plan will rightly determine its visions, goals and investment estimations. 

Insisting on collaborative efforts among the three-tier government to implement the plan successfully, the Prime Minister said it is necessary for the governments at all levels to mobilize revenue concisely to manage investment and public expenditures.

" The plan expects to secure a significant investment from the private sector, according to the Prime Minister who is hopeful of that goals, objectives and strategies of the Plan will contribute to seeking an effective role of the private sector in economic expansion through the promotion of investment, production, productivity and employment," he said

He pressed the need for a regular and result-oriented monitoring and assessment system during the implementation of the Plan. 

He also expressed his hope the National Planning Commission will develop an integrated framework for economic reforms and implement it in coordination of all bodies concerned. " I hope the goal for average economic growth and other social and environmental goals of the Plan will be achieved by an effective implementation of the Plan through a collaborative approach among all including three-tier government, private sector, cooperatives and development partners. "

Similarly, Chairperson of the CPN (Unified Socialist) and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal laid emphasis on the need of keeping agriculture in priority in the 16th plan, saying forest and mining based industries should be established and policy-level mistakes should be removed.

"The government should move ahead making the private sector into confidence and it should take a policy of encouraging the private sector", he added. Sharing that development of the hydropower and tourism sector would make a significant contribution to the country, Chair Nepal stressed that the government should pay its full attention in these sectors.

Likewise, Vice President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security, Dol Prasad Aryal, pointed out the need that all political parties, bureaucracy, and general people should move ahead joining hands to maintain good governance.

"The country has to depend on imports due to legal complexities despite having necessary means and resources for its development and prosperity", he said, adding existing laws should be revised in order to utilize available means and resources. 

Chairperson of the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Upendra Yadav, underlined that the 16th plan should be forwarded making the federalism strong.

"The country cannot be prosperous until provinces are made resourceful. The planned development concept should be forwarded for the country's development", he stressed.

Chairperson of Nagarik Unmukti Party and former Minister Ranjita Shrestha said the national economy should be made strong by maintaining good governance and establishing social justice in health, education, employment and other sectors. 

Shrestha opined, "The working capacity should be maximum utilized making the inter-relation of all three-levels strong to achieve the goal and objectives of the 16th plan. It is necessary that all political parties should be responsible and united with a common goal for the country's prosperity."

Laying emphasis on the need of moving ahead selecting prioritized projects in the country's economic development, former Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat stressed the need of paying special attention in project selection and budget allocation.

Similarly, former Finance Minister Dr Yubraj Khatiwada said a policy of getting more results from low investment should be adopted, adding that the country's economy is improving in recent periods.

Vice-Chairperson of the National Planning Commission Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha shared that the NPC should be restructured and make it further strong legally, expressing the view that it would be easier to implement the strategy and action plan of the 16th plan only if the NPC becomes strong.

Parliamentary party leaders of the political parties represented in the Federal parliament, Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers, the Chief Ministers, Chairpersons of Federal Parliamentary Committees and national security advisors were present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that there should be an exchange of bilateral assistance between Nepal and Qatar in the best interests of both nations by further consolidating the bilateral ties.

During a bilateral meeting held between the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who arrived here on Tuesday on the two-day state visit, the Prime Minister apprised the distinguished guest from Qatar that Nepal offers ample and appropriate opportunities for investment in agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure sectors.

Stating that Nepali migrant workers in Qatar have served as a tool to further strengthen the friendly relations between Nepal and Qatar, the Prime Minister spoke of the need to deepen such ties in the days to come.

He utilized the meeting to call on Qatar to facilitate the safe release of Nepali student Bipin Joshi who has been missing since the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Stating Nepal and Qatar always enjoy a cordial relationship, the Prime Minister said this relationship is founded on cordial friendship, mutual respect, trust, and assistance. "Qatar remains as a reliable friend of Nepal and such relations are getting deeper and extended. These relations are not limited to just an official level but have been expanded to the people-to-people level as well."

He expressed his hope that a high-level visit between the two countries will contribute to further strengthening ties, taking them to a new height. 

Describing Nepal as 'one the attractive destinations for investment for the globe', the Prime Minister said agriculture, energy, hydropower, infrastructure development, tourism, information and communications technology, service and hospitality sectors are suitable areas for foreign investment in Nepal. 

Stating that Nepal was a suitable place for producing organic agricultural products due to its geographical diversity, PM Dahal said that the Qatari investors would be encouraged to consider investment in this sector since Nepal was a center of attraction in tourism in the world parlance, the PM asserted that the foreign investment made in tourism infrastructures would not go in vain.

He viewed that the ascent of the highest mountain in the world-Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) by the first Qatari man, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al-Thani in 2013, had contributed to the promotion of Nepal's tourism in the world.

On the occasion, PM Dahal requested to include Nepal in the list of Qatar's Tourism Authority's external tourism destinations.

Proposal for flight to Qatar from Lumbini and Pokhara

PM Dahal urged the Qatari government for operation of flights from Lumbini and Pokhara to Qatar as well. The PM placed the request during the bilateral discussions.

Stating that there were effective and sufficient air transportation between Kathmandu to Doha, PM Dahal urged the Qatari government to consider operating flights from Lumbini and Pokhara to Doha as well.

Stating that many agreements and MoU were signed between Nepal and Qatar, PM Dahal viewed that the agreements and MoU between the two countries should be amended and updated with the demand of time.

Migrant labor and bilateral relations

PM Dahal observed that around 400,000 Nepalis migrant workers working in Qatar at present were an important bridge further cementing the bilateral ties between Nepal and Qatar. 

Sharing that the government of Nepal was going to establish vocational training and skill development centers for aspiring Nepali migrant workers to Qatar, he urged the Qatari government for its assistance in setting up such centers.

Nepal's priority is economic development

Prime Minister Dahal asserted that economic development is Nepal's priority and it expected continued support from friendly countries and the development partners for fulfilling its development aspirations, including the graduation from least developed country status in 2026, stating economic development was Nepal's priority.

He expressed the confidence that the Government of Qatar will provide assistance to Nepal in the development of big infrastructure projects such as international standard cricket and football stadiums, hydropower production and construction of hospitals and health facilities.

Request to take initiative for Bipin Joshi's release

Likewise, Prime Minister Dahal has urged Qatar to take initiative for securing the safe release of Nepali student Bipin Joshi who has gone missing after the Hamas' attack on Israel.

"Bipin Joshi, an innocent Nepali student who was in Israel in connection to his educational practical exam, is missing following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and his condition is not known yet," the PM said, adding, "I want to again place a request before he Government of Qatar for facilitating his prompt and safe release."

He further said, "I would like to request Your Highness to take personal initiative and draw attention to this topic."

Expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in West Asia, the PM wished that peace could be restored with the halt in war at the earliest.

Taskforce to facilitate investment

Meanwhile, Nepal and Qatar have agreed to form a taskforce from both sides to facilitate investment and other areas of mutual cooperation.

According to Dr Rupak Sapkota, foreign affairs advisor to the Prime Minister, such an agreement was reached during the one-to-one and the bilateral delegation level between Prime Minister Dahal and the Qatari Amir who returned home today on completion of his two-day State visit to Nepal beginning on Tuesday. 

Wrapping up his two-day state visit to Nepal, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani returned home today.

President Ram Chandra Poudel had reached the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to bid farewell to the Qatari Emir.

Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang and Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, among other high officials were also present at TIA to see off the Emir.

A contingent of the Nepali Army offered a guard of honor and fired 21 cannon salvoes on the occasion.

The Qatari Emir arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday for the state visit at the cordial invitation of President Paudel.

Qatari Emir Al Thani and President Paudel held talks at the Office of the President, Shital Niwas the same day.

President Paudel hosted a banquet in the Emir's honor the same evening.

Prime Minister Dahal and the Qatari Emir held a delegation-level meeting today. The two countries signed an agreement and five memoranda of understanding on various areas of cooperation on the occasion.

This is the Emir's first visit to Nepal after the two countries established diplomatic ties on January 21, 1977.

Nepal had set up its embassy in Doha on July 11, 2000 and Qatar its embassy in Kathmandu in August 2011.

Nepal and Qatar have reached to an agreement and understanding to collaborate in the art and culture, education, communication, youth and sports, legal assistance, and the industry and commerce sectors.

These agreements and MoUs were signed today on the occasion of the state visit of Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, said Amrit Bahadur Rai, spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on collaboration in the area of art and culture, exchange of news between the official news agencies of Nepal and Qatar, and exchange of cooperation in the education sector.

The agreements and MoUs were signed in the presence of the Qatari Emir and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal following bilateral talks between them at the Soaltee Hotel today.

The Agreement signed today is on Cooperation and Exchange of News between National News Agency, Nepal (RSS) and Qatar News Agency (QNA).

The MoUs signed include: the Memorandum of Understanding  for cooperation in the fields of culture and arts between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and the Ministry of Culture of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the field of education, higher education and scientific research between the Government of Nepal and the Government of  the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of youth and sports between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the State of Qatar; the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the Office of the Attorney General of Nepal and the Public Prosecution of the State of Qatar and the Memorandum of Understanding  on cooperation in the field of diplomatic training and education between the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) of the Government of Nepal and The Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar.