‘Outcome of Qatari Emir’s visit will be visible soon’

Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, has described the visit of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, to Nepal as significant and historic. “This visit marks the beginning of a new phase in the relationship between our two countries,” he stated.

In a discussion with RSS, the Minister highlighted that important discussions on cooperation in energy, tourism, and agriculture took place. A joint working group will be established to identify and outline areas of cooperation and collaboration, which will be further detailed during the upcoming investment summit.

Minister Basnet emphasized the significance of this being the first high-level visit from a Gulf country, noting its potential to greatly impact future interactions. “The visit lays a foundational stone for institutionalizing our bilateral relations and elevating them to new heights,” he explained. “The true importance of this visit extends beyond the agreements reached; its significance will be seen in tangible outcomes in the near future.”

The Qatari delegation expressed interest in Nepal’s energy sector, particularly in collaborating on hydropower projects, which Nepal received positively. “I am optimistic about seeing positive developments in the energy sector soon,” he added.

Further, Minister Basnet shared that an agreement was reached to form a working group to give concrete shape to the topics discussed. Additionally, there were fruitful discussions about revising the labor agreement.

The visit of the Amir of Qatar is particularly momentous not only because it represents the first visit by a head of state from the Gulf region to Nepal but also due to Nepal’s status as a major labor destination for Gulf countries. The discussions and agreements reached during this visit are steps toward making these initiatives result-oriented.

“The bilateral agreements and initiatives discussed will start taking concrete shape in the days ahead, and their impact will be evident at the third investment summit,” Minister Basnet said.