Officials of the Nepal-India Chamber of Industry and Commerce met Energy Minister Shrestha
Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, the Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation in Nepal, has highlighted the importance of prioritizing policy initiatives for the enhancement of the energy sector. During a meeting with officials from the Nepal–India Chamber of Commerce (NIKKI), he underscored the government’s commitment to undertaking policy reforms to tackle existing challenges within the energy sector. Minister Shrestha noted that the Ministry of Energy is poised to roll out a new electricity policy and urged the private sector to contribute robust suggestions and a comprehensive action plan. He also stressed the need for improvements in the public and private sectors to bolster energy security and advocated for the adoption of a participatory model in these efforts.
In response, NIKKI Chairman Sunil KC recognized the necessity of creating a more investment-friendly environment and streamlining the approval process within Nepal’s hydropower sector. He pointed out that Indian investments have not met expectations over the past twenty years and recommended focusing on enhancing transmission infrastructure and promoting electricity trade. The federation proposed the establishment of a ‘Nepal-India Energy Forum’ in New Delhi, aimed at expanding energy collaboration, where both governments would facilitate initiatives while the private sector would invest. Furthermore, NIKKI urged Minister Shrestha to expedite the long-pending approvals for electricity trade, emphasizing the need for timely actions to enhance bilateral energy cooperation.
