Friendship-1950

Friendship- Areas of Cooperation . Trade and Economic ™ India is Nepal’s largest trade partner and the largest source of foreign investments, besides providing transit for almost the entire trade which Nepal has with other countries. . Indian Investment in Nepal ™ Indian firms are the leading investors in Nepal, accounting for about % of the total approved foreign direct investments. ( . Water Resources and energy cooperation ™ A three–tier mechanism established in , to discuss all bilateral issues relating to cooperation in water resources and hydropower. ™ Nepal has many fast flowing rivers and its terrain makes it ideal for hydroelectric power generation. Nepal’s installed capacity is less than MW while it has a potential to generate over , MW. ™ A megawatts hydropower project Arun III has been launched recently. ™ An Agreement on “Electric Power Trade, Cross-border Transmission Interconnection and Grid Connectivity” was signed between India and Nepal in . ™ A Joint Technical Team (JTT) has been formed for preparation of long-term integrated transmission plan covering projects up to . . Defense Cooperation ™ The Gorkha Regiments of the Indian Army are raised partly by recruitment from hill districts of Nepal. ™ Since , India and Nepal have been awarding Army Chiefs of each other with the honorary rank of General. ™ Bilateral defense cooperation includes assistance to Nepal Army in its modernization through provision of equipment and training. ™ About training slots are provided every year for training of Nepal Army personnel in various Indian Army Training institutions. ™ India and Nepal conducted a joint military exercise, Surya Kiran XIII from May to June in Uttarakhand this year. . Infrastructure and connectivity ™ Recently a MoU was signed on Raxaul- Kathmandu railway line. A postal highway project is also being undertaken. ™ Both the countries are also focused on inland waterways connectivity. . People to People cooperation ™ The Governments of India and Nepal have signed three sister-city agreements for twinning of Kathmandu-Varanasi, Lumbini-Bodhgaya and Janakpur- Ayodhya. ™ Direct bus service between Janakpur and Ayodhya under Ramayan Circuit under Swadesh Darshan Scheme was launched. ™ Nepal and India share Hindu and Buddhist heritage. Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha is in Nepal while Bodh Gaya where he attained enlightenment is in India. Similarly the hindu pilgrimage places are also spread in both countries.