KATHMANDU, June 29 - Australian ambassador to Nepal, Graeme Lade, said on Saturday that Australian government is mulling to double its aid to Nepal in the next few years.

Talking to the Post, the envoy said his country is currently reviewing the aid program provided to various countries, including Nepal. “We have been reviewing our aid program not just on Nepal but other countries in general. And we are looking at doubling our aid efforts in the next few years,” he said.

The envoy said the Australian assistance would be focused on poverty alleviation and other basic services. “For Nepal we have decided that our focus would be on health, education, poverty alleviation and some components on governance sector,” he added.

The envoy also informed that works on West Seti Hydro Project, which is being developed by Australian engineering giant– Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC), would start after this monsoon.

“We are hoping that we can actually start working after the monsoon. It´s been a long process,” he said. The project, with estimated investment of US$ 1.2 billion, is the largest single foreign investment so far in Nepal.

Speaking on the sideline of a function organized by Australian Students Alumni Association in the Embassy, he also expressed confidence that the start of West Seti would greatly help attract foreign investment in Nepal. “I think SMEC project is very important. If it gets started, it would show that big project is possible in Nepal,” he said, adding: “And it will encourage other projects not just for Australian Companies but for other foreign companies as well.”

Lade expressed satisfaction that a large number of people, who studied in Australia and returned home, are contributing to all-round of development in Nepal. “It´s very important that we keep this flow going so that people can come back as you all have to contribute to the development of your country,” he further said. “I would hope that your example can encourage other Nepalese students going Australia for study and coming back to contribute to development in Nepal.”

Currently, some 11,000 Nepali students are studying in various Australian universities. The number of Nepali students going to Australia for study stood well over 7,000 last year alone.

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