Kathmandu, Aug. 7
Nepal has requested Oman to explore investment
opportunities in Nepal including in hydropower and tourism sectors.
During the first meeting of the Bilateral
Consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs of Nepal and the Oman
held in Muscat, on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal urged the Omani delegation
to consider establishing Embassy of Oman in Kathmandu to further consolidate
the long-standing relations.
She also stressed the exploration of the
untapped potential in economic, cultural and educational areas and proposed to
establish meaningful collaborative partnership including in the private sector
with Oman.
Foreign Secretary Lamsal led the Nepali
delegation to the meeting while Omani side was led by Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali
bin Issa Alharthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs of Oman, the Embassy of
Nepal in Mascot informed in a statement.
During the meeting, the leaders of the delegation
reviewed the bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction on the excellent
state of relations existing between Nepal and Oman since 1977.
They discussed the bilateral relations and
agreed to promote cooperation encompassing all sectors, especially the exchange
of high-level visits, trade, investment, economic cooperation, agriculture, energy,
tourism, labour and foreign employment, culture, education and direct air
connectivity.
Similarly, they expressed firm commitment to
further enhance partnership in mutually agreed areas and to work together toward
realising economic opportunities for mutual benefits apart from creating more
opportunity to promote people-to-people engagement.
More than 21,000 Nepalis are currently working
in Oman. Lamsal requested the Omani government to provide additional
opportunities.
Undersecretary Sheikh Khalifa expressed
willingness to promote the cooperation between Nepal and Oman in all the
mutually agreed sectors and hoped to conclude the pending MOUs.
According to the Embassy, he underscored the
potential of the bilateral relationship and emphasised upon working together to
realising the actual benefits and also mentioned about the positive and
hardworking nature of Nepali workers.
Both sides also expressed commitment to
cooperate with each other at various multilateral forums including the United Nations.
The Nepali delegation also comprised of
Dornath Aryal, Ambassador of Nepal to Oman, Joint Secretary Sharad Raj Aran,
Head of the Central Asia, West Asia and Africa Division of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and other officials from the Ministry and the Embassy.
Likewise, the Omani delegation consisted of
the Ambassador Dr. Mohammed Bin Ali Al Balushi, Acting Chief of Asia Pacific
Department and other officials from the Foreign Ministry.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Lamsal paid a
courtesy call on Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali Baowain, Minister of Labour of Oman.
Matters related to the mutual cooperation including MoU in the field of Labour
and Manpower Exchange, employment opportunity, among others were discussed in
the meeting with the minister, reads the statement.
Nepal-Oman Bilateral Consultations Mechanism
was established in 2017, and the next meeting will be held in Kathmandu on
mutually convenient dates.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 August 2024.
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