Kathmandu [Nepal], October 8 – Australia has announced an additional A$15 million in assistance for flood and disaster-affected communities in Nepal bringing its total commitment for emergency response and early recovery to A$26 million.
Australian Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong announced the new funding during a meeting with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal in Melbourne on Thursday. The additional assistance will focus on relief and early recovery efforts following the devastating floods.
Wong expressed sympathy for families and communities affected by the disaster and said Australia would continue to support Nepal’s recovery and reconstruction efforts.
The two ministers also discussed climate change, with Khanal highlighting the shared risks faced by Nepal and Pacific countries. He called for stronger cooperation on climate adaptation, early warning systems, disaster risk reduction and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Khanal also sought greater cooperation in education including the establishment of Australian-recognised technical and vocational education and training institutions and possible satellite campuses of Australian universities in Nepal.
The two sides discussed expanding economic cooperation in trade, foreign investment, technology transfer, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, tourism and labour mobility.
They also discussed establishing direct air connectivity between Nepal and Australia which they said could strengthen tourism, trade, investment and people-to-people ties.
The ministers agreed to maintain regular high-level exchanges and work to translate bilateral understandings into concrete outcomes.
