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NIFRA signs MoU with SMEC to Develop Smart City in Panchkhal

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NIFRA signs MoU with SMEC to Develop Smart City in Panchkhal
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February 16: Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA) and SMEC International Private Limited, a Singapore-based global urban infrastructure consulting firm, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Kathmandu on Tuesday (February 15) for the development of a smart city in Panchkhal Municipality.

Chief Executive Officer of NIFRA Ram Krishna Khatiwada and Country Head of SMEC Salim Jahan Fahim signed the MoU on behalf of their respective agencies amidst a function here, according to a statement issued by NIFRA.

The SMEC and NIFRA will collaborate with each other to conduct the preliminary studies, initial structuring of project and to exchange best practices on the development of smart cities, the statement added.

NIFRA said it will provide necessary facilitation and other services to SMEC during the engagement period. Similarly, NIFRA will arrange necessary financing in coordination with other stakeholders as a lead financer for the development of the Smart City after completion of required studies, designs and legal structuring of the project.

According to the statement, Panchkhal Municipality has taken the lead in securing the required land in coordination with landowners in the municipality. Panchkhal Smart City, the first of its kind in Nepal, covers an area of around 5500 ropanis. NIFRA has signed a separate MoU with Panchkhal Muncipality for the development of the smart city.

Meanwhile, NIFRA has signed a contract with a US-based consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants Private Limited for market study of the proposed Smart City. The company is scheduled to submit its report within eight weeks, outlining viability and broader opportunities of the project.

During Tuesday’s signing ceremony, CEO of NIFRA Ram Krishna Khatiwada reiterated the bank’s commitment for developing the next generation smart city in Nepal. He added that the collaboration with the globally renowned infrastructure development consultant will certainly help to materialize this vision to develop the first smart city in Nepal which will be a model for replicating in other parts of the country.

Mohiuddin Mahmud, Deputy Chief Operating Officer for South Asia and Central Asia, of SMEC said the professional experience of SMEC and SJ in developing smart cities will be instrumental for development of the Panchkhal Smart city soon.

 

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