Kathmandu, April 20: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Paul Kapoor, arrived in Kathmandu on Monday and has begun meetings with Nepal’s political and business leaders.
This visit marks the first by a senior U.S. official since the formation of Nepal’s new government. The new administration, led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, was established on March 27 following elections held on March 5.
On his first day, Kapoor met with Ravi Lamichhane, the president of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs reported on X that the discussions focused on the new government’s priorities and areas of U.S.-Nepal cooperation.
The RSP is the largest party in the House of Representatives, holding nearly two-thirds of the seats, with senior leader Balendra Shah at the helm. However, no official information regarding the topics discussed between Lamichhane and Kapoor has been shared by the party.
Kapoor also engaged with several entrepreneurs in Nepal’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector. They discussed enhancing U.S. investment opportunities, strengthening digital infrastructure, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and technical collaboration.
The U.S. has shown increasing interest in Nepal’s digital infrastructure while expressing concerns over the adoption of Chinese 5G technology. Currently, the telecommunications network in Nepal primarily relies on 4G equipment supplied by Chinese company Huawei, and 5G services have yet to be launched in the country.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Nepal, Kapoor will also meet with senior government officials, industry representatives, and cultural experts during his visit to further strengthen U.S.-Nepal relations.
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