Proposed ambassadors urged to give top priority to economic diplomacy

KATHMANDU: The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) held a dialogue with the proposed ambassadors from 11 countries, focusing on economic diplomacy.

During the discussions held on Monday evening, CNI President Rajesh Kumar Agrawal urged the proposed ambassadors to prioritise the promotion of international economic relations through diplomacy. He stressed that foreign investors should be encouraged from an ambassadorial level to mobilise capital in Nepal.

The CNI President advised the government to implement a dedicated economic strategy to promote exports and a focal person should be assigned in each Nepali embassy to facilitate the foreign investment community for seeking opportunities in Nepal.

Nepal’s improved country rating would help bring more foreign investment to the country, he expressed his hope, urging proposed ambassadors to contribute to creating an environment for the continuity of facilities from the international sector to Nepal even after graduation from the category of the least developed country to a middle-income developing country.

Acting Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai urged the proposed envoys to enhance relations with investors’ communities in the respective countries and assist in promoting exports and Nepali services and goods.

In response, the ambassador nominees pledged to focus on reducing Nepal’s high trade deficit, promoting Nepali products, and encouraging the foreign community to invest in Nepal’s tourism, information, industrial, and hydropower infrastructure development sectors Proposed ambassadors Dr Shankar Sharma, Sewa Lamsal, Chitralekha Yadav, Chandra Kumar Ghimire, Dr Sumnina Tuladhar, Dr Jung Bahadur Chauhan, Prof Kapilman Shrestha, Prakashmani Paudel, Dr Shibamaya Tumbahamphe, Dr Purna Bahadur Nepali and Dr Netra Prasad Timsina joined the dialogue with CNI.