Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Lumbini Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya and the UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific and Equality Seema Malhotra held talks in Rupandehi on Saturday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the longstanding historical and friendly relations between Nepal and the United Kingdom, the development partnership, and the development priorities of Lumbini Province.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Acharya said the Lumbini Province Government was focused on sustainable, inclusive and employment-oriented economic growth. He stated that the province aims to transform its economy through the promotion of productive investment, agricultural modernisation, tourism development, industrial expansion, infrastructure construction and digital innovation.
According to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, discussions were also held on making UK support more effective, particularly in the areas of human capital development, skills enhancement, strengthening the health system, climate change adaptation, agricultural transformation, sustainable infrastructure development, good governance and digital transformation.
Chief Minister Acharya also expressed gratitude for the United Kingdom’s continued support to Nepal’s socio-economic transformation, education, health, infrastructure, disaster management and governance reforms.
Principal Secretary of Lumbini Province Krishna Prasad Kapri, Vice-Chairperson of the Provincial Planning Commission Dr Dilliraj Aryal and other officials were also present during the meeting.
According to the British Embassy in Kathmandu, Minister Malhotra saw first-hand how UK-Nepal-World Bank collaboration on archaeological surveys and physical planning, through Durham University expertise, is shaping the future of the Greater Lumbini Area: protecting heritage while unlocking sustainable tourism and jobs.
