MoIC preparing to get a strategic partner: Minister Basnet

KATHMANDU, Oct 30: Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet said that the Ministry was preparing to get a strategic partner for the telecommunications sector in the country.

The government aims to achieve the goal of ‘Digital Nepal’ by 2027.

Talking to journalists following a courtesy meeting with a Japanese delegation led by Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Masashi Ogawa, in the capital on Monday, Minister Basnet said that discussion to get a strategic partner for the telecommunications sector of the country was held with the Japanese delegation.

Stating that the telecommunications sector has made significant contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country, Minister Basnet reaffirmed that the government had attached high priority to the development of telecommunication sector.

Japanese envoy to Nepal Masashi Ogawa and Global Business Sector of KDDI Corporation CEO Hiroyuki Shisho, among others expressed their interests to be a strategic partner to Nepal’s telecommunications sector and made the proposal for the same, according to the MoIC.

The Ministry has already launched a pilot project in 14 districts of all provinces where free internet services, free computer and printer services in community schools are available.

The government aims to implement computer course in all community schools across the country within three years.

According to Minister Basnet, having a strategic partner in telecommunication system and by adopting modern technologies would help Nepal surmount the geographical challenges as well as natural disasters.

Basnet also shared that the government was preparing to print currencies note, national identity card and passport in the country. RSS