Energy cooperation can be win-win partnership between Nepal and Bangladesh: FM Saud

Nepalese Embassy in Dhaka on Saturday organized an event on ‘Realizing Energy Cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh’ followed by dinner on the occasion of Foreign Minister N.P. Saud’s to Bangladesh visit. “The event was organized with a view to promoting dialogue among key stakeholders and fostering collaboration in energy sector between the two countries,” according to a press release issued by Nepalee Embassy in Bangladesh.

Addressing the event, Foreign Minister Saud underscored Nepal’s immense hydropower potential and Bangladesh’s growing energy needs and emphasized how energy cooperation could be a ‘win-win partnership’ between the two countries. He underlined the role of enhanced connectivity in realizing energy trade and urged the private sector to seize the opportunities available in hydropower sector.

Ambassador Ghanshyam Bhandari shed light on the significance of strengthening energy cooperation for the economic advancement and sustainable development of both countries.

Special Guest Salman Fazlur Rahman, MP, advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Private Industry and Investment underscored the opportunities in power sector cooperation, and stated how partnership between Nepal and Bangladesh could meet the latter’s increasing energy demands and promote green and sustainable development.

Energy Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire reiterated Nepal’s commitment to enhancing energy linkages with Bangladesh and expressed the Government’s willingness to materialize power trade in near future. Power Secretary of Bangladesh Md. Habibur Rahman, BPAA, expressed the readiness of the Government of Bangladesh to explore avenues for joint ventures and knowledge sharing in the field of energy.

During the occasion Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) made a presentation on energy collaboration between Nepal and Bangladesh. They expressed their desire to work closely with relevant stakeholders of Bangladesh to facilitate investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector.

The programme was participated in by around one hundred guests including the members of parliament, high-ranking government officials, business leaders, major energy entrepreneurs from both Nepal and Bangladesh, Dhaka-based Nepali professionals, and media persons, among others.