Honorable Minister for Finance Barshaman Pun today continued his engagements with the leadership and senior officials of the World Bank Group, US Government, as well as with the Nepali-American community members and business leaders.
The Finance Minister met with Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of the World Bank in Washington DC. The meeting was focused on the upcoming IDA 21 replenishment meeting in Nepal in June. MD Bjerde noted the transformative infrastructure projects to be showcased during the meeting while the Honorable Minister updated the macroeconomic situation of the country and the IDA meeting preparations. The Minister had a separate meeting with Deputy Managing Director of IMF Bo Li to discuss global economic prospects and Nepal’s economic outlook. The Upper Arun hydropower project and GRID approach to Nepal’s development efforts were discussed in a separate meeting with Executive Director Wempy Saputra.
In the afternoon, Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID Anjali Kaur called on Minister Pun. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed existing USAID cooperation in Nepal. The Minister thanked the US Government for the continued US support in Nepal’s development efforts. The meeting also discussed participation of the US government and private sector in the Third Nepal Investment Summit to be held in Kathmandu from 28-29 April 2024.
Likewise, Minister Pun addressed today a panel discussion on “Accelerating the renewable energy transition in Asia” at the World Bank headquarters and expressed the view that Nepal’s immense hydropower potential could be tapped in a collaborative approach for mutual benefit of South Asian countries.
Also today, the Minister interacted virtually with the IT Advisory Network of the Embassy, a group of Nepali Diaspora IT professionals and entrepreneurs in the US. The interaction was focused on developing Nepal’s IT landscape by channeling Nepali Diaspora IT expertise and investment from the US. Ambassador Sridhar Khatri moderated the interaction.
In the evening, Ambassador Khatri hosted a reception in honour of the visiting Minister. Various US government officials, World Bank Executives, members of Nepali Diaspora, Nepali-American business leaders, and media representatives attended the reception.
