Dr. Yuvaraj Khatiwada, Vice-Chairperson, National Planning Commission (NPC), Ms. Anne-Isabelle Degryse-Blateau, Country Director of UNDP and representatives from donor agencies, government ministries and banks participated in an interaction programme on “PPP Project Financing Policy Document”, organized jointly by the Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA) and Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Environment (PPPUE).

The PPP financing policy document prepared by the NBA with PPPUE support seeks to create an enabling environment for initiating national level PPP infrastructure projects in Nepal. The current national Three-Year Interim Plan (2008-2010) has given priority to increase the level of investment in infrastructure like roads, communications, health, education, drinking water, sanitation, etc. A PPP friendly financing policy would facilitate and offer incentives to banks and financial institutions to provide financing to infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) of New Delhi, India, who was commissioned to prepare the Policy Document, made a presentation on the draft document at the programme to disseminate the contents and receive feedback on the document.

Dr. Khatiwada expressed that it was a good initiation given the current political context. Ms. Anne-Isabelle Degryse-Blateau stated that not just mega projects but smaller and different tiers of projects should be considered in any PPP financing policy. Government policy should make ways for smaller investment feasible as well as give due consideration to the social aspects of projects.