KATHMANDU, Jan 29: Secretary at Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sushil Ghimire has said there will be some major breakthrough in the aircraft procurement deal within 2-4 days.
“The aircraft procurement deal is in the final stage of implementation. Good news will come to you soon,” Ghimire told media persons at an interaction organized in the capital on Tuesday.
Ghimire´s statement has come exactly two months after the government signed commercial deal with Avic International of China to procure six aircraft for Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) through grant and soft loan.
He clarified that delay in procurement was because of complexities in procedure and polices which he claimed was being sorted out. “It is a matter of shame that we could not procure even a single aircraft in the past 25 years. However, the will be over now,” added Ghimire.
The government is buying two 58-seater MA 60s and four 19-seater Harbin Y-12s from Avic International. Of the six aircraft, China is providing one MA 60 and one Harbin Y-12 under grant. It has promised soft loan for the remaining four aircraft from Exim Bank of China.
Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal signed airworthiness agreement with Civil Aviation Administration of China earlier this month to pave way for the procurement.
However, loan agreement between Ministry of Finance and EXIM Bank of China is yet to be signed.
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