According to a ministry source, MoFA had invited the French firm to sign the agreement on Monday itself as per the instruction of a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister on Sunday. However, the representatives of the firm were out of town and could not be present to sign the agreement on Monday.[BREAK]
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had directed senior foreign ministry officials to sign the MRP deal with Oberthur within a couple of days while assuring them of approving MRP design. The MRP design issue was taken up by the prime minister after Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala showed tough resistance against approving the insignia and design.
Oberthur´s negotiating team is currently in New Delhi. The company has been short-listed for manufacturing e-passports for India lately, the company sources confirmed.
The team will be returning on Tuesday to Nepal. But since Tuesday and Wednesday are public holidays, the ministry has called Oberthur to sign the agreement on Thursday.
The ministry is, however, yet to agree on whether or not to give the company a certain grace period to deliver the passports. During the last negotiation, the company has asked for a two-week grace period to deliver the passports given the clause that they have to bear penalty for failing to deliver on the specific date. The company has asked for the grace time in case the government of Nepal takes longer time to approve the final product.
Ministry sources said Monday they will not allow grace period to the French printer.
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