KATHMANDU:  Arnaud Cauchois, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Nepal, paid a courtesy call on Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Thursday.

During the meeting, held at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singha Durbar, Minister Lekhak acknowledged ADB’s contributions to Nepal’s infrastructure development.

During the discussion, the Home Minister requested ADB’s continued support for several key projects in Nepal, including the upgrading of the Gaddachauki-Kohalpur section along the East-West Highway, the construction of the Mahakali Corridor, the upgrading of the Godavari-Dadeldhura road, and the development of additional infrastructure around the proposed Dodhara Chandani Dry Port project.

More, the Minister and ADB’s Country Director exchanged views on the acceleration of smart city development projects supported by the ADB in Sudurpaschim Province, with ADB’s potential support for the building of religious tourism infrastructure in the province.

The Minister also underlined the need for implementing a survey report developed by ADB last year, outlining strategies for promoting the tourism industry in the province. In response, Cauchois said he would consult with higher-level officials at ADB before providing his further his opinion on the matter.