SURKHET: Karnali Province's Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi called on the EU representatives to focus on development works based on Karnali's necessities.

Minister Shahi made the remark during a meeting with a delegation led by EU's Ambassador to Nepal, Veronica Cody.

Stating that non-government organisations were making Karnali externally dependent through small scale support, Minister Shahi said, "We will accommodate national and international NGOs that make a minimum investment of Rs 10 million that results in sustainable outcome."

He extended his gratitude to the EU delegation for working to provide nutrition to women and children of the remote Karnali province.

The Chief Minister was of the opinion that the NGOs have increased external dependency of Karnali's residents by distributing rice grains, noodles and biscuits. Shahi added that Karnali government is preparing for a long term development of the province and looking to hold an international investment summit to attract investors in near future.

On the occasion, Ambassador Cody said the EU has been cooperating with Nepal Government on multi-sector nutrition plan.

Ambassador Cody noted that 37 per cent of children in average across Nepal are suffering from shortness of height. The EU envoy went on to add that the figure in Karnali remained at 64 per cent.

Cody underlined that EU had allocated 22.65 million euros through the implementing partner UNICEF under the Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan (MSNP), not just to support the causes of nutrition and health, but being mindful of overall development. The first phase of MSNP covered the years 2013 to 2017 while the second phase covers the period 2018 to 2022 .

Ambassador Cody and UNICEF Nepal's Representative Tomoo Hozumi along with the delegation members pledged to work with Karnali's provincial government as a development partner.