The government has decided to accept a soft loan of Rs 50.51 billion from the World Bank to fund key infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges.
Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, said the World Bank Group will provide Rs 29.72 billion for upgrading Nepal’s strategic road network and trade routes. In addition, Rs 20.79 billion in grant assistance will be allocated for the third phase of the bridge upgrading project.
Speaking at a press conference on recent Cabinet decisions, Minister Gurung said the government will also accept a grant of Rs 1.8 billion from South Korea for an inclusive rural development project in Bardiya district.
According to the Cabinet meeting held on Monday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will lead a Nepali delegation to Spain from June 30 to July 5.
The government also decided to table an agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO) on fisheries in the federal parliament for ratification.
In other decisions, the Cabinet approved the transfer of several high-ranking officials, including secretaries. Deputy Inspector General of the Armed Police Force, Ganesh Bahadur Thadamagar, will be promoted to Additional Inspector General (AIG).
Nepal will also form a delegation to participate in the 16th meeting of the Nepal-India Bilateral Consultation Group on Security, scheduled for June 23–24 in Pune, India.
Additionally, the government approved the use of 43.66 hectares of national forest land in Nawalparasi (Purba) for the construction of a 400-kV double circuit transmission line by the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Nepal Development Committee.
The Cabinet also cleared the foreign visits of several ministers to international events, including Minister Gurung’s participation in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) and the AI for Good Summit 2025, both to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 7 to 11.
The government also approved Nepal’s membership in the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), a global initiative launched by India in 2023 to promote the conservation of seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar, and Cheetah.
(With inputs from RSS)
