Nepal ready to welcome BD investors in its hydro sector

Entrepreneurs from Bangladesh will get enormous opportunity to invest in the power sector of Nepal, especially in the generation and transmission of electricity and Independent Power Producers (IPP) mode.
Such investments should be promoted and protected under a government to government deal.
 "Nepal is ready to welcome Bangladeshi investments," Nepal's Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire told The Daily Observer in an exclusive interview at the Nepal embassy in Dhaka, recently.
Dinesh Kumar said: "We are ready to welcome Bangladesh's private sector in our country to tap the huge hydro power potential of mighty Himalayan resources in near future."
Dinesh Kumar visited Dhaka for four days from June 20 to attend the second joint working committee meeting on Bangladesh-Nepal power development cooperation held in Cox's Bazar on June 21.
"Nepal is going to offer a special package for the Bangladesh's investor in power sector development. Renewable energy will be the key focus area here, however, we both the countries have agreed on principle to work together to enhance cooperation in energy sector," Dinesh said.
Earlier, Bangladesh and Nepal agreed to focus on electricity generation, development of hydroelectricity, cross-border transmission lines, and development of efficient human resources in the hydroelectric sector, promotion of government-to-government and private sector investments, grid connectivity, power efficiency and investment in renewable energy, Dinesh said.
Replying to a question, the Nepalese Secretary said: "We identified 20 projects in our country. Nepal is now undertaking IPP projects and framing rules and regulations in this regard. However, we are working on it."
Bangladeshi investors could take part in generating 200 MW to 500 MW power projects, we have some small projects in our country and we are planning to open the area for the foreign investors," Dinesh said.
Pointing his finger at the transmission business, Dinesh said:, "Well, India is a party here if power export-import issue is concerned, and there is a set rules and guidance from the Indian government in this regard which is transparent and open to all, however, Bangladeshi investors could get a chance to invest here."
Bangladesh has expressed interest to buy 9,000 MW of electricity from Nepal by 2040, according to the Power Division.
The Nepalese secretary informed that the Himalayan nation will provide all kinds of cooperation to Bangladesh to boost the trade and business between the two countries.
Nepalese Board of Investment, which is working under the direct supervision of the Nepalese prime Minister and Nepal Chamber of Commerce will be the major player here, Dinesh said.
"We are going to offer a tax holiday package, identifying new projects for the foreign investors, and obviously, Bangladeshi brothers will get priority in our county for our long last friendship and brotherhood relation that we are enjoying for ages," the Nepalese Secretary told The Daily Observer.