More than 55 delegations from various traditional donors, SAARC nations, United Nations and its specialized agencies and various multilateral financial institutions have already arrived in Kathmandu to take part in the one-day conference."Over 280 members of 55 delegations have already arrived in Kathmandu. A few more delegations are expected to land in Kathmandu shortly," said Finance Ministry Spokesperson Ram Sharan Pudasaini on Wednesday evening.Nepal has invited high-level representatives from various 41 countries, including seven other SAARC nations, various 22 multilateral organizations and three distinguished celebrities in the conference.
Nepal is scheduled to present the details of loss of infrastructures and other properties caused by the massive earthquakes on April 25 and May 12 and solicit goodwill and support of the international community to help the country recover from this national tragedy and bring the lives of affected people to normalcy.
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala is scheduled to inaugurate and deliver inaugural address in the conference being held at Crowne Plaza Hotel. While Foreign Minister Mahendra Pandey will deliver welcome speech, Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat will deliver speech on the conference theme.
Similarly, Foreign Ministers from India, China, Japan and representatives from ADB, WB, EU and the United Nations will also deliver their speech in the inaugural session. The inauguration will followed by business and technical sessions.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, altogether 8,832 people lost their lives and 22,309 others were seriously injured in the earthquake. Likewise, 59,1647 private buildings and 2,673 government houses were destroyed and 27,6395 private houses and 3757 government houses were damaged in the earthquakes.
A Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) carried out by the government in coordination with donor agencies has estimated that Nepal will need at least US$6.69 billion for reconstruction efforts.
Important among the delegates arriving in Kathmandu to take part in the conference include Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende, Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal A Muhth, Sri Lankan Minister for Disaster Management A H M Fowzie, Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Minoru Kiuchi.
Likewise, United Nations Under Secretary General Gyan Chandra Acharya, UNDP Assistant Administrator Haoling Xu, European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica, International Office of Migration Regional Director Andrew Robert Bruce, World Health Organization Regional Director Poonam Khetrapal Singh and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Akihito Tanaka have already arrived in Kathmandu.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang and Indian Foreign Minister Swaraj on Wednesday evening held separate meetings with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. Minister Wang also held a meeting with his Nepali counterpart Mahendra Bahadur Pandey at the latter's office in Singha Durbar shortly after his arrival in Kathmandu.
Experts have lauded government's successful preparations for the international conference.
Former Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya said it is a positive aspect that Nepal could organize an international conference of this kind on its own. "This conference marks the beginning of Nepal's engagement with donors in rebuilding efforts. Nepal should be able to move ahead in the reconstruction process by ensuring continuous engagement with the international community," he further said.
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