Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Shri Shankar Prasad Sharma, paid a courtesy visit to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, in Gandhinagar, marking an important step toward strengthening bilateral engagement between Nepal and the state of Gujarat.
During the meeting, both leaders held wide-ranging discussions on enhancing cooperation across key sectors, with tourism emerging as a major area of mutual interest. Ambassador Sharma lauded Gujarat’s rapid development and world-class tourism infrastructure, developed under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He noted that Gujarat’s effective governance and sustainable planning have successfully positioned the state as a global tourism destination.
The discussions on tourism focused on leveraging the deep cultural and religious ties shared by Nepal and Gujarat. Both sides explored opportunities to promote spiritual tourism, heritage circuits, and people-to-people exchanges, aimed at benefiting travelers while boosting local economies in both regions.
Beyond tourism, the dialogue also covered potential collaboration in information technology, manufacturing, hydroelectric power, and education. Gujarat’s strong industrial ecosystem and Nepal’s rich natural resource base were identified as complementary strengths that could support long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel highlighted Gujarat’s iconic attractions, including the Statue of Unity, the Great Rann of Kutch, and prominent pilgrimage destinations such as Somnath and Dwarka. He also emphasized Gujarat’s growing leadership in emerging sectors such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Senior officials from both sides were present at the meeting, underscoring its strategic importance. The engagement is expected to further deepen India–Nepal relations, encourage investment, and open new avenues for tourism growth and economic cooperation in the years ahead.
