KATHMANDU, May 31 (Reuters) – Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will seek a long-term deal to export hydroelectric power and the opening of new air routes through India during his visit to New Delhi beginning on Wednesday, officials said.
The visit is a tradition of new Nepali leaders making New Delhi their first foreign port of call after assuming office, underlining the strong ties between the neighbours.
“We also want India to facilitate the export of our electricity to Bangladesh, Saud told reporters.
Kathmandu wants to export the excess energy to power hungry India, its biggest economic and trade partner.
During the visit, Dahal will urge India to open three more points along their border from which airlines can enter and exit Nepal’s air space. That would help boost air traffic to two new international airports – one in the tourist town of Pokhara and the other near Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, officials said.
Dahal, a 68-year-old former Maoist rebel leader, will meet his counterpart Narendra Modi on Thursday.
(Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Editing by YP Rajesh and Lincoln Feast.)