Nepal seeks labour pact with Kuwait *.

KATHMANDU, MAY 12 - Nepal has made an official request to Kuwait for signing a labour agreement in view of increasing Nepali migrant workers' population in the country, which is considered one of the most favoured foreign employment destinations.
During official talks with Mohammad Ahmad Al-Mujrin Al-Roomi, directorof the Asia Department at the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry, in Kathmandu on Friday, Nepal forwarded the proposal. Roomi is in Nepal leading a four-member team. "We asked the visiting Kuwaitis to sign a labour agreement as soon as possible," said Arjun Bahadur Thapa, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "We are seeking two pacts under the proposed agreement that would cover corporate and domestic sectors that most Nepalis opt for in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti side asked us to send a draft of the proposed agreement assuring us of a positive consideration."
Currently, Kuwait is hosting around 600,000 Nepalis in various sectors. During the meeting, Thapa, who is acting Foreign Secretary, asked Kuwaiti officials to open their residential mission in Kathmandu. "We also sought visa fee exemption for Nepali diplomatic and official passport bearers. According to their suggestion, we will make a request in this regard soon," said Thapa.
The Kuwaiti delegation also held talks with Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Baskota on Friday. "During the meeting, Baskota invited investments in sectors of tourism, infrastructure-building, hydropower and agriculture at this opportune time," said Thapa.
The Kuwait Fund is said to have approved a soft loan of US$ 30 million to construct the 30 megawatt Budhi Ganga hydropower project in westernNepal. “We have just received the approval letter for the loan from the Kuwait Fund,” he said. During then Finance Minister Barsaman Pun's recent visit to Kuwait, Nepal had asked Kuwaiti authorities for such a loan.
Officials from both the sides also discussed beginning direct air link between their Capitals. The Kuwaitis held talks with Mohan Krishna Sapkota, joint-secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation. "Kuwait and Nepal signed an air service agreement in 1999, which is still inactive. Now both the sides are positive about starting direct air service between their two Capitals," said Thapa.
Also discussed was activating a joint commission agreed to set up at theforeign ministers level. In January last year, Nepal and Kuwait signed an agreement to establish a joint commission to cover bilateral relations.
The Kuwait Fund agreed last year to provide financial aid of Rs 52 millionto carry out the feasibility study of the proposed Sitapaila-Dharke road. During their five-day stay, the team will meet members of Nepal-Kuwait Chamber and Commerce on Sunday.http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/05/12/top-story/nepal-seeks-labour-pact-with-kuwait/353795.html

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