Ambassador Upadhyaya to work on public diplomacy

Kathmandu, Nov. 9

Nepal’s Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay Wednesday said that he was planning to work on public diplomacy after assuming the post within a couple of days.

"I believe that public diplomacy will help to minimise the local problems, implement development projects and curb terrorist activities in the border areas," he said.

The Government of Nepal recently re-appointed Upadhyay as ambassador of Nepal to India. He was recalled by the erstwhile KP Oli-led government, accusing him of non-cooperation.

"In my earlier tenure of 13 months, I had started work to develop a digital database of the Nepalese working and residing in India and establish a help desk to help them in case of any problem. These projects are incomplete, therefore, I am planning to continue them," he said.

He said that there was no authentic data of Nepali nationals working in India.

According to Upadhyay, Nepali people in India can play an important role in the promotion of Nepalese culture, history and tourism and thus strengthen the relations between the two countries at the people's level.

He claimed that his earlier experience as the envoy to India would be useful to bridge the gaps in the relations between the two neighbours.

Talking to The Rising Nepal, Upadhyay said that he would work to ease the trade between the two countries and with third countries as well.

"I found India positive in developing waterways up to the Koshi and Karnali rivers. We should not feel landlocked or 'India-locked' as our right of access to the sea or the nearest port is safeguarded by international law," he said.

He said that Nepal should establish Special Economic Zones (SEZ) along the border with China and India and attract the export-oriented multinational companies in those SEZs.

Upadhyay maintained that in order to lead the country on the path of economic progress Nepal should work in partnership with India.

"The recent visit of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and earlier exchanges at the Prime Minister's level have played a crucial role in developing the bilateral relations between Nepal and India to a new height. Till a couple of years ago, bilateral diplomacy had been maintained by the bureaucracy, but now there is communication at the PM's level," he said.

Commenting on the Indian blockade last year, he said that India should guarantee the uninterruptible supply of goods to Nepal from India and third countries.

"Indian businessmen have long benefitted from the Nepalese market. Therefore, if Nepalese people have to suffer the same troubles then we should look for alternatives. Meanwhile, we should work to diversify our international trade," he said.

Upadhyay suggested that the country should deal with both the northern and southern neighbours with equal measures. He said that China and India were both fast growing economies, and Nepal could benefit by their development.

"India and China both are aggressively developing infrastructure in the areas adjoining Nepal. Enhanced connectivity will facilitate trade and people's movement," he said.