Experts for Nepal as a transit state between India, China

Experts have said that Nepal can hugely benefit from the economic prosperity of China and India if the Himalayan nation is developed as a transit state. Presenting papers on a talk program organized by East-West Center Association, Nepal Chapter, in Kathmandu on Saturday, they opined that Nepal should forget the notion of being a landlocked country, or a yam between two big boulders, and work towards developing Nepal a land-linked country for economic prosperity. “We are not landlocked. We are rather mind-locked,” argued economic expert Omkar Lal Shrestha, who has done numerous researches on economic integration of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, ASEAN-SAARC economic relations. Shrestha, also an alumnus of East-West Center, argued that Nepal should now strongly push forward the idea as initiated by Nepalese political leaders time and again to benefit the country from its strategic location between the two economic superpowers. “If only we could manage the relations with China and India properly, we, as a transit nation, do have an immense possibility to benefit from these economic giants,” he said, adding that it is something good that both the neighbors have converging economic interests in Nepal. Shrestha said Nepal now needed to work toward building necessary transport infrastructure, custom harmonization, creating Special Economic Zones in the bordering areas, and formulating appropriate trade policies to facilitate Nepal as a transit nation. Former Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr Jagadish C Pokharel pointed out the need to do away with the yam syndrome and work toward increasing transport connectivity -- both within and outside the country -- with China and India for economic prosperity. Pokharel said that Nepal government had already initiated various projects to better connect places within and outside the country. “Works on Mid-hill highway, north-south corridor and railway networks have already started. It is expected that some 50 percent of the total population will be living in urban areas by 2030,” he added. On the occasion, Nirendra Dhoj Maske, Chair of EWC, Nepal Chapter, highlighted the activities of East West Center alumni in Nepal. He also expressed happiness that East-West Nepal chapter had been able to show its meaningful presence in various sectors.