Kathmandu, May 20 : China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd., the contractor for the construction of Pokhara Regional International Airport in Pokhara, Nepal, has strongly refuted allegations presented in the “On-site Study and Monitoring Report of Pokhara Regional International Airport,” calling it factually inaccurate and inconsistent with the realities of the project.
The report, recently released by a parliamentary fact-finding sub-committee under the Public Accounts Committee of Nepal’s House of Representatives, claimed massive irregularities during the airport’s construction. The committee estimated that over Rs 10 billion were embezzled during the execution of the project. Nepal received loans from China for the construction of the airport.
In response, CAMC issued an official statement today expressing serious concerns over the report’s findings. The company dismissed the conclusions as “one-sided and not based on facts,” alleging a lack of professional scrutiny and objective analysis of the project’s full implementation process.
“Throughout the project implementation, the Nepali third-party supervision company, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of Finance duly reviewed and approved the project documents in accordance with the relevant procedures,” the statement read.
Addressing tax-related allegations, the company emphasized that it strictly adhered to the tax exemption provisions under the Implementation Agreement signed by the governments of Nepal and China. It stated that tax exemptions for government-to-government cooperative projects are an internationally accepted norm.
CAMC also asserted that it followed Nepalese government protocols for submission and approval of Master Lists for tax-exempt equipment and construction materials, maintaining complete documentation throughout the process.
“The report lacks professional research and objective analysis, which we find profoundly shocking and gravely concerning,” the company said. “As a professional and responsible international engineering contractor, we fully complied with all legal and regulatory requirements throughout the bidding, contracting, and implementation phases.”
The statement further noted that the project was completed successfully in March 2022, overcoming significant challenges including difficult geography, inflation, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Following joint inspection and acceptance by both governments, the project was officially handed over to Nepal on December 29, 2022. Commercial operations at the airport commenced on January 1, 2023.
According to CAMC, the airport has since maintained 28 consecutive months of stable operation, with passenger throughput exceeding its designed capacity: 904,771 in 2023 and 989,852 in 2024. The company emphasized that no safety or quality incidents have occurred since the airport’s inauguration.
CAMC also highlighted its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibilities. It cited local procurement, training of Nepalese engineers, job creation, and support for community projects such as road repairs, school donations, free medical camps, and sports sponsorships.
In conclusion, CAMC called on Nepalese authorities to investigate what it described as the unauthorized disclosure of the report and to take steps to correct the record. “We respectfully request clarification of the inaccurate contents and restoration of the truth,” the company stated. #nepal #china #CAMC #PAC
