KATHMANDU: Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) is holding its fifth NRNA Global Conference in Kathmandu on October 12-14.

“The bi-annual programme of NRNA is taking place in coordination with Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the government,” said the NRNA representatives in a press meet here today.

The FNCCI is forwarding three major economic agendas on which the private sector umbrella organisation and NRNs can co-operate for the economic prosperity of the country, said president of FNCCI Suraj Vaidya. “NRNs can participate in economic development through contributing in Economic Development Fund created by FNCCI, by promoting Nepali products in the international market and by advancing international ec-onomic diplomacy with fo-reign countries,” he added.

The NRNs delegation is in Kathmandu to lobby for the dual citizenship for them. The delegation led by NRNA president Dev Man Hirachan has already held meetings with the President, Prime Minister, ministers and the leaders of the major political parties seeking their support.

The NRNs sought Constitutional guarantee of validity of their Nepali citizenship even after acquiring the citizenship of foreign country. According to the Nepal Citizenship Act 2068, Nepali citizenship will be scrapped automatically once a Nepali citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another nation.

“The dual citizenship will keep not only the NRNs’ but also their future generation attached to their origins,” said NRNA’s European Co-ordination Committee and coordinator for the task force formed to lobby for dual citizenship Hit Man Gurung.

He pointed out that Ex-Gurkhas are in difficult situation due to existing citizenship law since the UK government has awarded them permanent residency in UK. The concept is not new as many countries accept dual citizenship, said chief patron of NRNA Dr Upendra Mahato.

“Many nations are awarding foreigners with citizenship to attract investment, however, Nepal is denying its own citizens the right to be called Nepali,” Mahato said, adding that everyone they have met and discussed the issue has been positive but nothing concrete has happened.

The NRNs team has also requested government to define NRN as the ones living outside SAARC countr-ies for more than 182 days.