Baburam Bhattarai’s first India visit as Nepal?s prime minister, which starts on Thursday, will focus on economic cooperation.
During the four-day visit, which is expected to help enhance and consolidate the already cordial ties between India and Nepal, Bhattarai would hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, call on President Pratibha Patil and meet other dignitaries. Bhattarai comes here on his first bilateral visit abroad and his first official visit to India after taking charge as Nepal’s prime minister less than two months ago, showing a keen desire on part of Nepal’s Maoists to build better relations with New Delhi.
The leaders of the two countries will hold discussions on a wide range of issues ranging from economic and energy ties to security cooperation and infrastructure projects. Also, a pact for providing a credit line of $250 million to the country may be approved during the visit, the sources said.
The credit line, to be channelised through the EXIM Bank, could be used for several infrastructure projects, including roads and irrigation. India’s development assistance to Nepal is estimated at about $100 million.India is also expected to press Nepal for a bilateral investment protection agreement, an issue that has acquired an added importance since the attack by suspected Maoist cadres a few months ago on the 900 mw Upper Karnali hydropower project an Indian company has been building in Nepal.
With Nepal suffering from major power shortage, the visiting leader is likely to request India for an additional 200 mw to provide relief from frequent cuts that sometimes last for nearly 18 hours. With political uncertainty persisting in Nepal, India is expected to push for consensus to spur an inclusive peace process and the framing of a new constitution.