Public morale will be boosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence, says Nepal FM

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence at the donors’ meeting in Kathmadu on June 25 would boost the morale and confidence of the people of Nepal amid the gloom in the post-quake period, Nepal finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat said on Thursday.

Mahat, who is in New Delhi to personally invite the prime minister as a special guest, told ET that Modi was the first leader to reach out to Nepal after the April 25 quake with full support. An address by Modi at the meeting would inspire the people of the Himalayan state, given the deep social and cultural roots between the neighbouring countries, according to Mahat.

Chinese Premier Le Keqiang has also been invited as a special guest, Mahat said. Mahat met finance ministry and other government officials on Thursday and discussed the financial support Nepal needs to rebuild the country.

Ministers from other south Asian countries are expected to attend the meeting, besides officials from the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the UN and countries from the West and Japan. Defending the move to host the meeting in Kathmandu amid offers from India and Japan, Mahat said this was imperative to lift the spirits of the local people and economy.

“Life is limping back to normalcy. We checked with the Kathmandu hotels and other infrastructure facilities. They were prepared to host the big meet. This would send a signal for Nepal’s economy. Had we not been prepared, we would have accepted Delhi’s offer to host the meet here. India respects our decision,” Mahat said.