Hydropower development top agenda at FNCCI AGM

Hydropower development will be the main agenda in the 47th annual general meeting (AGM) to be held on Wednesday.
“Our priority at this moment is ´hydropower development´. We are taking it forward through our upcoming AGM,” Suraj Vaidya, president of FNCCI, said. "During the AGM, we will seek commitment from the political parties on hydropower development.”
He also informed that FNCCI has developed a hydropower development strategy document which will be unveiled during the AGM. Vaidya, however, didn´t divulge details of the document.
"We have invited most of the political parties to our AGM. This is the first time we are seeking political commitment on a particular issue," Vaidya added. We can´t be specific and ask political leaders to take forward a particular project. But we want some large scale hydropower projects to be developed in the country at any cost."
Bhawani Rana, vice president of FNCCI, said Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of UCPN (Maoist); Sushil Koirala, president of Nepali Congress; Jhalanath Khanal, president of CPN (UML); Bijaya Gachchhadar, president of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum - Democratic; Surya Bahadur Thapa, president of Rastriya Janashakti Party; and Mahantha Thakur, president of Terai Madhes Democratic Party, among other leaders will sign the document.
Vaidya said experts from power developers having interest in Nepal are also attending the AGM.
Dr Lu Guojun, assistant president of China Three Gorges Corporation; Jean Michael, chief hydro expert from the World Bank; Richard Taylor, executive director of International Hydropower Association; and Chanththaboun Souk-Aloune, deputy director of Department of Energy Business of Laos are attending the event, according to Vaidya.
The AGM will also see participation of Harvinder Manocha, vice president of GMR Enegry; Yongping Zhai, director of South Asia Energy Division of Asian Development Bank; and Raghuveer Y Sharma, chief investment officer of International Finance Corporation (IFC).