Government of Nepal Reaffirms Commitment and Support to AIT

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal Hon. K. P. Sharma Oli, paid a visit to AIT on 7 February 2007 and met with the AIT President Professor Said Irandoust, Vice President for Research, Professor Sudip K. Rakshit, Dr. Nitin Afzulpurkar (representing Dean SET) together with Nepalese faculty members and staff Prof. Ram Shrestha, Prof. Gopal Thapa, Prof. Ganesh Shivakoti, Dr. Rajendra Shrestha and Dr. Ram Bhujel, Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary, and Ms. Naina Shakya, Program Officer, External Relations & Communications Office. The Minister was accompanied by Mr. Arjun Kant Mainali, Charge d' Affaires. Embassy of Nepal, who also currently represents Nepal on the AIT Board of Trustees.
 
The President provided an overview on AIT, partnership with Nepal, prospects for an AIT Center in Nepal (of interest and earlier pursued by the alumni), brief on AIT's new draft charter and ways in which there could be partnership with Nepal. Prof. Shrestha together with other faculty members highlighted AIT's role in Nepal, ways in which the government could provide moral / political support and backing for AIT through inclusion in the national agenda as a development tool and partner for the country. The President emphasized that this was even more important given the shift to increased bilateral funding to countries like Nepal by development agencies and countries. Prof. Shrestha also proposed for  further continuation and support by the government through the Nepalese local currency grant.
 
Minister Oli lauded the contribution made by AIT in the manpower development of Nepal and gave strong words of assurance and support for the strategies outlined by the President and Nepalese faculty members in establishing an AIT Center in Nepal, role of Nepal in the new governance and ownership structure of the Institute, linkages with relevant ministries and academic institutions as well support through the Nepalese local currency grant. The President’s planned visit to Nepal was welcomed by the Minister during which concrete actions on some of the areas of cooperation discussed will be further pursued.
 
During his visit the Minister also had an interaction session with the members of the AIT Nepalese community, which was participated by around  50 or so students, staff and faculty members.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal Hon. K. P. Sharma Oli, paid a visit to AIT on 7 February 2007 and met with the AIT President Professor Said Irandoust, Vice President for Research, Professor Sudip K. Rakshit, Dr. Nitin Afzulpurkar (representing Dean SET) together with Nepalese faculty members and staff Prof. Ram Shrestha, Prof. Gopal Thapa, Prof. Ganesh Shivakoti, Dr. Rajendra Shrestha and Dr. Ram Bhujel, Mr. Karma Rana, Institute Secretary, and Ms. Naina Shakya, Program Officer, External Relations & Communications Office. The Minister was accompanied by Mr. Arjun Kant Mainali, Charge d' Affaires. Embassy of Nepal, who also currently represents Nepal on the AIT Board of Trustees.
 
The President provided an overview on AIT, partnership with Nepal, prospects for an AIT Center in Nepal (of interest and earlier pursued by the alumni), brief on AIT's new draft charter and ways in which there could be partnership with Nepal. Prof. Shrestha together with other faculty members highlighted AIT's role in Nepal, ways in which the government could provide moral / political support and backing for AIT through inclusion in the national agenda as a development tool and partner for the country. The President emphasized that this was even more important given the shift to increased bilateral funding to countries like Nepal by development agencies and countries. Prof. Shrestha also proposed for  further continuation and support by the government through the Nepalese local currency grant.
 
Minister Oli lauded the contribution made by AIT in the manpower development of Nepal and gave strong words of assurance and support for the strategies outlined by the President and Nepalese faculty members in establishing an AIT Center in Nepal, role of Nepal in the new governance and ownership structure of the Institute, linkages with relevant ministries and academic institutions as well support through the Nepalese local currency grant. The President’s planned visit to Nepal was welcomed by the Minister during which concrete actions on some of the areas of cooperation discussed will be further pursued.
 
During his visit the Minister also had an interaction session with the members of the AIT Nepalese community, which was participated by around  50 or so students, staff and faculty members.