Visiting World Bank Vice President for South Asia Region, Johannes Zutt, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel at the Ministry of Finance Tuesday, September 2.
According to the Finance Minister’s Secretariat, the two discussed a wide range of issues including Nepal’s overall economy, urban and physical infrastructure, investment, tourism, and the environment.
Minister Paudel said Nepal’s economic indicators had shown notable improvement this year compared to last year, driven by reforms in policy, structure, and implementation procedures. He noted that the World Bank’s six-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) was well aligned with Nepal’s development priorities, and expressed readiness to collaborate in shaping programmes under the framework.
He also briefed Zutt about the progress of the Alternative Development Finance Mobilisation Bill, which has already been endorsed by the House of Representatives and is under review in the National Assembly. Paudel expressed confidence that World Bank cooperation would help realise the goals outlined in the bill.
Zutt assured the Finance Minister of continued World Bank support, particularly in urban development projects in Lumbini and the Kathmandu Valley, as well as in initiatives to curb pollution and drive economic growth. He emphasised the importance of involving the private sector in these efforts.
Praising Nepal’s economic progress, Zutt encouraged the government to expand its investment base and productivity. He said the passage of the Alternative Development Finance Mobilisation Bill would open new avenues for infrastructure investment, play a critical role in attracting private capital, and strengthen growth prospects.
(With inputs from RSS)
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