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A grant agreement of more than Rs 10.5 billion has been signed between Nepal and the European Union (EU) for two different programs.

At a program organized at the Finance Ministry, Singha Durbar, on Friday, two separate financing agreements - a grant agreement of 50 million pound sterling (equivalent to Rs. 7.38 billion) for 'Quality Education for All' to support the School Education Sector Plan - SESP, and a grant agreement of 22 million pound sterling (equivalent to Rs. 3.25 billion) for the 'Local Adaptation to Climate Change' initiative - were signed.

'Quality Education for All' will support the implementation of the government's School Education Sector Plan in a sector-wide approach (SWAp) supported by eight development partners, including the EU. The overall objective of this support is to contribute to a well-educated and skilled society in Nepal which is able to play an active role in the social and economic development of the country.

On the occasion, Finance Secretary Arjun Prasad Pokharel said, "l am hopeful that the support of SESP with the help in increasing equitable access and improving the quality of education, which are crucial for human capital development."

"Nepal is making sincere efforts to balance the development and climate action. I appreciate the support of the EU to plan and develop measures for Disaster Risk Reduction and to focus on increased human and financial capacities in order to enable the selected local levels and communities to manage their natural resources in regards to adaptation to climate change. I would like to thank the European Union for its continued support in the socio-economic development endeavors of Nepal", stated Pokharel.

Similarly, EU Commissioner for international Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen said, "The European Union is proud to continue our 20 year support to Nepal in education. Supporting quality education is one of our core commitments in our cooperation."

 "We are heartened by the government's commitment to support quality education and are happy to be a close partner", stated EU Ambassador to Nepal, Nona Deprez.

The European Union and Finland, as team Europe, will continue to work with local and provincial governments in Sudurpaschim and Karnali so they are empowered to make the most of their natural resources sustainable." said Nona Deprez, EU Ambassador to Nepal.

'Local Adaptation to Climate Change' is initiated with an overall objective to improve the sustainability and conservation of natural resources to notably increase their climate resilience in Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces, reads a press release issued by the Finance Ministry.

The Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday on technology development and exchange of skills in the field of agriculture. 

Executive Director of NARC Dr Dhurba Raj Bhattarai and Vice Chairman of SAAS Dr Leo Younghang signed the MoU on technology transfer and skills exchange.

It is said that the two institutions would cooperate on technology transfer and promotion developed for the farmers and agriculture sector.

Sharing the information about the MoU, NARC Executive Director Dr Bhattarai said that agreement has been made to collaborate on increasing quality productions as well as agriculture development.

Likewise, SAAS Vice-Chairman has pledged to provide training to Nepali researchers and technicians on high-quality agricultural technology. 

Such training would be given to Nepali researchers on maize and sweet yam production in the near future.

A team of SAAS Vice-Chairman is currently on a three-day Nepal visit.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Purna Bahadur Khadka has said that Nepal and Republic of Korea should work to further deepen the bilateral relations and ensure cooperation.  

At a meeting with Ambassador of Republic of Korea Tae-Young Park on Thursday, the Deputy Prime Minister also expressed pleasure for organizing separate programs in Kathmandu and Seoul to further deepen the friendly ties between the two countries on the occasion of completion of 50 years of formal diplomatic ties. 

Likewise, the DPM recalled that South Korea has been Nepal's reliable development partner for a long and its support to Nepal's energy, health care, education, human resource and rural development sectors were crucial. 

On the occasion, Korean Ambassador Park said that Nepal was the first priority to migrant workers in South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS).

The Ambassador said that as high as 10,000 Nepalis would be provided with the employment opportunity in the next year under the EPS model.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is leaving for Italy on Saturday to attend the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2).

The event will be held in Rome, Italy from July 24 to 26, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, Member of National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr Jay Kant Raut and other senior officials of the Government of Nepal.

Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to address the official opening session of UNFSS+2 on Monday in the capacity of the Chair of LDC Group, including the Plenary Sessions on the agenda of School Meals on July 24, 2023 and Food System Transformation in Practice on July 25, 2023.

On the sidelines of the event, PM Dahal will hold bilateral meetings with high level dignitaries of the UN system, including the Director General of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), and the President of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), among others.

The Prime Minister will also interact with the Nepali community in Italy over a program being organized by the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Italy.

The Prime Minister will return home on July 28,  2023.