Nepal, Germany mark 50 years of technical cooperation

KATHMANDU: Nepal and Germany marked the golden jubilee of technical cooperation with the theme ‘Woven through time, shaping tomorrow together’ at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) premises in Lalitpur on Friday. The event highlighted key milestones in energy, health and sustainable economic development through German–Nepal technical collaboration.

The partnership, which began with Bhaktapur’s heritage preservation in the early 1970s, has expanded through GIZ’s work in infrastructure and urban development, industrial and entrepreneurial development, agriculture and forest management, peacebuilding and conflict transformation, and post‑earthquake reconstruction. It has grown into one of Nepal’s longest‑standing international collaborations in energy, health and sustainable economic development.

Chief guest at the event, Minister for Finance Rameshore Prasad Khanal, described the 50‑year partnership between Nepal and GIZ as a story of trust, cooperation and shared aspirations. “It is a great privilege for me, on behalf of the Government of Nepal, to join in celebrating 50 years of GIZ’s dedicated service to our country. This milestone is evidence of what long‑term cooperation, mutual respect and a shared vision can achieve,” said Minister Khanal.

Reflecting on GIZ’s contributions over the decades, he added, “GIZ has been more than a development agency; it has been a committed partner in Nepal’s pursuit of sustainable growth, social inclusion and the well‑being of our people.” The minister also called for deeper future collaboration in renewable energy, public health, decentralisation, sustainable infrastructure, inclusive economic growth and improved revenue systems.

He concluded with a message of appreciation and commitment on behalf of the Government of Nepal, “I express our deepest gratitude to GIZ and our German partners. Let this golden jubilee be a renewed beginning, a call to collaboration, shared purpose and continued progress toward a greener, healthier and more equitable Nepal.”

In his address, German Ambassador to Nepal Udo Eugen Volz reflected on the origins of the partnership with the restoration of Bhaktapur and its development project by project. He underlined how the past 50 years have transformed the cooperation: “What started with restoring temples now provides digital solutions. What began with preserving the past now includes preparing for the future,” he added.

Paulina Campos Monteros, Country Representative of GIZ Nepal, said: “We see ourselves as facilitators and long‑term partners, bringing technical expertise and practical solutions, developed hand‑in‑hand with government, civil society, the private sector and communities. Our role is to connect actors, support innovation and help turn ideas into systems that last.”

The programme included a panel discussion reflecting on 50 years of the Germany–Nepal partnership and outlining the vision for future cooperation. Panellists emphasised the importance of local ownership, inclusive partnerships and long‑term commitment to achieve sustainable results for communities across Nepal.

Over the years, German development cooperation has evolved into several organisations — GIZ, which is celebrating 50 years of technical cooperation in Nepal; KfW Development Bank, a German financial cooperation; and PTB, supporting quality assurance across sectors. Each organisation brings its own expertise, but all share an approach based on mutual respect, collaboration and shared progress in Nepal.

Government partners, development stakeholders, longstanding collaborators and officials from civil society and the private sector attended the event.