Nepal's Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle called for closer economic and transport links with India at a New Delhi seminar on September 19, 2026. In an interview with Akashvani at the event, he also urged investment in early warning systems and resilient infrastructure before disasters, and thanked India for rescue and relief assistance after Nepal's recent flash floods.
The meeting was organised by Research and Information System for Developing Countries with the Delhi School of Economics. Its programme brought together policymakers, diplomats and researchers for two connected discussions: a forward-looking India-Nepal partnership and the changing international environment facing developing countries. Economic cooperation, development, strategic relations and people-to-people connections were among the announced areas of discussion.
India's Additional Secretary for the northern neighbourhood, Munu Mahawar, called for more ambitious objectives, citing progress in power and connectivity as well as projects that had remained unrealised for decades. Wagle highlighted Indian-supported energy projects and cross-border electricity trade. He said Prime Minister Balendra Shah was expected to visit India before the end of 2026; the report did not announce confirmed travel dates.
One documented project behind that energy relationship was the 900 MW Arun-3 hydroelectric scheme. On July 16, before the September seminar, India's Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal reviewed its construction in Nepal. SJVN said its wholly owned SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company was developing the scheme, with civil and electro-mechanical works inspected at the underground powerhouse at Pukhuwa.
The same delegation visited the Phaksinda dam site to examine the dam structure, water-intake arrangements and associated works. Project officials briefed it on construction packages, rehabilitation and resettlement, community programmes and environmental management. SJVN's account described an unfinished project working towards commissioning, providing a specific construction-stage example of the bilateral energy investments discussed in Delhi.
