Sitharaman Meets Nepal Finance Minister Wagle, Discusses Flood Recovery and Reconstruction

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met her Nepalese counterpart Swarnim Wagle in New Delhi and discussed the impact of recent flash floods in Nepal as well as the country's priorities for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

During the meeting, Sitharaman conveyed India's condolences over the loss of lives in the floods and reiterated India's continued support for Nepal's recovery and rebuilding efforts, the Finance Ministry said.

"The two ministers discussed the impact of the floods and Nepal's priorities for reconstruction and rehabilitation," the ministry said in a post on X.

The meeting also focused on strengthening bilateral economic ties and improving connectivity to promote greater trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges between the two neighbouring countries.

"Both sides emphasised the importance of further strengthening the trade and economic partnership between India and Nepal," the ministry said.

The discussions come amid Nepal's efforts to recover from the impact of the recent flash floods, which caused loss of lives and damage to infrastructure and communities.

India has continued to engage with Nepal on a range of areas, including economic cooperation, connectivity and development assistance. The two countries share close economic and people-to-people ties, with cross-border trade and connectivity forming important components of their relationship.

Wagle is currently on his first official visit to India since assuming office as Nepal's finance minister. His meeting with Sitharaman is part of his engagements during the visit and comes at a time when Nepal is focusing on post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.

Foreign Secretary and Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs were also present during the meeting.

The discussions between the two finance ministers are expected to further the ongoing economic engagement between India and Nepal, while India's support for Nepal's flood recovery remains an important aspect of the bilateral partnership.