Kathmandu-Prime Minister Balen Shah  held his first solo talks with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda  on Tuesday.

The meeting took place  at the Office of the Prime Minister and  Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar. The meeting focused on good governance promotion, economic  growth , and infrastructure projects, as per the  administrative of the PMO. 

 It is the first visit by the head of Nepal's largest development partner in nearly 15 years.

On Monday, he also met  Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle.

During the meeting, Dr. Wagle expressed his appreciation to President Kanda for the Asian Development Bank’s continued support and investment in Nepal’s development. He also requested ADB’s sustained cooperation in the years ahead.

President Kanda, in response, reaffirmed that partnering with Nepal for its development remains one of the Asian Development Bank’s top priorities.

In addition, Kanda visited the load dispatch center of the Nepal Electricity Authority, a project supported by ADB financing.

Two financing agreements  have been expected to be signed during the visit. The ADB will provide a US$50 million loan for the Customs Modernization Project and US$115 million for the Integrated Water Supply and Sewerage Management (Regional) Project.

Beyond project financing, discussions are also expected to cover broader policy issues. Kanda is likely to outline the ADB's investment priorities and strategic direction for member countries, including Nepal, during his meetings with the country's leadership.