FM Rana lauds role of honorary consuls

 Kathmandu, July 23

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has appreciated the growing role of honorary consuls in promoting Nepal’s economic diplomacy and said honorary consuls can serve as important bridges between Nepal and the international community, particularly in attracting trade, tourism, and investment.

"You have been playing a crucial role in introducing the world to Nepal and Nepal to the world," she said while addressing the 18^th Annual General Meeting and Charter Day of Honorary Consular Corps – Nepal (HCC-N) in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

She said the role of honorary consuls is extremely important in strengthening Nepal’s relations with the countries they represent, as well as in expanding economic, educational, cultural, and people-to-people ties with those nations.

“In today’s world, there is a growing need to advance bilateral cooperation and partnerships for shared prosperity. Your contributions are essential and significant in areas such as trade promotion, attracting foreign investment, ensuring market access, enhancing Nepal’s image internationally, and advancing matters of mutual interest and benefit,” she said.

FM Dr. Rana said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) would find ways to enhance engagements with the honorary consuls to devise a more effective policy for the country's foreign affairs.

Former UN Under Secretary General and former Nepal's Ambassador to the United Kingdom Gyan Chandra Acharya emphasised the need to integrate diplomacy with development through coordinated efforts.

"Economic growth has transformed the nations and societies. However, there are persistent challenges of poverty and inequality and conflicts and terrorism. So, we need to have a good strategy to approach the international community," he said.

According to him, Nepal should expand and diversify its relations with the neighbours and other friendly countries as well as the multilateral agencies. In particular, he suggested  promoting Sagarmatha Sambaad globally and use it as a platform for country's major engagement with the international stakeholders.

Chandra Prasad Dhakal, outgoing Dean of HCC-N, said that honorary consuls are active agents of Nepal’s economic diplomacy.

 “We are not just ceremonial figures. We are active, capable, and committed contributors to Nepal’s diplomacy and development,” he said while stressing the importance of economic diplomacy is growing rapidly in today’s interconnected world.

Dhakal formally handed over the Deanship to Bhola Bikram Thapa, Honorary Consul of Bulgaria.

Speaking on the occasion, Thapa said that since economic diplomacy has become a necessity, role of honorary consuls is ever-growing. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 July 2025.