On the second day of the Koshi investment conference, the former secretary, energy experts, businessmen and academicians emphasized on the need to build infrastructure and energy as the main basis for the prosperity of Koshi province.
In the program, former Urban Development Secretary Maniram Gelal said that infrastructure development has been blocked due to the weakness in planning, resources and good governance. "There was investment in the urban area, but it did not make the city manageable," he said. He said that attention should be paid not only to city expansion, but also to resource management.
Former Secretary Kishore Thapa said that it is sad that the area of investment has been shifted and that investment cannot be stopped even though there are sufficient resources . "Millions of jobs can be created in the fourth industrial revolution through digital technology," he said, "Political dialogue and encouraging entrepreneurship should be the next priority."
Ganesh Karki, president of IPAN, an organization of independent power producers, expressed his concern that Nepal's power generation capacity of 34,000 megawatts has not been utilized. "The private sector has already produced 2,800 megawatts, but an investment of 14 trillion is still needed," he said, adding that the government should show political commitment to policy continuity.
Kathmandu University Associate Professor Dr. Virajsingh Thapa, highlighting the potential of green energy and green hydrogen, said, 'While fuel worth 400 billion is being imported, we have extensive resources of coal and hydropower, but we have not been able to use them.' He said that there is a possibility of new industry development in Koshi through green energy. The experts participating in the
program concluded that the sustainable development of the province is possible only if the infrastructure and energy are made renewable and environmentally friendly. The discussion was facilitated by journalist Yagya Banjade. In the program, former secretary Mahendra Gurung gave a keynote speech about infrastructure development in Koshi.
