Kathmandu, Oct. 8
Nepal and Oman have discussed the establishment of an Embassy of Oman in Kathmandu and the establishment of a Nepal-Oman friendship association.
At the Second
Meeting of the Nepal–Oman Bilateral Consultations held in Kathmandu on Thursday,
they reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations
and expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest.
The meeting
explored opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment, particularly
in hydropower, agriculture and other priority sectors, informed the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement.
Tourism
promotion, enhanced air connectivity and cooperation in the health sector were
also discussed as important areas for strengthening economic ties and fostering
closer engagement between the two countries.
The MoFA said
that the two sides further discussed preparations for the joint commemoration
of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to further
enhancing bilateral cooperation in various areas, including agriculture, trade,
tourism, investment, labour migration and culture, among others.
Briefing the
Omani delegation on the recent devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River and
appreciating the urgent humanitarian support from friendly partners, Nepali
delegates expressed hope for continued support for recovery, rehabilitation and
reconstruction efforts.
Likewise, cooperation
on labour migration featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides
emphasising the importance of ensuring safe, orderly and mutually beneficial
labour mobility. "The meeting underscored the need to safeguard the
welfare, rights and interests of Nepali workers in Oman and stressed the
importance of expediting the conclusion of the proposed Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on Labour and Manpower Exchange," said the MoFA.
The meeting also
discussed cooperation in culture and education, with both sides exploring
opportunities for cultural programmes, scholarships, diplomatic and academic
exchanges, and enhanced people-to-people contacts.
The Nepali
delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, while the Omani
delegation was headed by Sheikh Khalifa Al Harthy, Undersecretary for Political
Affairs at the Foreign Ministry of Oman. The Bilateral Consultation Mechanism was
established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2017.
The first
meeting of the mechanism was held in Muscat in August 2024.
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