WB officials meet PM, Prachanda; assure help in hydropower sector

A visiting delegation of World Bank (WB) has assured of the Bank's help in hydro-electricity sector in the coming days.

The team of 11 acting directors of the multilateral aid agency gave this assurance during a meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter's official residence in Baluwatar Tuesday. They also assured of WB's further assistance in Nepal restructuring efforts and economic development.

According to Aditya Baral, foreign affairs advisor of PM Koirala, the WB officials also tried to learn what kind of projects the Nepal government wishes the bank should start in a post-conflict scenario of the country.

PM Koirala, in response, had said that if the country can develop its hydro-electricity sector then it would go a long way in reducing unemployment and poverty while the WB delegates promised they would definitely table the proposition of helping Nepal develop its hydro-electricity potential in the next general meeting of the Bank.

Meanwhile, the WB officials also held discussion with CPN-Maoist chairman Prachanda on the Bank's future assistance programmes and the party's economic plans and policies.

Nepal which is treading on the path of peace and restructuring after the decade long conflict is said to be on WB's priority list.

The team of senior WB officials is leaving for India today, ending their five-day long visit here. nepalnews.com ag Apr 29 08