PRESS RELEASE
CIHS Hosted Interactive Session with Nepal’s Ambassador to India on Strengthening Indo-Nepal Relations
New Delhi, April 2, 2025 – The Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies (CIHS) hosted an interactive session with H.E. Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma, Ambassador of Nepal to India, at Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, New Delhi. The thought-provoking discussion on the evolving Indo-Nepal relationship brought together scholars, policymakers, and experts to explore the multifaceted ties between the two nations.
K.A. Badarinath, Chief Executive and Director at CIHS, delivered the welcome address, emphasising the civilisational, cultural, and Dharmic roots that bind India and Nepal. He highlighted the necessity of enhancing people-to-people connectivity, fostering economic and developmental collaboration, and ensuring security through shared stability to strengthen bilateral ties.
During his address, Ambassador Sharma underscored the longstanding civilisational and social connections between India and Nepal. “More than a million people from Nepal took part in the Maha Kumbh in India; Indians want to visit Pashupatinath, Muktinath, and Nepalis want to go to Char Dham. We have a deep-rooted cultural and social connection,” he remarked.
On economic ties, Ambassador Sharma highlighted that two-thirds of Nepal’s total trade is with India but pointed out the $8 billion trade deficit that Nepal faces. He emphasised the need to work towards a more balanced trade relationship. “We have been exporting 1,000 MW of electricity to India in summer, and Nepal can also export electricity to Bangladesh via India. We have started exporting 40 MW, and Bangladesh is interested in investing in Nepal’s hydropower sector,” he added, stressing the role of energy diplomacy in regional economic integration.
Tourism and financial integration also featured prominently in the discussion. “India is the number one tourist source market for us, and now, people from India can use QR codes to make payments in Nepal,” Ambassador Sharma noted, reflecting on the growing ease of economic transactions between the two nations.
CIHS remains committed to fostering meaningful discussions and research-driven policy recommendations that strengthen Indo-Nepal ties. The session underscored the critical role of civilisational diplomacy, economic engagement, and regional connectivity in shaping a resilient and forward-looking partnership between the two nations.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Rahul Pawa, Director of Research at CIHS, expressed gratitude to H.E. Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma for his invaluable insights and to the distinguished scholars for their participation. He emphasised that the Indo-Nepal relationship transcends treaties and transactions and is instead rooted in a shared civilization, culture, and spiritual heritage. “Our relationship is not just about geography but about a sacred civilisational journey that binds us through dharma, tradition, and wisdom,” he noted.
He acknowledged the renewed energy in cross-border collaboration, spanning infrastructure, education, and spiritual tourism, and stressed that the finest chapters of Indo-Nepal relations lie ahead. He reaffirmed CIHS’s commitment to strengthening this sacred bond through research, cultural dialogue, and regional cooperation, ensuring that civilisational diplomacy remains at the heart of Indo-Nepal engagement.
The event concluded on an optimistic note, with a shared vision of deepening cooperation in trade, energy, tourism, and cultural exchanges, ensuring that Indo-Nepal relations continue to thrive in the 21st century.
CIHS - Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies 