Rai assumes responsibility of Foreign Secretary

Kathmandu, Jan. 9

Amrit Bahadur Rai has officially assumed the position of Foreign Secretary of Nepal, effective from Wednesday. Earlier, he was serving as the acting foreign secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

He has an extensive career in diplomacy, global governance as well as domestic governance.  He joined the Civil Service in 1996 and entered into the Foreign Service in 2005 as an Under Secretary.

According to the MoFA, Rai’s distinguished career in the Civil and Foreign Service is marked by his steadfast commitment to advancing Nepal’s national interests, strengthening global partnerships and promoting Nepal's presence on the international stage.

Since joining the Nepal Civil Service in 1996 and the Foreign Service in 2005, Rai has served in several high-profile capacities. He served as Division Chief of the United Nations, International Organisations, and International Law Division at the MoFA where he also worked as the spokesperson for the Ministry.

Rai’s international diplomatic experience includes Nepal’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2019–2023), where he held leadership roles such as Vice-President of the UN General Assembly, Chair of the Economic and Financial Committee, and Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau for Least Developed Countries.

He also served as Nepal’s Ambassador to South Africa (2014–2018), with concurrent accreditation to 18 other countries, said MoFA.

"His contributions to multilateral diplomacy, particularly in advocating for the interests of least developed and landlocked developing countries, have significantly bolstered the country’s image and national interests in international forums," read the statement.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 January 2025.