Kathmandu, February 14
The country has taken Rs 30 billion internal and Rs 26.46 billion external loans till January 14, 2023, it is stated in the half-yearly review of the budget of current fiscal year 2022-23 released on Sunday.
Similarly, the government has received foreign grants worth Rs 8.12 billion during the same period.
Government mobilises internal and external loans and foreign grants for the implementation of annual policies and programmes.
According to the Ministry of Finance, discussions are being held with different development partners for the mobilisation of development assistance for the current fiscal year and coming fiscal year.
The half-yearly review report stated that initiatives are underway for loan and grants with more than two dozens of development partners.
The government has been taking initiative to take Rs 39 billion concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank for the implementation of Kakadbhitta-Laukahi road section. Discussion to get this loan is underway, according to the Finance Ministry.
Similarly, the government is making preparation to take Rs 13 billion subsidised loan for the School Sector Reform Programme as well as Rs 13 billion subsidised loan for Quality Health System Project from the World Bank. It is said that project document has already been prepared to get this loan assistance.
The Finance Ministry mentioned in the review report that a subsidised loan for budgetary assistance of around Rs 13 billion is going to be taken from the World Bank under Nepal Fiscal Reforms DPC-2 Programme as well as preparation is underway to take budgetary assistance worth around Rs 13 billion under 'Finance for Growth' programme.
The Asian Development Bank has already given initial consent for the implementation of 635- MW Dudh Koshi Storage Hydroelectric Project. "The Asian Development Bank has given hint to provide around Rs 75.40 billion subsidised loan for the implementation of the project. Coordination is underway to collect investment from other donor agencies in the project," mentioned the review report.
Similarly, homework is on to secure a subsidised loan worth $500 million (around Rs 65 billion) to implement the 1061-megawatt Upper Arun Reservoir-based Hydropower Project.
In addition to this, the government is coordinating with other probable investors for the project to manage remaining fund required to undertake the project.
For the implementation of the Customs Reform and Modernisation Strategies and Action Plan, the government is on the course of receiving a loan of around Rs 6.50 billion in subsidy from the Asian Development Bank.
Moreover, the government is making preparations to get a soft loan of worth Rs 13 billion from the ADB to implement public finance management and service delivery reform programme.
Discussions are underway in regard with a draft of the memorandum of understanding to secure around Rs 14.40 billion grants from the British government to undertake the Local Infrastructure Support Programme.
Besides this, Nepal is to take a loan of worth Rs 1.19 billion from the ADB for the implementation of the Rural Roads Improvement Programme.
The government is in touch with some of its development partners and donor agencies to receive foreign assistance.
It has reached the phase of collecting submission from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in regard with obtaining 40 million euros from the European Union for the implementation of the School Sector Reform Project and projects in other areas.
The EU has been urged to provide Rs 15.06 million grants to Nepal for the support of the agricultural and rural development endeavours.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 15, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
