NEPAL'S willingness to export power to Bangladesh and its offer of setting up a power plant as a joint venture holds tremendous potential for us. Of the country's total hydropower potential of 83,000MW, 42.000MW is economically exploitable, while Bangladesh's 5.000MW of electricity covers only half of its over 16 crore population. Cooperation from Kathmandu could well help meet the power needs of our country.

Inter-basin cooperation between countries such as India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal would result in greater electricity generation to meet the countries' needs, underpinned by an ecological balance beneficial to all. It could even extend to region-wide drought, flood and land erosion measures.

With regard to transit, Nepal has expressed interest in transporting goods from Mongla Port in Bangladesh, but which covers 17 kilometres of Indian territory. India has been forthcoming at times but less so at others in terms of providing bilateral and trilateral transit. This should be done within the ambit of Saarc cooperation. For the greater good, India should come out of its wavering position and play a cooperative and effective role which would smoothen the path towards materialisation of such projects. Such multilateral cooperation can be of great advantage to all parties involved.

In the case of bodies like Saarc, such cooperation between member countries can only serve to strengthen these organisations and reap benefits for all concerned nations if they can take a reciprocal and united stand. For greater progress in the sub-continent, the nations must come forward with their own needs and also come together in seeking out understanding and negotiating on mutually beneficial ones. With the right intentions and goals set, intelligent diplomacy should lead to better