France urged to encourage private sector to invest in Nepal

Nepal requested France to encourage its private sector to explore opportunities in the Nepali market given the political stability, policy and institutional reforms and a business-friendly environment lately.
During the first Bilateral Consultation Mechanism held in Kathmandu today, the French side also stressed on the need to enhance Nepal’s competitive edge, including through branding its organic products. The meeting also agreed to provide cooperation towards making the Visit Nepal Year 2020 (VNY2020) a success.
The Bilateral Consultation Mechanism – at the foreign ministry level – has been formed to reviewing the bilateral relations and sharing views on regional and international issues of common interest on a regular basis between Nepal and France. The joint secretary of Foreign Ministry Nirmal Raj Kafle and ambassador of France to Nepal Francois Xavier Leger signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), on behalf of their respective governments, in Kathmandu this morning, to form the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism. On the occasion, foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and the Nepali and French delegates to the first meeting of the mechanism were present. The foreign secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and director for Asia and Oceania of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Thierry Mathou led their respective delegations to the meeting.
During the meeting, the two sides also took stock of all aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on further promoting cooperation between the two countries. They also shared views on the importance of continuing the exchange of high level visits, in the context of the successful visit of the Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to France this June.
The two sides, on the occasion, also discussed the various ways and means of enhancing economic partnership, including in the areas of trade, tourism and investment, and promoting people-to-people contacts. “They discussed on matters of regional and international importance during the meeting,” a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry reads. “The two ministries agreed to further engage in several issues of common interest such as Climate Change and the UN Peacekeeping,” it reads, adding that France will positively consider its meaningful participation in Sagarmatha Sambaad – international dialogue dedicated to important issues of Climate Change and its effects on mountains – going to be organised by Nepal.
Prior to the meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism, director Mathou paid a courtesy call on Gyawali at the latter’s office..

Shrinkhala Khatiwada summits Mont Blanc

Shrinkhala Khatiwada – the Goodwill Ambassador for the 70th anniversary of Nepal-France diplomatic relations – reached the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe today.
Accompanied by two Nepali filmmakers, Sisan Baniya and Prajwal Thapa Magar, and was guided by the legendary skier and alpinist, Anselme Baud, she also raised the two national flags, of Nepal and France, on the occasion.
The climbing of Mont Blanc was organised by the French Embassy in Nepal and is part of a year long celebrations of 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to a press note released by the French Embassy in Kathmandu.
This was also the occasion to recognise the role played by the French city of Chamonix – located at the bottom of Mont Blanc – French National School of Ski and Alpinism (ENSA) and the ‘mountain community’ of Chamonix towards strengthening the people to people relation between the two countries in the domain of mountaineering, the press note reads, adding that it also expresses the potential cooperation in the field of mountain tourism and hospitality. “Many Nepali high mountain guides and paragliders have benifitted from the internships and training offered by the ENSA and various French associations active in Nepal.”
The cooperation in the domain of mountaineering and people to people exchanges are one of the pillars of the bilateral relations between Nepal and France, it adds.
After summitting successfully Mont Blanc, Khatiwada would join the second last stage of the world renowned cycle race, Tour de France, where she would be a guest of honour and interact with the cyclists and organisers. She will also take part in the closing ceremony of Tour de France in Paris on July 28. “The goodwill visit to France, by the Goodwill Ambassador, was put in place with an objective of spreading a positive message of friendship between Nepal and France and promote Nepal in France,” the embassy release adds.

France keen to help NAC expand

France is willing to help Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) acquire wide body aircraft that can directly fly to Europe.

"France is willing to help Nepal Airlines to get such aircraft," said Gilles Henry Garault, French ambassador to Nepal, speaking at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Buddha Air and Alliance Francaise here today.

"To develop the tourism sector, Nepal needs to have direct flights to Europe," he said adding that if Nepal connects to Europe directly, around 50,000 more European tourists can visit Nepal every year. The direct flight will reduce the time and expense of passengers, encouraging more European tourists to fly to Nepal. However, the Nepali flag-carrier NAC has no wide body aircraft for direct flights.

The European company's aircrtafts are, however, flying in the Nepali sky. Two ATR42s of Buddha Air has been flying in the Nepali sky since last year.

"ATR 42 has created more opportunities in the aviation sector," the envoy said adding that its alliance with Buddha Air will prove more fruitful for the Nepali aviation sector.

Birendra Bahadur Basnet, managing director of Buddha Air, agreed. "Buddha Air and ATR have created new opportunity for expansion in the Nepali aviation sector," he said adding that Buddha Air is currently flying two ATR 42s.

Buddha Air is currently flying ATR 42 -- that has potential for the regional sector -- and it will acquire a third ATR 42 on May 5. The private airlines' present two ATR 42s are operating in the eastern region.

"The third will operate in the western region," Basnet added.Basnet also said that Buddha Air is planning to expand and fly across the border to Indian cities. "With the ATR 42 -- an aircraft with regional potential -- Buddha Air wants to fly across the border," he said.

IFC-World Bank has financed the purchase of Buddha Air's two ATRs because they are the state-of-the art turbo-prop aircraft in their category. "The European aircraft has been able to create history in the domestic sector with the introduction of structured fares for Nepali passengers enabling them to fly at cheaper rates," Basnet said adding that the aircraft helped the airlines reduce the cost of operations and environmental impact.

Keshav Raj Jha, president of Alliance Francaise and Basnet singed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisation where Philippe Martin, director of AFK hailed the accord between the two institutions. According to the agreement, any French national who buys Buddha Air ticket across the counter will get a discount and $5 of the fare will go to AFK.