Nepal’s Finance Minister likely to visit New Delhi this week

In the aftermath of the devastating August 26 flash floods in Nepal, which claimed over 1,300 lives and left 5,000 more missing, Nepal's Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle is set to embark on a bilateral visit to India this week, according to sources in Delhi. Wagle, the most experienced minister in Prime Minister Balendra Shah's cabinet, is expected to arrive in Delhi on September 17-18.

During his two-day stay, Wagle will engage with his Indian counterparts, including External Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other key officials, to discuss economic cooperation, post-disaster reconstruction, and economic recovery. The Nepalese leader is also anticipated to interact with a business body and deliver a lecture at Delhi University.

Following the floods, India swiftly extended humanitarian aid and emergency power support, delivering around 95 tonnes of relief materials. Moreover, New Delhi provided additional resources, such as tunnel rescue specialists, forensic experts, and a five-member medical team, to assist in the rescue and recovery operations. It is believed that the Nepalese Finance Minister’s visit to India will likely focus on securing further financial support for his country.

India's assistance after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal has served as a precedent for such aid. This visit can be seen as Nepal's attempt to mend its strained relations with India, which were strained after then Prime Minister Balendra 'Balen' Shah declined to meet the Indian Ambassador and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in May. The thaw in diplomatic relations began earlier this year when Nepal's top leader Rabi Lamichhane of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party visited India in June, where he received a warm welcome from India's leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.