Kathmandu, May 27: Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Foreign affairs Kamal Thapa has appreciated Israel’s cooperation
in the areas of agriculture, education, training and research in Nepal.
Addressing a talk programme organized by the
Israel Council on Foreign Relations in Jerusalem on Thursday, DPM Thapa praised
Israeli government and people for their support in the aftermath of the
devastating earthquake in April and May last year, informed the Embassy of
Nepal in Tel Aviv, Israel in a press statement.
The DPM delivered his speech on the recent
political development in Nepal, country’s foreign policy and Nepal-Israel
relations. Nepal-Israel bilateral diplomatic relation was established on 1st
June 1960 and Nepal was the first South Asian country to recognize the
existence of Israel.
While appreciating the Israeli people for their
innovativeness, creativity and entrepreneurship, DPM Thapa stated that Nepal
always welcomed all efforts aimed at securing a comprehensive peace in the
Middle East.
He also shed light on the new constitution of
Nepal and said, “The constitution making process was broad-based, transparent
and consultative. In terms of content, the constitution is comprehensive, inclusive,
and substantive while in terms of orientation, it is forward-looking, progressive
and dynamic.”
Later in the afternoon, addressing an economic
round table organized by the Federation of Israeli Chamber of Commerce, the
Deputy Prime Minister said there was a consensus in Nepal that economic agenda
should now be on top and foreign investment is vital.
“The government in Nepal plays a role of
facilitator and investors are key actors, innovators, entrepreneurs as well as
leaders. Doors are open for investment in almost every sector which includes
manufacturing, hydro-power, tourism, services, information technology, mining
and agro-based industries,” said Thapa.
According to the press statement, Israeli
businessmen and investors said that they were ready to collaborate with
Nepalese businessmen to invest in Nepal while some shared their experiences of
doing business in Nepal.
Earlier this morning, he had a meeting with Tzipi Livni,
Member of Knesset and a former Foreign Minister of Israel and current Chair of
Israel-Nepal Parliamentary Friendship Group. Congratulating on the promulgation
of the Constitution of Nepal in 2015, Livni inquired about the various features
of the constitution. While replying, Thapa highlighted the democratic and
inclusive characteristics of the constitution. During the meeting they
expressed satisfaction over the existing relations between Nepal and Israel and
also stressed the need to have exchange of cooperation between the parliament
and parliamentarians of the two countries.
Foreign Secretary of Nepal, Ambassador of Nepal to
Israel, Ambassador of Israel to Nepal and senior officials of the Ministries of
Foreign Affairs of both the countries were also present in the talk programme,
business roundtable and the aforementioned meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs Kamal Thapa, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and other members of
the Nepalese delegation left Israel for Turkey this afternoon to participate in
the High-Level Midterm Review of the Istanbul Programme of Action to be held in
Antalya, Turkey between 27 and 29 May 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment