KATHMANDU, Oct 31: Seven international companies have submitted applications to undertake the construction of three substantial substations planned under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact. The Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Committee (MCA-Nepal) announced that seven companies have responded to the call for bids to construct a 400 KV substation, as outlined in a public notice issued on March 24.

KATHMANDU, Oct 19: The abrupt cancellation of contract processes related to the construction of a 400 kV power transmission line, financed by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), has triggered confusion regarding the next steps and timelines for this vital project.

KATHMANDU, Aug 31: The Government of Nepal (GoN) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) on Wednesday officially launched the MCC Nepal Compact Program, a program jointly funded by the GoN and the US government.

KATHMANDU, Aug 23:The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact will come into full-fledged implementation from August 30, with the authorities concerned fixing the date for Entry into Force (EIF).

KATHMANDU, July 15: Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, concluded his one-day visit to Nepal on Friday, focusing on the implementation of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) projects and strengthening bilateral relations.

KATHMANDU, March 26: The US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact project has gained momentum. International tenders have been invited for the construction of three large substations to be built under the project.

Nepal is already on the tactical, strategic and military radar of America. The military exercises in the name of training between the USA and Nepal oftentimes are worrisome. There are already an estimated 5,000 American troops in Nepal in disguised form.

We want to see parliament ratify MCC at the earliest

KATHMANDU, April 1: The meetings both Houses of the federal parliament are being adjourned through notices time and again since the last two weeks citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

KATHMANDU, March 9: With the deadline to implement the $500 million US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) getting closer and the parliament yet to start deliberations on the grant, a debate on the grant has intensified outside parliament.

SUKUTE,  Mar 1: Executive Chairman of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal has revealed that their attempt to amend the constitution was made at the behest of the party’s senior leader Bam Dev Gautam.

A bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by Representative Ami Bera, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s (HFAC) Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, was in Nepal earlier this week. The four-member delegation that included Representative George Holding, Member of the House Ways & Means Committee; Staff Director at the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation Nikole Burroughs and Senior Professional Staff Member at HFAC Sajit Gandhi held meetings with government officials, civil society leaders, staff at the US Embassy, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation among others. On the sideline of their visit to Nepal, Nagarik Daily’s Guna Raj Luitel and Republica’s Kosh Raj Koirala talked to Ami Bera to learn more about US foreign policy on Nepal, latest controversies about the MCC and other issues pertaining to the Nepal-US relations. Excerpts:

KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Implementation of the US$ 500 million grant announced by the USA for Nepal’s development under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement hangs in the balance after the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leaders remain divided over whether to endorse the agreement from the parliament as promised earlier.

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: Two weeks after the visit of Deputy Vice President for Europe, Asia, Pacific, and Latin America (EAPLA) for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Jonathan Brooks, US Representative Ami Bera, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s (HFAC) Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation, has arrived in Nepal, leading a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Nepal.

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: A task force formed by the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has recommended to the government not to endorse the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement signed between the US and Nepal in its existing form.

Govt stances on MCC is clear: FM Gyawali

February 20, 2020 08:18 am

KATHMANDU, Feb 20: While stating that the government’s stance on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact had not changed, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali has said that a task force formed by the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) only had a mandate to study the agreement and clarify some things that have courted controversy.

KATHMANDU, Feb 12: As the debate over the $500 million US grant under its  Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) rolls on, major political actors in the country appear sharply divided along the ideological lines of their respective parties rather than over the substance of the compact.

KATHMANDU, Feb 8: As leaders of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) remain sharply divided over a US$ 500 million grant offered by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Deputy Vice President for Europe, Asia, Pacific and Latin America for the MCC Jonathan Brooks has arrived in Kathmandu on Friday.

KATHMANDU, Feb 5: Speaking to a select group of editors at the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday evening, PM KP Oli said that the parliament will endorse the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant at the earliest. He said that a three-member study group, headed by Nepal Communist Party leader Jhalanath Khanal, will submit a detailed report on the project within a week.

PM Oli, Deuba for expediting MCC

January 29, 2020 07:23 am

KATHMANDU, Jan 29: Prime Minister KP Oli has urged parliament to expedite endorsement of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant from the United States, along with the regular bills, during the ongoing winter session.

KATHMANDU, Jan 25: Chairman of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that projects under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) will be expedited in the best interests of the country after negotiating with the US on its terms and conditions if deemed necessary.

Clarifications on MCC Nepal Compact

January 20, 2020 09:09 am

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact which can be downloaded from https://mcanp.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Millennium_Challenge_Compact.pdf is being discussed at large these days and I personally appreciate all the concerns that have surfaced, both in social media and mainstream media. We live in a democracy wherein people and people’s representatives should discuss and debate matters of national interest, but I believe our debates should be based on facts and evidence. With this article, I hope to provide some facts and clarify specific concerns to help the public understand the Compact better.

KATHMANDU, Jan 18: Amid misleading news going viral in several online media platforms that its implementation would pave the way for deploying US military personnel in Nepal, the US Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday clarified that Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) does not have any military component.

Biratnagar, Jan 1: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said he is seeking to run the party on the basis of consensus.

KATHMANDU, Dec 26: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali has said that the agreement on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) between Nepal and the US would be endorsed through parliament during the ongoing session of the lower house.

KATHMANDU, Dec22: The standing committee meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party has been prolonged after top leaders couldn’t make a clear position on whether to endorse the $500 million grant provided under the Millennium Challenge Corporation as agreed earlier.

Dahal hints at delaying MCC endorsement

December 21, 2019 08:17 am

KATHMANDU, Dec 21: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has hinted at prolonging the parliamentary endorsement process for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant provided by the United States if the grant is  part of America’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

KATHMANDU, Dec 20: As the winter session of the federal parliament session is all set to commence from Friday, the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has decided to mount pressure on the government to endorse the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant agreement reached with the United States.

Pass the MCC

December 18, 2019 08:22 am

Some Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leaders have been suspicious of 500 million dollar Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grants provided to Nepal by the United States government. The grant is to be used for mega infrastructure projects like construction of transmission lines and building of highways.

KATHMANDU, Sept 27: As a sharp division among the leaders of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) puts the implementation of projects under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in limbo, US ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry, has intensified meetings with key political leaders in the country to understand Nepal's position on the MCC projects.

KATHMANDU, Aug 9: The five-year clock for implementation of a multimillion-dollar program financed through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant of the US will start ticking from June 30 next year.