Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha Leaves for Bangkok to Attend Regional Conference
Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has departed for Bangkok, Thailand, to participate in the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, where he is expected to raise issues related to disaster early warning systems, satellite data access and climate compensation.
Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has left for Bangkok to attend the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). Minister Shrestha is scheduled to address the conference on Wednesday. He will also speak on Thursday at a workshop titled “From the Himalayas to the Oceans: Lessons from Nepal’s Bhotekoshi–Trishuli Incident on Preventing Cascading Disasters in the Asia-Pacific Region.” The workshop is being jointly organized by Thailand, Nepal and UN ESCAP. According to his Chief Personal Secretary, Sanjiv Maharjan, the minister will raise key issues, including disaster early warning systems, free access to regional satellite data and climate loss and damage compensation. Shrestha is also scheduled to hold sideline meetings with ministers from various countries during the conference. The Nepali delegation includes Archana Shrestha, Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology; Devchandra Gadtoula, a ministry branch officer; and Ankita Shah, a climate, disaster resilience and international development expert and board member of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre. Minister Shrestha is scheduled to return to Nepal on Saturday.