The World Bank Country Director for Nepal and Bangladesh Ms. Ellen Goldstein met Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai at his office today.


Ms. Goldstein congratulated Prime Minister Bhattarai on the signing of the Seven Point Agreement between the major political parties on November 1.  “We in the international community admire the statesmanship you have demonstrated in working with the other political parties to advance the peace process,” said Ms. Goldstein.


Ms. Goldstein said the World Bank stands ready to help Nepal keep the momentum.  “We at the World Bank have long held the view that Nepal needs to come to early closure on the outstanding issues of peace and constitution writing in order to get on a path of accelerated development,” she said.  “We would like to support you in addressing short-run economic challenges in the areas of fiscal management and the financial sector,” she added.


Ms. Goldstein also introduced Ms. Tahseen Sayed, the World Bank’s new Country Manager for Nepal, to Prime Minister Bhattarai.  While Ms. Goldstein is based in Dhaka, Ms. Sayed will provide leadership to the Bank’s day to day operations in Nepal out of the Kathmandu Office starting on January 15, 2012.