约翰·温格尔是特朗普第二任期内首位访问尼泊尔的千禧年挑战公司高级官员
《加德满都邮报》2025年8月13日第1版
https://kathmandupost.com/national/2025/08/12/mcc-deputy-vp-arrives-in-nepal-as-us-aid-resumes
作者：阿尼尔·吉里（Anil Giri）
美国千禧年挑战公司（Millennium Challenge Corporation，简称 MCC）负责欧洲、亚洲、太平洋及拉丁美洲业务的副总裁约翰・温格尔（John Wingle）于 8 月 11 日（周一）抵达加德满都。这是美国相关援助恢复后，MCC 总部的首次高层访问。 此前，这项援助曾被唐纳德・特朗普政府暂停数月。
据尼泊尔千禧年挑战账户（Millennium Challenge Nepal Compact-Nepal，简称MCA-Nepal)高级官员向《加德满都邮报》透露，温格尔在加德满都访问期间将会晤尼泊尔副总理兼财政部长比什努·鲍德尔（Bishnu Poudel）等政府高级官员、MCA-Nepal高层及其他人士，并将出席由尼泊尔政府与MCC联合出资的两条输电线路合同签署仪式。
（注：MCC援助计划为5年，受援国需要设立专门账户“千禧年挑战账户”（Millennium Challenge Account，简称MCA) 作为运营管理机构，用于管理和分配援助资金。尼泊尔千禧年挑战账户（Millennium Challenge Account Nepal，简称MCA-Nepal ）是尼泊尔政府负责落实MCC项目的机构，其执行委员会（Executive Board）由财政部部秘（相当于副部长）担任主席）
温格尔是特朗普政府今年1月20日通过行政令宣布对美国国际开发署（USAID）、千禧年挑战公司（MCC）等对外援助项目进行审查并暂停拨款90天后，首位到访尼泊尔的MCC高级官员。特朗普政府已实质解散关键援外机构美国国际开发署，但MCC的存续前景仍不明朗。
据MCC透露，8月21日将在华盛顿召开首次董事会会议，届时可能明确MCC的未来走向。会议议程包括领导层更替、对外援助审查，以及2026财年受援国遴选标准与方法报告。该董事会由美国国务卿马尔科·鲁比奥（Marco Rubio）担任主席。
MCC在7月25日的新闻声明中表示：“针对MCC项目的对外援助审查已完成。调整后的项目组合将严格遵循特朗普政府‘美国优先’外交政策，确保该机构持续为美国创造更安全、更强大、更繁荣的环境。具体细节将在未来数周经董事会程序，并与国会及伙伴国协商后公布。”
千禧年挑战公司副总裁约翰・温格尔（John Wingle），负责监督欧洲、亚洲、太平洋及拉丁美洲业务。图片：由约翰・温格尔 / 领英(Linkedin)提供
特朗普政府7月底宣布，将延续执行尼泊尔千禧年挑战计划协议（Millennium Challenge Nepal Compact）。这项包含多个发展项目的援助计划已在尼泊尔持续引发关注逾五年之久。根据该决定，MCA Nepal将获得三年延长期，用于完成2023年8月30日生效的两个尼泊尔战略项目。此举标志着MCC项目在尼正式进入五年实施阶段。
MCA-Nepal已向媒体发出通知，将邀请媒体出席尼泊尔MCC协议框架下输电线路建设合同的签署仪式。该输电线路规划总长297公里，本次签约涉及其中两段工程，由尼泊尔政府与美国政府共同投资。
MCA-Nepal宣布，拉特马特-新达茂里输电线路标段（Ratmate-New Damauli Transmission Line）以7760万美元授予安杰利克-斯凯珀联营体（M/s Angelique-Skipper JV），新达茂里-新布德沃尔输电线路标段（New Damauli-New Butwal Transmission Line）以7703万美元授予维巴-萨拉萨尔联营体（WAIBA-SALASAR JV）。这两个标段系297公里输电线路的组成部分，合同签署后将立即启动施工。
（注：安杰利克-斯凯珀联营体（M/s Angelique-Skipper JV）由印度的安杰利克国际有限公司（Angelique International Limited）和斯凯珀工程公司（Skipper Ltd.）组成。维巴-萨拉萨尔联营体（WAIBA-SALASAR JV）由尼泊尔的威巴基础设施技术私人有限公司（Waiba Infratech Pvt. Ltd.）和印度的萨拉萨尔精工工程有限公司（Salasar Techno Engineering Ltd）组成。
安杰利克-斯凯珀联营体（M/s Angelique-Skipper JV），“M/s”是印度次大陆特有的商业称谓（Messrs的简写）。 Messrs 是法语 Messieurs（先生们的复数形式）的缩写，在英语中作为对男性群体的正式尊称，相当于中文的“诸位先生”。现代商业通用简写M/s，行业惯例中文直接省略不译。JV 是 Joint Venture（合资企业）的缩写。
安杰利克国际有限公司（Angelique International Limited）成立于1996年，现已发展成为年营业额近2.5亿美元的巨型EPC（设计采购施工）企业，在非洲、东南亚、南盟（SAARC）、中东、拉丁美洲及加勒比地区承建电力、水利、灌溉、农业领域的交钥匙工程及工业项目。
斯凯珀工程公司（Skipper Ltd.）创立于1981年，如今已发展成为输配电结构领域全球领先的输配电塔架/电杆制造商（隶属工程产品板块），聚合物领域行业头部且备受尊重的品牌，基建工程领域重大基础设施EPC项目的可靠伙伴，业务版图覆盖全球40余国，横跨南美洲、欧洲、非洲、中东、南亚、东南亚及澳大利亚。
尼泊尔威巴基础设施技术私人有限公司（Waiba Infratech Pvt. Ltd.）成立于2006年，专注于EPC（设计采购施工）服务，在输配电和水电领域拥有强大的专业知识。它是尼泊尔为数不多的专注于输配电和水电基础设施项目的EPC承包商之一。
萨拉萨尔精工工程有限公司（Salasar Techno Engineering Ltd）是一家印度企业，专注于定制化钢结构加工及基础设施解决方案。公司业务覆盖电信、输变电、太阳能及智慧城市基础设施等多个领域，产品系列齐全，包括通信塔（telecommunication towers）、输电线路塔（transmission line towers）、变电站构架（substation structures）、太阳能组件支架（solar module mounting structures）、智慧灯杆（smart lighting poles）、单管塔（monopoles）、护栏（guard rails），以及各类定制化的镀锌与非镀锌钢结构。）
4月底，特朗普政府推行的“政府效率部”（DOGE）——当时由亿万富翁埃隆·马斯克牵头——决定先关停千禧年挑战公司（MCC），随后美国国际开发署（USAID）也被关闭。然而，MCC总部近日发布新闻稿称，MCC将继续存在，只是具体组织形态尚不明确。8月21日即将召开的董事会会议预计会阐明MCC的未来。自2020年以来，MCC在尼泊尔深陷政治争议，直到2022年2月尼议会批准MCC协定，争议才告一段落。
在政府效率部与美国国务院的审查期内，尼泊尔的MCC协定前景一度不明，直到7月底才最终确定。美国驻加德满都大使馆随后正式通知尼泊尔政府，国务院决定恢复在尼泊尔的MCC项目。这一决定虽消除了不确定性，却给MCA-Nepal设下了三年内完工的紧箍咒。
如果输电线路和道路升级项目未能在三年内完工，剩余MCC援款将退还美国财政部。双方官员均表示，MCA-Nepal面临严峻工期压力。
财政部和MCA-Nepal官员透露，征地及输电走廊沿线树木砍伐许可仍是棘手难题。
MCA-Nepal执行董事卡德加·巴哈杜尔·比什特（Khadga Bahadur Bisht）及中标两条输电线路建设的两家承包商代表，将在MCA-Nepal总部签署合同。
MCA于去年11月27日发出招标邀请，截标日为今年1月30日。全部工程分三个标段，拉特马特-新达茂里输电线路标段（Ratmate-New Damauli Transmission Line）和新达茂里-新布德沃尔输电线路标段（New Damauli-New Butwal Transmission Line）
两条线路的合同将于周四签署；剩余的拉普西菲迪（Lapsiphedi）—拉特马特（Ratmate）—新黑道达（New Hetauda）线路合同仍在审议中。
电力传输项目将新建三座400千伏室内气体绝缘变电站（gas-insulated substations (GIS)）。拉特马特变电站（Ratmate Substation）位于加德满都西北的努瓦科特县（Nuwakot District）贝尔克加迪市（Belkotgadhi Municipality）的拉特马特（Ratmate）。新达茂利变电站（New Damauli substation）位于甘达基省（Gandaki Province）塔纳胡县（Tanahun District）的达茂利（Damauli）。新布特瓦尔变电站（New Butwal substation）位于蓝毗尼省（Lumbini Province）西纳瓦尔帕拉西县（Nawalparasi West District）的布马希（Bhumahi）。输电线路还将与尼泊尔电力局（Nepal Electricity Authority）现有的变电站相连，包括加德满都县（Kathmandu District）的拉普西菲迪变电站（Lapsiphedi Substation）和位于巴格马蒂省（Bagmati Province）马卡万普尔县（Makawanpur District）的新黑道达（New Hetauda）变电站。
输电线路合同授出后，MCA-Nepal计划就道路升级项目进行招标。
2017年9月，尼泊尔与MCC签署协议，共同推进能源与道路升级项目，美方提供5亿美元援助。尼泊尔最初承诺出资1.5亿美元，后增至1.97亿美元，总投资规模达6.97亿美元。若计入MCC董事会追加的5000万美元以弥补资金缺口，总额本可升至7.49亿美元。
原文：MCC deputy vice president in Nepal as US aid resumes
John Wingle is the first high-level Millennium Challenge Corporation official to visit Nepal in Trump’s second term.
The Kathmandu Post, August 13, 2025, page 1
https://kathmandupost.com/national/2025/08/12/mcc-deputy-vp-arrives-in-nepal-as-us-aid-resumes
Anil Giri
Published at: August 12, 2025 Updated at: August 13, 2025 06:26
John Wingle, deputy vice president who oversees the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s operations in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America, arrived in Kathmandu on Monday. This marks the first high-level visit from MCC headquarters after resumption of US aid that had been paused by the Donald Trump administration for several months.
During his stay in Kathmandu, Wingle will meet senior government officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, senior officials of the Millennium Challenge Nepal Compact-Nepal (MCA-Nepal), and others. He will also witness the contract-signing ceremony for two transmission lines jointly funded by the government of Nepal and MCC, officials at MCA-Nepal told the Post.
Wingle is the first senior MCC official to visit Nepal since the Trump administration decided to review foreign assistance programmes such as USAID, MCC, and others through an executive order on January 20 and announced a 90-day pause. The Trump administration effectively dismantled USAID, a key US foreign aid agency, but the status of MCC remains unclear.
The first MCC board of directors meeting on August 21 in Washington is likely to outline the future of the MCC. The agenda of the meeting includes leadership updates, foreign assistance review, and reports on candidate country selection criteria and methodology for fiscal year 2026, according to the MCC. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio chairs the MCC board of directors.
“The Foreign Assistance Review for MCC’s portfolio is complete. MCC's resulting portfolio will clearly align with the Trump Administration's America First foreign policy and ensure that the agency continues to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Additional details will be conveyed in the coming weeks following the MCC Board process as well as engagement with Congress and our partner countries,”MCC said in a press statement on July 25.
John Wingle, deputy vice president who oversees the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s operations in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America. Photo: Courtesy of John Wingle/Linkden
Following this, the Trump administration in July-end announced that it had decided to give continuity to the Millennium Challenge Nepal Compact, a package of development projects that has been in the spotlight in Nepal for over half a decade. With the decision, the MCA Nepal will have three more years to complete the two strategic projects in Nepal which came into force on August 30, 2023. This marked the start of the five year implementation of the MCC projects in Nepal.
To witness the signing ceremony for the construction of two segments of the proposed 297-kilometer transmission line under the MCC Nepal Compact, funded by both the government of Nepal and the US government, MCA-Nepal has sent an invitation to the media.
The $77.48 million contract for Ratmate-New Damauli Transmission Line with M/s Angelique-Skipper JV and the $77.03 million contract for the New Damauli-New Butwal Transmission Line with WAIBA-SALASAR JV are the two lots of the 297km transmission line to be executed immediately following the signing of the contract, MCA-Nepal said.
In late April, the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative of the Donald Trump administration and then led by billionaire Elon Musk, had decided to shut down the MCC, followed by the shuttering of USAID. But with the recent press statement issued by the MCC headquarters, the MCC will remain intact though in which form remains unclear. The upcoming board of directors meeting scheduled to take place on August 21 is expected to clarify the future of the MCC, which was embroiled in deep political controversy in Nepal since 2020, until the MCC Compact’s ratification by parliament in February, 2022.
During the review by DOGE and the US State Department, the status of the MCC Compact in Nepal was uncertain, until a decision was reached in July end. But the US Embassy in Kathmandu recently communicated to the government of Nepal that the State Department decided to resume MCC operations in Nepal. The decision ended the uncertainty, but put MCA-Nepal under a tight three-year deadline to complete the projects.
If construction of the transmission lines and the road upgrade projects are not completed within the next three years, the remaining MCC aid will be returned to the US Treasury. MCA-Nepal faces a challenging deadline, said officials from both sides.
Land acquisition and clearance to fell trees along the transmission line routes remain difficult tasks, said officials at the finance ministry and MCA–Nepal.
Khadga Bahadur Bisht, the executive director at MCA Nepal, and representatives of the two contractor firms that had won the bids for the construction of the two transmission lines will sign the agreement at MCA-Nepal office.
MCA invited bids from interested companies on November 27, giving them until January 30 to submit their proposals. Out of three lots, contracts for the construction of the Ratmate-New Damauli and New Damauli-New Butwal transmission line will be awarded on Thursday. The remaining Lapsephedi-Ratmate-New Hetauda transmission line contract is still under review.
Three new 400 kV indoor gas-insulated substations (GIS) will be constructed under the electricity transmission project. These include the Ratmate substation at the Ratmate of Belkotgadhi Municipality in Nuwakot district; the New Damauli substation in Tanahun district; and the New Butwal substation at Bhumahi in Nawalparasi West district. The transmission lines will also connect with existing Nepal Electricity Authority substations at Lapsephedi in Kathmandu district, and Hetauda in Makawanpur district.
After awarding the transmission line contracts, MCA-Nepal plans to call tenders for road upgrade, said the official at MCA-Nepal.
Nepal and the MCC signed an agreement in September 2017 to execute energy and road upgrade projects, whereby the US would pump in $500 million in aid. And Nepal’s contribution was initially $150 million, but it was later jacked up to $197 million. The total investment in road upgrade and transmission line projects under the MCC has reached $697 million. The total could have gone up to $749 million as the MCC board had decided to pour another $50 million into the project to fill the funding gap.
