Nepal gets Rs 460 M Swiss aid

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb. 10: The government of Switzerland has agreed to provide financial assistance for two programmes totalling Swiss Francs 7.673 million (about Rs. 43 Crore 89 Lakh) and a technical assistance of Swiss Francs 0.4506 million (about Rs. 2 Crore 57 Lakh) making an overall assistance of Swiss Francs 8.124 million (about Rs. 46 Crore 46 Lakh) to the Kingodm of Nepal for implementation of the sustainable soil management programme phase-II, the strenghtened maintenance divisions programme phase-III and the vertical shaft brick kiln technology transfer programme, respectively.

Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Bhanu Prasad Acharya and Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Walter Fust signed three separate agreements to this effect on behalf of their respective governments.

Anton Hagen, resident coordinator of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Nepal was also present on the occasion.

Under the first agreement, a grant assistance of Swiss Francs 4.5 million (about Rs. 25 Crore 74 Lakh) will be used for the implementation of phase-II of the sustainable soil management programme, according to a press release from the Ministry of Finance.

The main objective of the programme is to improve agriculture soil fertility and productivity in Bari-dominated farming systems.

This will be achieved by building up the technical and methodological capacity of farmers for sustainable management of soil through support to enabling collaborating institutions.
The programme covers altogether 11 districts of the mid-hills - Baitadi, Doti, Achham, Dailekh, Surkhet, Syangia, Baglung, Parbat, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre and Dolkha or Ramechhap. The programme will start in 2003 and will be completed by the end of 2007.Under the second agreement,

a grant assistance of Swiss Francs 3.173 million (about Rs. 18 Crore 15 Lakh) will be used for implementing phase-III of the strengthened maintenance divisions programme.

The main objective of the programme is to reduce road cost at minimum level by improving road maintenance operations on the strategic road network.

The programme intends to facilitate the mobility of people and transport of goods. The programme will be completed in June 2006.

The programme to be jointly implemented by HMG and SCC is aimed at fostering coordination with other donors and ministries in the transport sector.

Under the third agreement, the technical assistance will be used for implementing the Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) Project.

The main purpose of the project is to transfer VSBK technology to Nepal.

The technology uses less energy than the existing technology and thereby causes less environment pollution.

After using this technology, brick shafts in brick industries can be run for the whole year instead of the existing seasonal operation system.

It will also improve the social status and working condition of labour. Moreover, small and medium entrepreneurs can also participate in the brick sector with this technology.

Finance secretary Acharya, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, expressed sincere appraciation and thanks to the government of Switzerland for the continued cooperation in the socio-economic development of Nepal.

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