Lumbini calls for investment in Nepal

The conclave jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Honorary Consular Corps Nepal (HCCN), an organization of unpaid consuls working in Nepal, was concluded with the common objective of promoting the Buddha's birthplace Lumbini, promoting tourism and increasing foreign investment in Nepal.

An investment conference is being held in Nepal next May. Dean of HCCN Vishnu Agarwal said that the program was organized to inform the foreign representatives about the possibility of investment in Nepal, laws, achievements and benefits. "Therefore, this is also a pre-conference before the investment conference," he said.

Foreign Minister Shrestha said that war, armed conflict, geo-political rivalry and polarization are adding challenges to world peace and prosperity. While delivering the closing speech at the Mayadevi temple complex in Lumbini on Friday, he made his remarks after a one-minute Vipassana in Rostam. Speaking among the representatives of 19 countries, he says that it seems like a small world has gathered here. Most of the speakers who spoke at the program emphasized that the message of peace flowing from Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, will awaken brotherhood, harmony, compassion, friendship and cooperation in the world, which is inevitable for everyone and to reduce the growing conflict and unrest in the world, the message of peace should be taken from Lumbini, the source of world peace. Since development is impossible without peace, everyone is urged to accept the message of peace from Lumbini. In the

program, the non-resident ambassador of Indonesia in Nepal, Heruhartanto Suwolo, said that the Lumbini conclave was effective at a time when there was a need for peace and brotherhood. According to Dean Agarwal of HCCN, this conference has proved to be helpful for the promotion of tourism and the expansion and establishment of industry and trade in Nepal.

The Vice President of Lumbini Development Fund Lharkyal Lama asked the modern world to come to Lumbini to get the message of peace by abandoning violence and conflict. Non-resident ambassadors of Greece, Mauritius, Indonesia, Mongolia, Serbia, Austria, Bulgaria and Estonia as well as Czech Republic, Tanzania, Slovenia, Cyprus, Ireland, Spain, Latvia, Costa Rica, Poland and Dominican Republic Romania are participating in the conference.

Senior archaeologist Vasant Bidari informed the foreign diplomatic representatives about the Lumbini development master plan, excavation, exploration, research and historical and archaeological significance. The foreign diplomat visited Mayadevi Temple, Royal Thai Monastery and Tara Foundation Vihar. They also lit lamps and planted trees at the Bodhi tree near Mayadevi Temple in the evening. Minister of Tourism and Culture Hit Bahadur Tamang, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and experts in the field of tourism also participated in the event.

The diplomatic representative visited the Kamakhya temple in Basantpur of Palpa by cable car from Butwal. Sanuraja Shakya, Member-Secretary of Lumbini Development Fund, said that the support that stakeholders can provide from their respective areas to make Lumbini an international tourist destination was also discussed.