European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen to visit Nepal

Published On: February 6, 2023 11:15 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Feb 6: European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, will arrive in Nepal on February 8 for an official one-day visit to meet Nepali leaders and launch several EU actions in the country.

During her visit, Commissioner Urpilainen will visit the Human Milk Bank at the Paropakar Maternity and Women’s hospital, and renews the EU’s commitment to the Multi-Sector Nutrition Programme of the Government (supported by the EU, Germany and UNICEF) with Padam Giri, Minister for Health and Population. This program will continue improving maternal, adolescent, and child nutrition throughout Nepal.

She will also hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and new Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Poudel and launch a €50 million EU support to Nepal’s new education sector plan with Education Minister.

“I am delighted to be visiting Nepal to strengthen our partnership and engage on matters of common geopolitical interest, not least Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which had disastrous consequences on food security in the world, including in Nepal. I look forward to present our Global Gateway strategy, the EU’s positive offer to partners to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world,” she said.

Similarly, Commissioner Urpilainen will launch the Team Europe Initiative on Green Recovery with the ambassadors of the EU Member States resident in Nepal (France, Finland & Germany), Government representatives, Development Partners, and private sector and civil society representatives.

Commissioner Urpilainen’s visit comes at an important moment as Nepal is preparing to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026, thus reaffirming the European Union’s strong and unwavering engagement with Nepal, including through the recent launch of the Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Nepal for 2021-2027.