How Nepal became easy prey for China's predatory infrastructure deals
Summary
Pokhara airport's controversy exposes how Chinese infrastructure deals in Nepal facilitate political corruption and long-term dependency through complex financial arrangements like PPPs.
Key Points
- Pokhara airport scandal reveals collusion between Chinese contractors and Nepalese political elites.
- Chinese infrastructure projects use government-to-government tied loans and turnkey contracts that create dependency.
- Public Private Partnership (PPP) models in Nepal often enable corruption due to weak oversight and politicized institutions.
- Recommendations include independent feasibility studies, open tenders, strong regulators, and genuine accountability for infrastructure deals.
