KATHMANDU, July 19: Indian envoy to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri has urged Nepal to take benefits of the steady economic growth that India has been achieving for the past several years.

Addressing a function organized by Pushpa Lal Memorial Foundation on Nepal-India Relations: Development and Dynamics in the capital on Thursday, Puri said since India is poised to be a $5 trillion economy by 2025, Nepal can reap huge benefits from its neighbor.

Puri said India continues to be the main source of tourists and foreign direct investment (FDI) for Nepal. Arguing that the FDI from India has witnessed a sharp increase in Nepal in the current fiscal year, he said India offers a natural advantage for Nepal. 

Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali said Nepal had all-encompassing relations with India. He underscored the need for collaboration to tackle the adverse effects of climate change in order to reduce the risk of disaster.

Minister Gyawali pointed out the need to resolve some of the outstanding issues such as boundary dispute, inundation problems on the border and some of the irritant factors in bilateral relations in order to further strengthen the relations between the two countries. 

Also speaking on the occasion, former prime minister Madhav Nepal said India has played a vital role in Nepal’s development and democratization process. 

Stating that Nepal is the place of origin of Hinduism and Buddhism there is so much possibility to develop Nepal as important religious destinations for those following these faiths. He also pointed out the need for utilizing Nepal’s hydropower and tourism potential with Indian support.

 
• economic_growth
 
• Indian_envoy
 
• Manjeev_Singh_Puri