Finance Minister Paudel and US Assistant Secretary of State Lu Discuss Economic Cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel met with United States Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, today to discuss bilateral economic cooperation and development initiatives.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Finance in Singha Durbar, focused on topics such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the effective implementation of projects under the US Agency for International Development (USAID), mobilization of development finance, and the expansion of private sector investments in Nepal.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Dhaniram Sharma, stated, “The discussions highlighted cooperation between Nepal and the USA, including the implementation of MCC and USAID-supported projects. The US side also expressed interest in enhancing the effectiveness of investments by the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and in exploring opportunities for additional capital inflows into Nepal.”

During the talks, Finance Minister Paudel emphasized Nepal’s political stability and its commitment to economic development. He urged the US to expand its support in this regard. “Economic growth and development remain our priorities, and we seek increased cooperation and assistance from the United States,” Minister Paudel stated.

Assistant Secretary Lu praised Nepal’s success in maintaining economic stability amidst challenges faced by some South Asian nations. He expressed optimism about Nepal’s economic trajectory and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to providing additional economic assistance in the coming days.

The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral ties and fostering sustainable development in Nepal through enhanced US-Nepal collaboration.