Jagdishor Panday
Washington DC, November
The USA official said they have focus in the field of power, road and transmission lines project in Nepal. Speaking with the journalist from South Asian during the ‘Amplifying the Indo-Pacific Strategy’ programme here, Alice G. Wells, Principal Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of South and Central Asia for the USA, said in the field of road, power and transmission line sectors the USA has helped Nepal around 500 million dollars.
“In the Million Challenge Cooperation projects we have Nepal in the field of power, roads and transmission lines,” she said. She said the USA has focused on humanitarian and disaster management crisis. Nepal and USA have several joint programmes including joint military drills on humanitarian and disaster management crisis.
She also said the USA and Nepal have historic relation and the USA always wants to work with Nepal and help Nepal.
Nepal also can take benefit from the ‘Built Act’ programme which is created by the USA on the basis of the new International Development Finance Corporation. The USA has come up with 60 billion dollars ‘Built Act’.
It came as strategically to counter Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI) in the Indo-Pacific region. Nepal is also the part of BRI and the USA also wanted to engage Nepal through IDFC.
The USA has already given big concern on it. “Two weeks ago my President (Donald Trump) signed Build Act, and under it, we are creating new international development Finance Corporation. That would have $ 60 billion and investment capacity. In financial supports, there is European Investment bank, Australian, Japanese and we are negotiating with Indian,” Wells said, adding, to work in security as well as peace and prosperity, State Secretary Pompeo has already announced $300 million for additional funds in Indio-Pacific region.
Pompeo launched new initiatives in infrastructure, energy and digital economy. “Help private investor and partners to invest. This is first ever contribution to the Indian Ocean renunciation,” she said.
She said the USA’s broader approach to the Indo Pacific region is deeply engaged with counties. “President Trump lunches all of government standard engagement, free and open, and operate on rule base system.” She said, adding, deeply invested in the region from the USA.
“We know the countries in the regional economic first so have we. Our trading Indo-Pacific region in trade 1.8 trillion dollars in two ways last years. With the largest source of investment, Foreign Direct investment of US last year have reached 940 billion dollar which is double in the last decade,” she said. She said there should be market driven, transparent and financially sustainable work. “There should be the proper environment for private sectors,” she added.
Mentioning South Asian countries including Nepal and other countries in the world who are getting support from China, the USA has said the Chinese investment has harmed the countries than help. In the name of Belt and Road initiatives, China has announced 26 trillion dollars projects. China has been working in 138 countries till now.
“There we can see undermining the sovereignty of the country,” she said, adding, Chinese investment pull countries in debts.
The Hambantota port, which was built by Chinese and later took over for a lease from the Sir Lankan government for 99 years, is the key concern in Washington DC. Also mentioning Malaysia’s Chinese investment, Wells said sovereignty is also the main concern of the counties. She also said there should be transparent and open competition while investing for the projects.