Energy Minister Shrestha Heads to Bangkok for Space Technology Summit

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, departed for Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday to participate in the fifth ministerial conference on space applications for sustainable development. The event is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

According to reports from Nagarik News, Gorkhapatra, Onlinekhabar, and Nepal Press, Minister Shrestha is scheduled to address the conference on Wednesday. His visit aims to leverage international cooperation for Nepal's disaster management and climate resilience efforts.

Focus on Disaster Resilience and Satellite Tech

Beyond the primary conference, the Minister will address a workshop on Thursday titled "From Sagarmatha to the Seas: Lessons from Nepal's Bhote Koshi-Trishuli Events for Preventing Cascading Disasters in the Asia-Pacific Region." This session is being co-hosted by Thailand, Nepal, and UNESCAP.

Sanjiv Maharjan, the Minister’s chief personal secretary, stated that Shrestha intends to advocate for several key regional initiatives during his visit. These include the implementation of advanced disaster early warning systems, the provision of free access to regional satellite data, and discussions regarding climate loss and damage compensation.

Diplomatic Engagements

In addition to his scheduled addresses, Minister Shrestha is expected to hold a series of sideline meetings with his counterparts from other nations to discuss regional cooperation.

Minister Shrestha is accompanied by a delegation that includes Archana Shrestha, Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology; Dev Chandra Gartaula, an officer from the Ministry; and Ankita Shah, a board member of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre who also serves as an expert in climate, disaster resilience, and international development.

The Minister is expected to return to Nepal this Saturday.