Kathmandu, July 27:

Dr Ram Mahohar Shrestha, a professor of Energy Economics at the Asian Institute of Technology (Thailand), today urged Nepali energy experts to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with India while entering into hydroelectricity agreements.

'Lasting trust between Nepal and neighbouring countries, especially India, is required to enter into agreements on hydroelectricity projects,' he said, addressing a programme organised by Nepalese Forum for Environment Journalists here today.

Dr Shrestha also emphasised the importance of confidence-building measures. According to him, inadequate institutional capacity for hydropower development planning and policy analysis is one of the challenges Nepal is facing in the sector of hydroelectricity development.