India's aid package for Nepal high on agenda
Pallab Bhattacharya, New Delhi
India's economic aid package will be high on the agenda when Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala holds talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh here early next week.Koirala, who arrives here on June 6 (Tuesday) for a four-day official visit, his first since assuming office on April 30 following restoration of democracy in Nepal, will be accompanied by an array of cabinet ministers and a business delegation. The main focus of Koirala-Singh discussions will be on the economic aid package India has pledged for Nepal, which is facing a financial crunch with an estimated budget deficit of Rs 320 crore and badly needs cash flow, officials here said. India is likely to join other donor countries of Nepal to help the Himalayan nation overcome shortage of direct cash flow, which is just one key component of the aid package as it also includes assistance to various infrastructure projects and giving greater access to products from Nepal to Indian market.
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