Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10KATHMANDU163
2010-02-24 12:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: AIRBUS DEAL IN TROUBLE, EU LOBBIES HARD
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000163
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2020
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAIR PREL NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: AIRBUS DEAL IN TROUBLE, EU LOBBIES HARD
REF: 09 KATHMANDU 1046 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Donald A. Camp. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000163
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2020
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAIR PREL NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: AIRBUS DEAL IN TROUBLE, EU LOBBIES HARD
REF: 09 KATHMANDU 1046 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Donald A. Camp. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).
1. (C) Summary. The Government of Nepal is unlikely to
guarantee the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) loan to
purchase two Airbus aircraft, according to Finance Secretary
Khanal, essentially killing the deal and reviving Boeing's
hopes to sell its aircraft to the NAC. The European Union
continues to lobby aggressively for Airbus, most recently by
sending a strongly-worded letter to the Prime Minister urging
him to complete the Airbus purchase immediately (full text in
para 8). End Summary.
Finance Ministry Against Deal
--------------
2. (C) During a February 22 meeting with Charge, Finance
Secretary Rameshwor Khanal said the internal Finance Ministry
committee reviewing the Nepal Airlines Corporation decision
to purchase two Airbus aircraft -- a narrow- and wide-body --
had completed its work. While the committee report is not
public, Khanal told Charge it concluded that the purchase of
the Airbus aircraft, particularly the wide-body, "cannot be
justified at the proposed price" (approximately USD 134
million).
3. (C) Khanal said that the Ministry of Finance decision
would likely become public within ten days, after the
committee makes some technical corrections in the report
data. Based on this report, the Ministry of Finance would
recommend against providing a sovereign loan guarantee for
the Airbus purchase. (Note: Because of the NAC's poor
financial condition, it is unlikely to be able to raise
sufficient funds privately to purchase the planes. End
note.) The Ministry of Finance would instruct the Ministry
of Tourism and Civil Aviation to cancel the Nepal Airlines
Corporation procurement, and reopen the bidding, most likely
for two narrow-body planes, which independent analysts
believe are better suited for the NAC's current and planned
routes and financial situation. Noting that the NAC fleet
currently has two Boeing 757 aircraft, Khanal said buying new
Boeing planes is logical since the NAC could use its spare
parts inventory and would not have to retrain the crews on
new equipment.
4. (C) Charge thanked the Finance Secretary for the
Ministry's careful review of the NAC purchase and reiterated
U.S. support for a transparent and fair procurement process.
He noted Boeing is ready to provide new bids quickly if the
NAC reopens bidding and does not believe the new procurement
process will unnecessarily delay the delivery of new aircraft.
5. (C) Charge also raised the Nepal Airlines procurement with
ForMin Sujata Koirala, who confined her response to the need
for new planes quickly, which we read as support for Airbus.
EU Not Giving Up
--------------
6. (C) In the face of growing concerns about the Airbus deal,
the European Union sent a strongly-worded letter to Prime
Minister Nepal on February 11, which was leaked to the press,
urging the PM to complete the deal on schedule and to resist
"undue pressure being used by opposing vested interest
groups." (Note: Post received a copy of the letter from a
source in the PM's office. End note.) The letter makes
inaccurate statements, including the claim that the Public
Accounts Committee (PAC) report does not challenge the "core"
of the deal (whereas the PAC recommends against the purchase
of the wide-body plane). It also claims that canceling the
Airbus deal would undermine the confidence of foreign
investors (whereas the suspected corruption surrounding the
Airbus deal raises serious questions about Nepal's foreign
KATHMANDU 00000163 002 OF 002
investment climate).
Comment
--------------
7. (C) The Finance Secretary's comments on the Airbus deal is
very positive news for Boeing, but Post remains cautious.
Powerful political forces, including Deputy Prime Minister
B.K. Gachchhadar, strongly support the Airbus deal. A close
Embassy contact on the PAC recently alleged that Gachchhadar
offered him a bribe to support the deal, and even threatened
the PM that he would pull his party (MPRF-D) out of
government if the Airbus deal did not go through. Post will
continue to reach out to key contacts to press for a
transparent and fair process.
Text of EU Letter
--------------
8. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF EU LETTER:
Regarding the acquisition process of two new aircraft by
Nepal Airlines (NA)
The Heads of Mission of France, Great Britain, and the
European Union delegation would like to draw the kind
attention of the Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Madhav Kumar
Nepal, and the Government of Nepal on the following points
regarding the acquisition process of two new aircraft from
Airbus by Nepal Airlines.
Airbus Industries has won an international open tender by
sealed bid for the purchases of one narrow body and one wide
body aircraft by Nepal Airlines.
Nepal urgently needs new aircraft and better access to the
European market. In this context, the choice of a wide-body
aircraft makes perfect sense and will be both instrumental
and indispensable to stop the loss of market share of Nepal
Airlines on international routes. The rationale for buying
one narrow body and one wide body aircraft have been examined
by Nepal's best trained professional minds.
The irregularities listed by the Public Account Committee
(PAC) do not concern the core of the deal. The PAC has
indeed not been able to list precise irregularities, which
implies that no serious infringement has been found.
Moreover, the PAC has actually recommended proceeding
immediately with the acquisition of new aircraft: "After
taking into accounts all the study till to date and after
discussion with entire stakeholders, it is recommended to
proceed immediately for purchasing new aircraft for NA taking
into account the need and capacity."
The Envoys would welcome legal action against the guilty
parties as warranted by law if irregularities are confirmed,
but to jeopardize the acquisition of this basis is out of
proportion. It is also self damaging for Nepal where having
a secure business operating environment to give confidence to
foreign investors is of great importance.
The tendering process has been exemplary so far. Airbus has
clearly and convincingly won with the best possible offer for
Nepal as it also has in so many other countries.
The Envoys have been made aware that undue pressure is being
used by opposing vested interests groups and strongly urge
the Government not to give in to pressure and to complete
this deal as planned in accordance with the signed contract.
Kathmandu, 11 February 2010
END TEXT
CAMP
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2020
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAIR PREL NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: AIRBUS DEAL IN TROUBLE, EU LOBBIES HARD
REF: 09 KATHMANDU 1046 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Donald A. Camp. Reasons 1.4 (b
/d).
1. (C) Summary. The Government of Nepal is unlikely to
guarantee the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) loan to
purchase two Airbus aircraft, according to Finance Secretary
Khanal, essentially killing the deal and reviving Boeing's
hopes to sell its aircraft to the NAC. The European Union
continues to lobby aggressively for Airbus, most recently by
sending a strongly-worded letter to the Prime Minister urging
him to complete the Airbus purchase immediately (full text in
para 8). End Summary.
Finance Ministry Against Deal
--------------
2. (C) During a February 22 meeting with Charge, Finance
Secretary Rameshwor Khanal said the internal Finance Ministry
committee reviewing the Nepal Airlines Corporation decision
to purchase two Airbus aircraft -- a narrow- and wide-body --
had completed its work. While the committee report is not
public, Khanal told Charge it concluded that the purchase of
the Airbus aircraft, particularly the wide-body, "cannot be
justified at the proposed price" (approximately USD 134
million).
3. (C) Khanal said that the Ministry of Finance decision
would likely become public within ten days, after the
committee makes some technical corrections in the report
data. Based on this report, the Ministry of Finance would
recommend against providing a sovereign loan guarantee for
the Airbus purchase. (Note: Because of the NAC's poor
financial condition, it is unlikely to be able to raise
sufficient funds privately to purchase the planes. End
note.) The Ministry of Finance would instruct the Ministry
of Tourism and Civil Aviation to cancel the Nepal Airlines
Corporation procurement, and reopen the bidding, most likely
for two narrow-body planes, which independent analysts
believe are better suited for the NAC's current and planned
routes and financial situation. Noting that the NAC fleet
currently has two Boeing 757 aircraft, Khanal said buying new
Boeing planes is logical since the NAC could use its spare
parts inventory and would not have to retrain the crews on
new equipment.
4. (C) Charge thanked the Finance Secretary for the
Ministry's careful review of the NAC purchase and reiterated
U.S. support for a transparent and fair procurement process.
He noted Boeing is ready to provide new bids quickly if the
NAC reopens bidding and does not believe the new procurement
process will unnecessarily delay the delivery of new aircraft.
5. (C) Charge also raised the Nepal Airlines procurement with
ForMin Sujata Koirala, who confined her response to the need
for new planes quickly, which we read as support for Airbus.
EU Not Giving Up
--------------
6. (C) In the face of growing concerns about the Airbus deal,
the European Union sent a strongly-worded letter to Prime
Minister Nepal on February 11, which was leaked to the press,
urging the PM to complete the deal on schedule and to resist
"undue pressure being used by opposing vested interest
groups." (Note: Post received a copy of the letter from a
source in the PM's office. End note.) The letter makes
inaccurate statements, including the claim that the Public
Accounts Committee (PAC) report does not challenge the "core"
of the deal (whereas the PAC recommends against the purchase
of the wide-body plane). It also claims that canceling the
Airbus deal would undermine the confidence of foreign
investors (whereas the suspected corruption surrounding the
Airbus deal raises serious questions about Nepal's foreign
KATHMANDU 00000163 002 OF 002
investment climate).
Comment
--------------
7. (C) The Finance Secretary's comments on the Airbus deal is
very positive news for Boeing, but Post remains cautious.
Powerful political forces, including Deputy Prime Minister
B.K. Gachchhadar, strongly support the Airbus deal. A close
Embassy contact on the PAC recently alleged that Gachchhadar
offered him a bribe to support the deal, and even threatened
the PM that he would pull his party (MPRF-D) out of
government if the Airbus deal did not go through. Post will
continue to reach out to key contacts to press for a
transparent and fair process.
Text of EU Letter
--------------
8. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF EU LETTER:
Regarding the acquisition process of two new aircraft by
Nepal Airlines (NA)
The Heads of Mission of France, Great Britain, and the
European Union delegation would like to draw the kind
attention of the Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Madhav Kumar
Nepal, and the Government of Nepal on the following points
regarding the acquisition process of two new aircraft from
Airbus by Nepal Airlines.
Airbus Industries has won an international open tender by
sealed bid for the purchases of one narrow body and one wide
body aircraft by Nepal Airlines.
Nepal urgently needs new aircraft and better access to the
European market. In this context, the choice of a wide-body
aircraft makes perfect sense and will be both instrumental
and indispensable to stop the loss of market share of Nepal
Airlines on international routes. The rationale for buying
one narrow body and one wide body aircraft have been examined
by Nepal's best trained professional minds.
The irregularities listed by the Public Account Committee
(PAC) do not concern the core of the deal. The PAC has
indeed not been able to list precise irregularities, which
implies that no serious infringement has been found.
Moreover, the PAC has actually recommended proceeding
immediately with the acquisition of new aircraft: "After
taking into accounts all the study till to date and after
discussion with entire stakeholders, it is recommended to
proceed immediately for purchasing new aircraft for NA taking
into account the need and capacity."
The Envoys would welcome legal action against the guilty
parties as warranted by law if irregularities are confirmed,
but to jeopardize the acquisition of this basis is out of
proportion. It is also self damaging for Nepal where having
a secure business operating environment to give confidence to
foreign investors is of great importance.
The tendering process has been exemplary so far. Airbus has
clearly and convincingly won with the best possible offer for
Nepal as it also has in so many other countries.
The Envoys have been made aware that undue pressure is being
used by opposing vested interests groups and strongly urge
the Government not to give in to pressure and to complete
this deal as planned in accordance with the signed contract.
Kathmandu, 11 February 2010
END TEXT
CAMP