Foreign Minister Dr Rana returns after FAO conference and Germany visit

July 11, Kathmandu: Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba returned to Kathmandu on Friday morning after attending the 44th FAO Conference in Rome, Italy, from June 28 to July 4.

She also held bilateral talks in Germany to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties. At the FAO Conference, Dr. Rana participated in high-level meetings, emphasising Nepal’s commitment to food security as a constitutional right. She highlighted efforts to ensure safe, quality food through regulatory standards and consumer protection policies.

Addressing challenges faced by least developed and landlocked nations, she underscored the severe impacts of climate change on Nepal’s Himalayan regions, advocating for grant-based climate finance to support sustainable agriculture.

In Germany, Dr. Rana met German Foreign Minister Dr. Johan David Wadephul in Berlin on July 8 to discuss boosting bilateral trade through private sector partnerships. She encouraged German investment in Nepal, particularly in chemical fertiliser production, and proposed direct flights between the two countries.

Minister Dr. Rana sought Germany’s support for Nepal’s graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2026, requesting resources and technology from Germany and the EU. She also urged Germany to help lift the EU’s ban on Nepali airlines, noting compliance with EU and ICAO standards, and sought backing for Nepal’s candidacies for UN Human Rights Council, Economic and Social Council, and Security Council seats.

The Foreign Affairs Minister attended investment promotion events organised by the Investment Board of Nepal in Milan, Hamburg, and Berlin. She was welcomed at Tribhuvan International Airport by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and senior officials.