Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, has described the visit by the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Nepal as significant and historic. "The visit has begun a new phase in the relationship between the two countries," he said.
Talking to RSS about the visit, he said important discussions were held between the two sides regarding cooperation in the fields of energy, tourism and agriculture. A joint working group to be formed will identify areas of cooperation and collaboration between the two countries, which will be further outlined during the upcoming investment summit as well.
Stating that such high-level visit for the first time from a Gulf country would have significant impact in the future, Minister Basnet said the visit has provided a basis for institutionalizing and taking the bilateral relations to new heights. "The importance of the visit is not limited to what was agreed. Its significance will be far-reaching and concrete outcome of the visit will be seen in practice in the near future," he added.
The Qatari side showed interest in the energy sector and wish to collaborate in the hydropower sector, which has been taken positively by Nepal. "I believe that there will be some positive results in the energy sector as well."
Sharing that an agreement was reached to form a working group to give concrete shape to the topics discussed during the visit, Minister Basnet said positive discussion was held on the revision of the labour agreement.
The visit of the Amir of Qatar to Nepal can be regarded as a historic one because the Gulf country is the major labour destination of Nepali workers and is also the first head of state or government from the Gulf region to visit Nepal. The visit has been significant not only because of the presence of the Amir of Qatar in Nepal, but also from the point of view of the topics raised in the bilateral discussions and the agreement reached to take initiative to make them result-oriented.
"The bilateral agreement will take concrete shape in the coming days and we will be able to feel it in the third investment summit as well," Minister Basnet said.
