April 28: The government, during the prime minister’s state visit to India, is making preparations to sign an agreement with the southern neighbour to allow seamless operation of the digital wallets registered in the two countries.

During the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Nepali delegation will also raise the issue of air routes for the international airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa and the issue of the 136-kilometer long Kathmandu-Raxaul railway. The government is also preparing to sign an agreement to trade electricity.

Nepal is preparing a proposal to request New Delhi to give Nepal an air route through Mahendranagar. A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that additional agenda is being discussed with other ministries and the draft will be finalized soon.

Nepal will also seek an increase in financial assistance provided by India in order to reduce the financial crisis in the country. In recent years, India has been gradually cutting down the subsidies, and the finance ministry officials have decided to draw India’s attention towards it.

The political adviser to the prime minister Haribol Gajurel said that necessary homework is being done to raise economic and political issues during the visit.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating the matter and setting the agenda. Gajurel says that there is a strong possibility that the visit will take place within a fortnight.

A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Foreign Minister NP Saud is making the necessary preparations for Dahal's visit within a fortnight considering the elections in India.

Former Nepalese Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay says that economic issues should be raised with priority during the prime minister's visit. According to him, the trade deficit has increased considerably.

“There is a lot of talk about reducing the trade deficit. However, India has not paid attention to it,” said Upadhyaya adding that Nepal should take up the issue with vigor.

According to former Ambassador Upadhyay, the issue of energy trade should also be raised during the upcoming high-level visit.

“Nepal has not been able to export electricity to other markets due to India's obstruction. It is necessary to show the will to raise such issues during the visit," he added.

Some of the earlier agreements with India have not yet been implemented, so experts suggest that those issues should be raised during the prime minister's visit.

In the fiscal year 2072-73, India had made a commitment to provide Rs 7.59 billion for the upgradation of roads in the Terai region. The amount committed by India has not been released yet. Even the financial assistance promised by India for the post-earthquake reconstruction has not yet come as per the commitment.