Nepal’s Role as Bridge Between Russia, India, and China

Chaudhary expressed his optimism about the recent high-level discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, which reaffirmed the two countries’ intent to deepen economic ties.

Chaudhary highlighted the potential for both the private and public sectors to collaborate, especially in the energy sector.

"I think there is a lot of resources lying around, both intellectual, technological as well as financial, which Russia is looking forward to investing in the region. I feel that the power sector is a natural area. And given the strong bilateral relationship between India and Russia, I think if there is a large Russian project to be developed here, I'm sure Indians would be more than keen to buy the energy," Binod Chaudhary told Sputnik India.

Furthermore, Chaudhary noted that Russia’s advanced IT infrastructure could benefit Nepal, positioning the country as a hub for cost-effective, energy-backed data centers.

Multilateral Synergies

By utilizing Nepal’s vast hydropower resources, the countries could jointly develop infrastructure and power projects that benefit all parties involved

"I see that there can be very conveniently the trilateral or even multilateral relationships whereby Nepal becomes the hub to generate the power. And Russian investment can come into, including technology and equipment, which will also help Russian economy, and they may be able to generate together. Nepal and Russia may generate power, and it can be sold to India," Chaudhary said.

Power Sector

When asked about specific sectors for trilateral collaboration, Chaudhary highlighted the energy sector as a focal point. He pointed to an agreement between India and Nepal to develop 10,000 MW of power projects, with several projects already underway.

Chaudhary sees the potential for Russian investment, both in technology and infrastructure, to play a crucial role in supporting these initiatives. With transmission lines under construction and Nepal beginning to export power to Bangladesh, the energy collaboration between the three countries could help secure the region’s energy future.

Economic Opportunities Beyond Energy

Beyond the power sector, Chaudhary also sees substantial opportunities for Nepal in industries like IT, agriculture, and tourism. He noted that India’s IT sector is globally competitive, while Russia’s technological advancements could complement Nepal’s cost-effective services.

The idea is for Nepal to serve as a base for IT operations, offering a conducive environment for businesses looking to expand in the region.

"India is a big hub for IT software, and I think India has gone all over the world. And I think some of the companies of India are world class. Likewise, Russian involvement in the IT sector is at the next level. I think Russia can play a very significant role in creating big installations with data center and with many other forms of IT-related, both hardware and software-related businesses," Chaudhary said.

Chaudhary also stressed the importance of India’s "Neighborhood First" policy, which needs to be further promoted to ease tensions and build stronger economic links between neighboring countries.

"There should be far closer ties to build jointly and collectively infrastructure projects in the benefit of the people of this region," he said.

Chaudhary emphasized that regional collaboration, particularly in infrastructure projects, could benefit the entire South Asian region. He highlighted that SAARC, as a regional grouping, has not yet fulfilled its potential and called for new forms of collaboration that go beyond traditional frameworks. A united regional approach, he argued, is necessary for South Asia to become a global powerhouse.

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25 July, 18:05