A delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Directors is on a visit to Nepal from 1-6 March 2014. During the six-day official visit, the delegation expects to gain greater understanding of Nepal's development needs and challenges, become better acquainted with ADB's activities in Nepal, and observe the impact of ADB’s assistance.

The Board delegates met with Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Vice Chairperson and members of the National Planning Commission, Chief Secretary, Secretary of Finance and senior government officials on 3 March 2014. In their meetings with Government officials, the delegation commended the progress made to move towards political stability. They also discussed the ways to achieve and sustain higher economic growth and job creation with effective use of external assistance, and to achieve the longer term goal of poverty reduction. Discussions also focused on building stronger capacities to enhance project implementation performance, governance systems, and enabling environment to support private sector investments in Nepal.

According to a press release of ADB resident mission Kathmandu, during their visit to Nepal, the delegation is also holding consultations with civil society, the private sector and development partners to discuss the country’s development prospects and challenges and explore opportunities for closer cooperation. The delegation is also visiting various ADB-assisted projects in Kathmandu, Melamchi, and Lumbini and interacting with the project staff and a range of stakeholders.

The delegation comprised Executives Directors Mario Sander and Maliami Bin Hamad, and Alternate Executive Directors Rene Legrand, Iqbal Mahmood, Richard Sisson, Christina Wedekull and Guoqi Wu. This is the Board’s fifth visit to Nepal, the last being in June 2008.

ADB’s Board of Directors supervises financial statements, approve the Bank’s administrative budget, and review and approve all policy documents, and all loan, equity, and technical assistance operations.