Nepal Requests Oman to Open Embassy in Kathmandu

The Nepal government has formally requested the Oman government to consider establishing its embassy in Kathmandu. The appeal was made by Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal during a meeting with high-ranking Omani officials on Wednesday.

The request came during the inaugural meeting of the Nepal-Oman Bilateral Consultation Mechanism, held in Muscat. Foreign Secretary Lamsal underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

The delegation reviewed the comprehensive bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction with the excellent state of relations between Nepal and Oman, which have been in place since 1977. They discussed various sectors including trade, investment, economic cooperation, agriculture, energy, tourism, labor, foreign employment, culture, education, and direct air connectivity. Both sides committed to enhancing their partnership and exploring economic opportunities for mutual benefit while promoting people-to-people engagement.

Foreign Secretary Lamsal thanked Oman for providing employment to over 21,000 Nepalis and encouraged the exploration of additional opportunities in alignment with Oman Vision 2040. She proposed strengthening collaboration in economic, cultural, and educational sectors, and highlighted potential investment opportunities in hydropower, tourism, and the green hydrogen sector.

Undersecretary Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Issa Alharthy expressed willingness to advance cooperation between the two nations and hoped to finalize pending Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). He emphasized the positive impact of Nepali workers and the potential for furthering bilateral relations.

Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining a tradition of high-level visits and committed to cooperating at various multilateral forums, including the United Nations. They also discussed diversifying engagements to enhance their already excellent bilateral relations.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Lamsal met with Dr. Mahad bin Said bin Ali Baowain, Oman’s Minister of Labour, to discuss mutual cooperation, including potential MOUs related to labor and human resource exchange.

The Nepal-Oman Bilateral Consultations Mechanism, established in 2017, will hold its next meeting in Kathmandu at a mutually convenient date.