Foreign Minister Khanal urges honorary consuls to drive economic diplomacy and foreign investment

July 24, Kathmandu: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has called on honorary consuls in Nepal to play a proactive and result-oriented role in boosting trade, foreign direct investment, tourism, and technology transfer, framing economic diplomacy as a core priority of Nepal’s foreign policy.

Addressing the 19th Annual General Meeting and Charter Day of the Honorary Consular Corps-Nepal on Thursday in Kathmandu, Minister Khanal emphasized that consuls serve as vital bridges—especially for nations without residential diplomatic missions in Nepal—to expand trade, institutional ties, and people-to-people relations. He assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to facilitating their work and reviewing existing regulations, facilities, and operational guidelines to align with international practices.

Highlighting Nepal’s current political stability, policy predictability, and commitment to good governance, Minister Khanal urged consuls to transform traditional diplomatic warmth into concrete, measurable economic outcomes.

He outlined three key priorities for the consular corps: developing country-specific strategic action plans focusing on investment and technology transfer, hosting regular Business-to-Business (B2B) networking programs, and delivering citizen-friendly, efficient consular services.

Concluding his address, Minister Khanal commended the corps for their ongoing contributions and expressed confidence that enhanced collaboration between foreign missions, private sector networks, and honorary consuls will significantly advance Nepal’s economic transformation and international partnerships.

During the general assembly, Suraj Vaidya—Honorary Consul General of the Philippines to Nepal and former FNCCI president—was unanimously elected as the new Dean of the Honorary Consular Corps-Nepal, succeeding outgoing Dean Bhola Bikram Thapa.