India is one of Nepal's major development allies, particularly in infrastructure and connectivity
India and Nepal will review multiple facets of their bilateral ties and development partnership when Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra visits the Himalayan nation on February 13 and 14. The visit, which comes at the invitation of Nepal's Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal, will be FS Kwatra's first stand-alone visit to the country since he assumed office. The visit is consistent with the long-standing pattern of frequent high-level interactions between the two nations and the importance India places on its ties with Nepal as part of its "Neighborhood First" strategy, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday. During the visit, the two Foreign Secretaries will hold discussions on the entire range of multifaceted cooperation between India and Nepal, the MEA added. India and Nepal have shared historical and cultural ties, and the two nations' bilateral cooperation has grown in recent years. The growth of Nepal has been significantly aided by initiatives for connectivity and infrastructure supported by India. Nepal's Biggest Development Partner India is one of Nepal's major development allies. India's support for Nepal's infrastructure and connectivity has been crucial in fostering the country's economic development and regional integration. The Arun III Hydropower Project is one of India's significant infrastructural initiatives. This 900 MW hydropower project is being established with India's financial and technical support.The project is expected to significantly increase Nepal's power-generating capacity and advance the nation's economy. India has been instrumental in reconstructing several buildings, historical landmarks, and other infrastructure projects following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. India's assistance in this area has aided in both the promotion of tourism in Nepal as well as the restoration of the country's damaged infrastructure. India is also helping to fund the construction of a railroad line that would link Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, with Bhairahawa. The Bhairahawa-Lumbini Railway Line is expected to considerably enhance the region's transportation network while fostering tourism and economic growth. Along with these initiatives, India is also assisting with the modernization of a number of India-Nepal Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) on the countries' shared borders. Additionally, with India's help, numerous significant infrastructure and cross-border connectivity projects have been completed. The goal of all the India-assisted projects is to improve the region's infrastructure and connections, which will promote greater economic integration and growth in Nepal. In addition to providing grants, the Government of India has made USD 1.65 billion in Lines of Credit available for infrastructure development, including post-earthquake rebuilding projects. In December 2022, India had signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with the Nepal government for fast-tracking three projects - one each in Education, Health Care and Drinking Water Sectors. Since 2003, India has taken up over 532 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal and has completed 476 projects in the areas of health, education, drinking water, connectivity, sanitation and creation of other public utilities across all seven provinces of Nepal at the grassroots level.