Nepal urges Canada to ease visa services and invest in energy sector (audio report)

September 30, Kathmandu: The Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bharat Raj Paudyal, has requested Canada to invest in Nepal, especially in the hydropower and energy sector. 

During the third meeting of the Nepal-Canada Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) held in Ottawa on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Paudyal reiterated the need to make visa services easier for the Nepalis.

He urged the Canadian side to establish a visa centre in Nepal to issue and receive visas without hassles.

Foreign Secretary Paudyal and Canada’s Assistant Deputy Minister of Global Affairs Paul Thoppil led their respective delegations in the meeting. 

According to the Embassy of Nepal in Canada, Foreign Secretary Paudyal reached Canada for the meeting after participating in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The Nepali Embassy informed that issues of bilateral interest including development cooperation, trade and investment, education, climate action, and culture and tourism were discussed in the meeting. 

During the meeting, Foreign Secretary Paudyal informed the Canadian side about Nepal’s development priorities, Nepal’s graduation of Nepal from the Least Developed Country (LDC), and the efforts made by Nepal to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Nepali Embassy said ​​the Canadian delegation expressed its commitment to support the development works in Nepal.

 The Foreign Secretary reiterated Nepal’s interest to cooperate with Canada in the multilateral forums.

Foreign Secretary Paudyal also thanked Canada for providing vaccines and essential health equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Nepali delegation comprised the Ambassador of Nepal to Canada, Bhrigu Dhungana, and the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the meeting.

The Canadian delegation included officials including the Director General for South Asia at Global Affairs Canada and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Canadian Embassy in New Delhi. 

The two sides agreed on holding the next meeting of the secretary-level mechanism in Kathmandu after two years.