Switzerland to support reintegration of returnee migrants

Kathmandu, Jun 8

Nepal and Switzerland have signed an agreement for the implementation of the project 'Reintegration of returnee migrant workers (Remi)' to utilise 6.8 million Swiss Franc (about Rs. 861.3 million).

According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the objective of the project is to help workers returning from foreign employment reestablish themselves in Nepal and actively participate in social, cultural, economic, and political life.

It aims at strengthening their capacity to define their plan of reintegration and utilization of knowledge, skills, capital, know-how, and experiences achieved through employment abroad.

The ministry said that the project would be implemented in 20 local levels in two provinces, Province 1 and Madhes, for four years starting from July 2022. The amount of assistance will be recorded in the Red Book of the government and implemented at the local level.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Embassy of Switzerland in Kathmandu signed an agreement for the implementation of the project.

Ishwori Prasad Aryal, Joint Secretary and Head of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division (IECCD) at the MoF, and Silvana Hogg, Chargée d’affaires ad interim, at the Embassy of Switzerland, signed and exchanged the agreement on behalf of their respective governments. 

Aryal outlined that the implementation of the project is crucial for reestablishing the returnee migrants into the society and defining their plan of reintegration into social, political, and economic life.

"It also helps to utilize the knowledge, capital, know-how, and experience achieved through foreign employment in Nepal’s socio-economic development," he said.

Similarly, Hogg noted that there is a huge potential to link migration with development.

According to him, Switzerland has gathered rich experiences in the field of migration in Nepal through its decade-long engagement in this sector, and it is committed to supporting Nepal in implementing its policies and plans to benefit migrant workers.

The ReMi project will work with different spheres of government, private actors, networks, and migrant workers to increase the social and economic benefit for returnee migrant workers.  

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 June 2022.