![Jaishankar to begin two-day visit to Nepal on January 4, power pacts on agenda](https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/3k7q5o/article67696518.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/Russia_India_37436.jpg)
Jaishankar to begin two-day visit to Nepal on January 4, power pacts on agenda
The Hindu
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar heads to Kathmandu for a two-day visit on January 4 and
An agreement on the modalities of purchasing 10,000 MW of hydropower from Nepal and discussions on air connectivity issues, digital payments, and the inauguration of development projects funded by India are all on the agenda as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar heads to Kathmandu for a two-day visit on January 4 and 5.
The visit to Nepal, the first foreign policy foray by the government in 2024, is long overdue, as the Joint Commission Meeting, to be held between Mr. Jaishankar and Nepali Foreign Minister N.P. Saud, has been pending for several months. The last meeting was held in January 2021.
Also read | The outlook for 2024, for the world and India
The visit will also see the first such bilateral exchange between the External Affairs Minister and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka Prachanda. Mr. Jaishankar was travelling abroad when the Nepal Prime Minister visited India in June 2023, although they did interact during Mr. Dahal’s previous tenures when Mr. Jaishankar was Foreign Secretary.
According to sources, a long-term agreement on power and modalities of the decision made in June 2023 “to increase the quantum of export of power, as an objective, from Nepal to India to 10,000 MW within the next 10 years”, would be the major announcement of the visit, something Mr. Prachanda indicated to the media last month.
Technical experts have been discussing the plans for buying Nepal power exports, investments, and construction in power-generation projects, as well as a breakthrough plan to allow Nepal transmission rights to sell power to Bangladesh. During Mr. Prachanda’s visit to Delhi, India agreed to permit the “first trilateral power transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh via India” for up to 40 MW.
“Mr. Jaishankar’s visit for the Joint Commission Meeting is a very positive step, and indicates both sides are moving forward with this formal structure in the bilateral relationship,” Sujeev Shakya, Chairman of Nepal Economic Forum, said, describing the process for the high-level engagement, launched in 1991, that will be held for the first time during Mr. Prachanda’s present tenure. He assumed office in December 2022.