India offers USD 250 mn, foodgrains to Nepal

New Delhi, Feb 16 (PTI) Reaching out to Nepal, India
Tuesday offered to it foodgrains and a soft loan of USD 250
million and the two countries signed four pacts, including one
on opening up air traffic and another on building of railway
infrastructure at five border points.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also offered India's
assistance in Nepal's peace process and Constitution-drafting
which he hoped would be concluded within the stipulated time.
Singh, who held detailed discussions on the peace
process in that country and the bilateral relations with
visiting Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, underlined the
"special" and "unique" relationship between the two
neighbours.
During the talks, India offered USD 250 million in soft
loan through EXIM bank to Nepal.
It also offered 50,000 tonnes of wheat, 20,000 tonnes of
rice and 10,000 tonnes of yellow peas to Nepal to enable it
meet food shortage, sources said.
India expressed readiness to give 2,000 tonnes of wheat
more, if required.
Yadav expressed gratitude to India for its consistent
support, they said.
After the talks, the two countries signed a revised Air
Services Agreement, that will open up air traffic between the
two countries with a total 'open sky' arrangement in cargo
operations and substantially higher number of passenger
flights. (MORE) PTI