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Nepal Billionaire Seeks India's Help to Power Bangladesh Trade & Energy

Nepal's first billionaire, Binod K Chaudhary, stated that deeper economic ties between Bangladesh and Nepal, particularly in hydropower exports, are contingent on India playing a facilitative role due to geography. He highlighted Nepal's growing hydropower capacity as a specific opportunity for the Bangladeshi market, requiring Indian cooperation for transmission. Bangladesh's Environment Minister, Abdul Awal Mintoo, emphasized prioritizing regional partnerships and warned against letting politics override the economic logic of integration. Officials from both nations agreed that enhanced connectivity and business community engagement are practical steps to unlock substantial regional economic opportunities.

Key Points: India Key to Bangladesh-Nepal Energy & Trade Ties: Billionaire

  • Nepal seeks bigger economic engagement with Bangladesh
  • Hydropower exports to Bangladesh need India's transmission
  • Regional integration must override politics
  • Enhanced connectivity unlocks economic opportunities
  • Business community engagement is key vehicle
2 min read

India's role seen as vital to bolster Bangladesh-Nepal economic ties

Nepal's Binod Chaudhary says stronger Bangladesh-Nepal economic engagement in hydropower and trade depends on India's positive role and cooperation.

"without India playing a positive role, that's not going to happen - Binod K Chaudhary"

New Delhi, April 5

Nepal's first billionaire, Binod K Chaudhary, has said that Bangladesh and Nepal could strengthen economic ties in energy and cross-border trade, with closer regional cooperation involving India.

"We would like to enter into a much bigger economic engagement with Bangladesh, but without India playing a positive role, that's not going to happen," Chaudhary said on Saturday at a press conference organised by the International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICCB) in Dhaka, according to a report in The Daily Star.

Chaudhary pointed to Nepal's growing hydropower capacity as a concrete opportunity, saying the South Asian country could develop projects specifically targeting the Bangladeshi market, with India facilitating transmission.

"India's evolving stance on cross-border energy cooperation offers a window for such initiatives. This becomes necessary due to geography. As Nepal is a landlocked country, trade of this nature depends largely on India's cooperation," he noted.

Binod Chaudhary controls Nepal's CG Corp Global. The businessman made it to the Forbes billionaire list in 2013. Forbes estimates his current net worth at $2.1 billion.

Also speaking at the event, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Bangladesh's Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister, referred to classical economic theory to stress the value of neighbouring markets.

He cautioned that reliance on natural resources alone cannot be a sustainable path to growth, noting that many resource-rich countries had struggled while trade-driven economies had fared better.

The Minister also said strengthening economic ties with adjacent countries should take precedence over distant partnerships when it comes to boosting trade and long-term growth.

Political considerations should not be allowed to override the economic logic of regional integration, he added.

The Minister said enhanced connectivity, energy collaboration, and trade integration among South Asian nations could unlock substantial economic opportunities, provided countries prioritise pragmatic partnerships over political constraints.

Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari, said the two countries share similar economic challenges and aspirations, making cooperation in trade and investment both natural and necessary.

The longstanding bilateral relationship, he added, is rooted in geographic and economic interdependence, symbolically linked by rivers flowing from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal.

He identified stronger engagement between the business communities of the two countries as the practical vehicle for expanding bilateral trade.

The Ambassador said Nepal and Bangladesh have the opportunity to define their own economic trajectory through closer regional cooperation, with trade acting as the central pillar of that engagement.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally, some sensible talk about regional cooperation! For too long, politics has held back SAARC's potential. If Nepal can sell hydropower to Bangladesh via Indian grids, it's a win-win-win. Reduces Bangladesh's reliance on fossil fuels, earns Nepal forex, and strengthens our role as a responsible regional leader.
R
Rohit P
While the intent is good, we must ensure our own energy security isn't compromised. Transmission corridors through India should be managed smartly, with clear agreements. Also, hope this leads to easier transit for our goods to Bangladesh as well, not just Nepal's power.
S
Sarah B
Interesting perspective from a business leader. It's refreshing to see economic logic being prioritized. The point about rivers linking the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal is poetic but also highlights the real, physical interconnectedness. Hope the bureaucratic hurdles can be cleared for this.
K
Karthik V
This is the kind of positive regional narrative we need more of. Instead of always focusing on disputes, building these economic bridges creates mutual dependency and peace. India's role as a facilitator, not a blocker, is key. Let's hope our ministries move faster on the ground implementation.
M
Meera T
A respectful note of caution: We've heard such proposals before. The BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement has been stuck for years. Good intentions are not enough. We need decisive political will and streamlined processes to turn these words into reality. The common people in all three countries will benefit from cheaper goods and energy.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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