Kathmandu, May 1: Sergio Gore, the U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, began his political engagements in Nepal by meeting with Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle on Friday.
Gore, who also serves as the U.S. Ambassador to India, arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday evening. He is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Nepal since the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah on March 27.
During these meetings, both sides discussed enhancing economic cooperation and various issues related to bilateral relations.
After his meeting with Finance Minister Wagle, Gore took to social media platform X, stating, “Our discussions covered several key issues, particularly focusing on improving the business environment, creating jobs through technology, and exploring new opportunities for economic collaboration that would benefit both countries.”
Recently, the U.S. has shown increased interest in investing in Nepal’s technology sector. Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, is in talks with officials to launch its services in the country.
Additionally, American media giant Netflix is preparing to enter the Nepalese market. Nepal is also looking towards the U.S. for software exports, as IT services have become a significant export sector in recent years.
The Nepalese Ministry of Finance reported that discussions also covered economic partnerships and U.S. aid. The U.S. was previously Nepal’s largest bilateral donor, but India surpassed it in the fiscal year 2024-25.
However, the U.S. continues to provide assistance under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). There has been controversy surrounding the MCC in Nepal, with some believing it could affect the country’s sovereignty.
The U.S. has dismissed these allegations, asserting that the initiative aims solely to develop electricity transmission lines and roads in Nepal, with $550 million in aid allocated for this purpose.
The portion of the upcoming Butwal-Gorakhpur transmission line being constructed in Nepal is also part of the MCC project.
During the meeting between Foreign Minister Khanal and Gore, they also discussed the MCC. According to the U.S. Embassy, there were positive discussions on enhancing cooperation, boosting trade, and advancing MCC-related projects.
According to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both nations emphasized the importance of increasing investment and trade.
In addition to meeting political leaders, Gore is expected to engage with members of Nepal’s business community. It remains unclear whether he will meet Prime Minister Balendra Shah, as Shah is adhering to strict protocols regarding meetings with foreign leaders.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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