KATHMANDU: Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, has stressed on decisive role of local governments in international partnership and investment programmes.

Speaking at Cities and Regions for International Partnership Forum 2025 organised at the European Union headquarters, Brussels from December 8-10, she expressed the view that the participation of local governments should be powerful and decisive in such programmes, according to Dangol’s Secretariat.

“Development projects should be connected to local social and cultural norms and values to ensure sustainability. Local governments should be included from the project-design phase ensuring real ownership and meaningful participation,” argued Deputy-Mayor Dangol.

She argued that local governments are primary partners, not last-minute stakeholders, in international investment programmes.

The programme was focused on the issue of localization of ‘Global Gateway’ investment strategy. Representatives from EU member states, partner countries and local governments had participated in the programme.

Mayor of Chandragiri municipality, Ghanshyam Giri, and Mayor of Birendranagar municipality, Mohanmaya Dhakal (Bhandari) had also joined Deputy-Mayor Dangol in the programme.