Nepal invites Malaysian investment in various sectors

Penang: The Nepalese government is inviting Malaysian companies to consider investing in the country's hydropower, airport development and management, and tourism sectors.

Its ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Rishi Raj Adhikari, said Nepal offered potential in the hydropower sector due to its vast natural resources.

'The power generated can be utilised not just within Nepal but also in neighbouring countries like India,' Adhikari said.

'India needs new sources of power and Nepal has the means to generate it. Malaysian investors should seriously view the prospects of investing in this sector,' he added

Speaking to Bernama after the Nepalese Tourism Board promotions in Penang today, Adhikari said that Nepal recently ushered in a new era of politics.

'This new landscape is characterised by political stability and democracy with the focus now on attaining sustained economic and social development,' he said.

'In this context, the government has also accorded priority to the development of the tourism sector by encouraging private sector investments for new tourist resorts, hotels and roads as well as the airline business,' he added.

Nepal, nestled between India and China, has a diversity of tourist attractions in spite of its small geographical area. These include the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest.

Nepal Airlines Corporation will also increase the frequency of its flights to Kathmandu from Kuala Lumpur from thrice a week to four times starting next month, Adhikari said

Another carrier from Nepal, Fly Yeti Co, has also been flying to Kuala Lumpur since January this year.

'We are hopeful that more tourists from Malaysia will be visiting Nepal, whether for holiday, pilgrimage or business. We are also looking at the possibility of having a direct flight from Penang to Kathmandu in the near future,' he said.

Based on the country's statistics, tourist arrivals from Malaysia to Nepal increased by 28.1 percent last year compared to 2006. For 2008, there has been a growth of 44 percent in tourist arrivals to date.