Kathmandu, February 8:

Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai today met Yasuo Hayashi, chairman of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Tokyo and highlighted Nepal’s priority for economic development through enhanced investments, particularly in the infrastructure sector.

Dr Bhattarai is on a weeklong visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government. He requested JETRO to facilitate Nepal efforts to encourage the private sector — domestic and foreign — for higher level of investments benefiting the market potentialities in two big neighbouring countries, India and China, according to a ministry statement.

Hayashi, on the other hand, pointed out that Nepal’s investment potentialities need to be further promoted through different means like seminars, investment forums, product shows, campaigns and business to business consultations and assured that JETRO would extend cooperation through its office in New Delhi and through the embassy of Nepal in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, Dr Bhattarai during a luncheon meeting on Friday, also exchanged views on Nepal’s peace and economic development perspectives with Prof Rei Shiratori, a veteran and eminent political scientist and the president of the Institute of Political Scientist of Japan.