RIYADH, 1 December 2005 — The OPEC Fund for International Development, in which Saudi Arabia is a major contributor, has approved a grant of SR1.3 million in support of an initiative that aims at providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to Nepal. This is in addition to some other aid and loan proposals being considered by the local and multilateral organizations like the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).
Referring to the grant extended for Nepal, a statement released by the OPEC Fund said here yesterday that the grant had been given in support of a scheme, created by the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This scheme is expected to reduce the incidence of water-related diseases and raise the overall quality of life. The UNICEF, in cooperation with the appropriate Nepalese ministries, will carry out works in four districts, where 350 water supply schemes will be either installed or rehabilitated, directly benefiting some 35,000 people.
Speaking on this occasion, Nepalese Ambassador Abullaish Thakurai said that “the relations between Saudi Arabia and Nepal had been progressively growing”. The SFD, on behalf of the Kingdom, also granted an SR74 million creditline facility to Nepal for an irrigation project a few years back besides three other loan facilities on previous occasions. “In fact, Saudi Arabia and Nepal enjoy excellent relations, characterized by friendship, understanding and cooperation”, said Abullaish.
The ambassador also called on the Saudi and Gulf investors to harness travel and tourism resources in Nepal especially now, when the situation there is returning to normalcy. He said that “the tourism sector had seen a considerable progress during the last few months, which was evident from the fact that that the total arrival of tourists had grown by 151 percent in the month of September compared to the same month a year before”. “Due to the significant progress in law and order situation, Nepal is now emerging as a safe and secure destination for tourists”, he said.
