President Paudel, Qatari Emir Al Thani hold talks
President Ram Chandra Paudel and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a meeting at the former’s official residence in Maharajgunj on Tuesday.
During the meeting, they discussed matters of mutual interest, the President Office informed.
Qatari Emir Al Thani, who arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day state visit this afternoon, was welcomed by President Paudel upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha had reached TIA to receive the distinguished guest from Qatar.
Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, members of the Council of Ministers, high-ranking government officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu were at the airport to welcome the Qatari Emir.
Qatari Emir Al Thani arrives in Kathmandu (With photos and video)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday on a two-day state visit to Nepal.
He landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport at 3: 45 pm.
President Ram Chandra Paudel welcomed the Qatar’s Emir upon his arrival at the airport. A contingent of the Nepal Army offered a guard of honor to Qatar Emir Al Thani at the airport.
He arrived in Kathmandu at the cordial invitation of President Paudel.
The Qatar’s Emir arrived in Kathmandu today after completing his official visit to the Philippines and Bangladesh.
The Qatar’s Emir arrived in Kathmandu today after completing his official visit to the Philippines and Bangladesh.
Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha had reached TIA to receive the distinguished guest from Qatar.
Similarly, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, members of the Council of Ministers, high-ranking government officials, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu were at the TIA to welcome the Qatari Emir.
The visit is expected to help elevate the bilateral relations between Nepal and Qatar to a new height.
The Foreign Ministry said that he will hold a meeting with President Paudel in Sheetal Niwas today itself.
The President is scheduled to host a state banquet in honor of the Emir.
Similarly, the distinguished guest from Qatar will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday.
Following the talks, both leaders will witness the signing ceremony of bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding, the Foreign Ministry added.
This is the first visit by any Qatari Emir to Nepal ever since the two countries established diplomatic relations on January 21, 1977.
Nepal opened its embassy in Doha, Qatar on July 11, 2000 and Qatar its embassy in Nepal in Kathmandu in August 2011.
Qatar serves as one of the major labor destinations for Nepal.
The Qatari Emir is scheduled to depart from Kathmandu on April 24.
Russian delegation calls on PM Dahal
The delegation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries from Russia paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
In the meeting held at the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar today, the visiting Russian delegation discussed various aspects of Nepal-Russia relations and investment prospects among others with PM Dahal.
On the occasion, PM Dahal shared that the Government of Nepal was preparing for the Investment Summit (on April 28-29 this year) to attract foreign investment and, thus, urged the Russian delegation to consider investment in Nepal, according to PM Dahal Secretariat.
"We have prepared for the Investment Summit focusing on the entrepreneurs and foreign investors," the PM informed the visiting Russian delegation, mentioning some amendments in the laws to facilitate foreign investors to invest in Nepal.
"The government adopts the policy of cooperation to those willing to invest in Nepal," he assured. Stating that Russia had been continuously supporting economic development in Nepal, the Head of the Government suggested that there was ample scope for investment in road, agriculture, hydro power projects and information technology in Nepal.
Expressing his confidence that the Nepal-Russia ties would remain further strong in the new context, he emphasized enhancing mutual cooperation between the two countries in coming days.
The Russian delegation was led by Sergey Katyrin, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of the Russian Federation. Present in the courtesy meeting were Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Chandra Prasad Dhakal and Russian Ambassador to Nepal Aleksei Novikov among others.
Private sector should be facilitated rather than controlled to ensure development and prosperity: PM Dahal
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal stressed on taking the private sector into confidence and spreading a message that there is an investment-friendly environment in the country.
Addressing the Investment Board's meeting at New Baneshwor today, PM Dahal opined that the private sector should be facilitated rather than controlled to ensure development and prosperity. The PM argued that the idea of controlling was not acceptable in today's world parlance.
"A new model for development should be charted by taking the private sector into confidence. There will be no development unless the private sector is taken into confidence," Dahal reiterated.
He asserted that the public's aspirations and expectations could be fulfilled by adopting the policy that encourages development and thus instructed the Board's officials to work towards that.
While talking about the upcoming Third Investment Summit, the Head of the Government opined that all should deliver with a positive attitude to make it a success. He asserted that practical projects should be projected and pitched rather than merely presenting a 'wish-list' during the summit. The summit is due in less than a week in Kathmandu.
According to the PM, some Acts were amended prior to the Summit which would give an impetus to attract foreign investment. "Let's organize the Summit and give a new message," he encouraged, pointing out the need to simplify procedures and other works related to development projects.
The PM insisted that the political leadership should be able to deal with the difficulties arising while delivering some good works. Stating that priority should be given to the steel industry, he underscored that work should be done seriously for the establishment of such industries.
Furthermore, he instructed the Board to prioritize irrigation related projects to generate as many jobs in the agriculture sector. He also drew the attention of the Board to accelerate stalled development projects.
