Govt to IMF, WB: Let your chiefs stay here
WASHIGNTON, SEP 26 -
Nepal has requested two leading donors—World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF)—to reconsider their decision to not keep their chiefs in Nepal.
Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Banskota, who is currently in the US as a part of the government delegation to participate in the annual World Bank meeting, said the government requested both the agencies to revert to their earlier stance on Nepal. “With the peace process moving ahead, Nepal requires more assistance,” said Banskota. “If the chiefs stay in Nepal, discussions and assistance will be faster and easier.”
The WB in the first week of June had announced that its country director in Bangladesh would look after Nepal. Currently WB’s Nepal office is being handled by a country manager. Similarly, the IMF relocated its resident representative’s office from Kathmandu to New Delhi in October 2010 and decided to oversee Nepal operations through its resident representatives in New Delhi.
According to Banskota, IMF officials were positive on Nepal’s request. “We also requested World Bank officials,” said Banskota. “They said their decision was due to internal factors.”
Although both the agencies have said that their decision to not keep their chiefs in Nepal will not affect their assistance to Nepal, experts say absence of the WB country director and IMF resident representative will weaken Nepal’s capacity to mobilise aid.
Source: Kantipur
Nepal has requested two leading donors—World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF)—to reconsider their decision to not keep their chiefs in Nepal.
Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Banskota, who is currently in the US as a part of the government delegation to participate in the annual World Bank meeting, said the government requested both the agencies to revert to their earlier stance on Nepal. “With the peace process moving ahead, Nepal requires more assistance,” said Banskota. “If the chiefs stay in Nepal, discussions and assistance will be faster and easier.”
The WB in the first week of June had announced that its country director in Bangladesh would look after Nepal. Currently WB’s Nepal office is being handled by a country manager. Similarly, the IMF relocated its resident representative’s office from Kathmandu to New Delhi in October 2010 and decided to oversee Nepal operations through its resident representatives in New Delhi.
According to Banskota, IMF officials were positive on Nepal’s request. “We also requested World Bank officials,” said Banskota. “They said their decision was due to internal factors.”
Although both the agencies have said that their decision to not keep their chiefs in Nepal will not affect their assistance to Nepal, experts say absence of the WB country director and IMF resident representative will weaken Nepal’s capacity to mobilise aid.
Source: Kantipur
