Focus on pragmatism: Indian Ambassador
— June 24, 2016
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DIPLOMATIC DESK
Speaking at an event organized by the Asian Institute of International Affairs (AIDIA), the Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae drew attention to the immense economic opportunities that lie ahead for countries in the region. The Second Himalayas Forum was held at Yak and Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu with the central theme being “Nepal-India-Bangladesh Trilateral Economic Partnership”. Ambassador Rae stressed the need to move ahead with urgency in joint projects that represented a win-win situation for all countries involved. Emphasizing the need to create vested interests in mutual economic development, instead of engaging in politicking over projects of national and regional importance, he stressed that the first priority for the countries should be economic prosperity of the people.
Second Himalayas Forum Photo: AIDIA
The guest speaker for the event, Shri Jhalanath Khanal, the former Prime Minister of Nepal, too highlighted the need to move beyond irritants in the relationship to forge stronger and deeper ties amongst the nations.
Hari Bhakta Sharma, President of CNI, mentioned that on a day when PM Oli has to go to Tribhuvan International Airport to receive the dead bodies of the Nepalis killed by terrorists in Kabul, the nation must realize the importance of the need for investment in creating jobs within Nepal. He highlighted the dangerous and precarious situations that Nepali migrant laborers endure on a day-to-day basis in foreign lands, and stressed that Nepal should work with India and Bangladesh to invest in productive sectors of the economy. Among other guests who were present at the event were the Bangladeshi Ambassador Mrs. Mashfee Binte Shams, Nepali Congress leader Prakash Sharan Mahat, CEO of the Investment Board of Nepal Radhesh Pant and Mr. Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, Chair of Energy Committee of FNCCI.