Koshi Province CM meets Israel’s ambassador to boost agricultural cooperation
MORANG: Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki and Israel’s Ambassador to Nepal, Shmulik Arie Bass, held a meeting today at the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers in Biratnagar, Morang district.
Chief Minister Karki said Nepal and Israel share a historic friendship and emphasised the need to strengthen ties between the two countries.
He highlighted ongoing cooperation in agriculture, labour, employment and health, noting that many Nepalis work in Israel as caregivers and in the agricultural sector, and called for better organisation of this workforce.
Appreciating Israel’s innovation, technology transfer and advanced agricultural techniques, the Chief Minister said the Koshi provincial government stood ready to collaborate and that the province boasts significant agricultural potential.
He outlined provincial initiatives to promote youth entrepreneurship in agriculture through subsidies and other schemes, and said that providing farmers with knowledge and practical training would boost economic growth.
Karki proposed collaboration between the Israeli government and Manmohan Technical University at Budhiganga, the Gauradaha Agriculture Campus in Jhapa, and other agricultural institutes across the province.
He also requested the ambassador’s assistance in securing the release of Nepali youth Bipin Joshi, who is believed to be held by Hamas.
Ambassador Bass said Nepal and Israel enjoy deep, enduring relations dating back to the era of the first democratically elected Prime Minister, BP Koirala. He noted opportunities for Nepali workers in caregiving and agriculture and expressed Israel’s readiness to coordinate efforts with the Koshi provincial government.
He expressed concern that, although more than 50 per cent of Nepal’s population is engaged in agriculture, the sector’s progress remains below expectations, unlike in Israel, where a smaller proportion of the population works in agriculture yet achieves remarkable results.
The Israeli envoy called for harnessing innovation and new technologies in agriculture to deliver better outcomes.
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