Deputy Director General of Asian Development Bank (ADB) South Asia Department Sultan Hafeez Rahman will arrive in Kathmandu on Friday for a 6-day official visit, as ADB's news release said on Thursday.

Rahman will discuss Nepal's situation, and plans for accelerating development activities, which have been suffering due to the conflict, with all stakeholders.

Rahman will also congratulate the Government and others in person for reaching a negotiated peace. "ADB is very pleased that peace has been finally achieved," he said from ADB headquarters in Manila. "The mood in the country is upbeat because of the peace accord and I hope that it will be implemented sincerely in line with aspirations of all Nepalis for peace and prosperity".

He will meet with the Finance Minister, Minister of Housing and Physical Planning, Chief Secretary, other senior Government officials and representatives of other development agencies to discuss ADB's support to Nepal in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process with the Government and other development partners.

ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region. Established in 1966, it is owned by 66 members, among which 46 are from the region. In 2005, it approved loans and grants for projects totaling 6.95 billion U.S. dollars, and technical assistance amounting to 198.8 million U.S. dollars.

Source: Xinhua