KATHMANDU, Oct 29: Dr Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary to Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, arrived in Nepal on Wednesday for a four-day visit focused on strengthening bilateral development cooperation, women’s rights, health and recovery from the Bhotekoshi flood.
During her visit from October 28 to 31, Kofler is scheduled to meet representatives of the Nepali government, civil society and international and local development partners to discuss ongoing cooperation and future priorities, according to a press release issued by the German Embassy in Kathmandu.
A key focus of her visit will be the impact of the Bhotekoshi flood and the needs of affected communities. The German government has provided 11.061 million euros for immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term development support, including the restoration and reconstruction of health and energy infrastructure in the affected region.
Germany enlisting Nepal in the assistance recipient countries
Kofler will visit Nuwakot district to assess the consequences of the flood and the humanitarian situation on the ground. She is scheduled to interact with local government representatives, health practitioners and affected residents to understand the needs for relief and recovery.
In Kathmandu, she will visit health facilities supported by German Development Cooperation and hold discussions with government and civil society representatives working in the health sector.
Her meetings will also cover Nepal’s current and future development challenges, including last year’s Gen-Z protests and transitional justice, providing an opportunity to exchange perspectives with stakeholders involved in development cooperation.
The visit is expected to build on longstanding development ties between Germany and Nepal and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Kofler has been a member of the German Parliament since 2004 and has served as Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development since 2021. In the role, she supports the minister in coordinating and implementing Germany’s bilateral and multilateral development policies.
She previously visited Nepal in 2022, when she held discussions with various partners in the country.
