Former Indian envoy to Nepal takes charge as India's Foreign Secretary
Naveen Srivastava likely to be the next ambassador to Nepal
Published: 10:43 am May 01, 2022
KATHMANDU, MAY 1
Vinay Mohan Kwatra has taken charge as the Secretary of External Affairs Ministry of India, replacing Harshvardhan Shringla.
Kwatra was the immediate past Indian ambassador to Nepal. Government of India's appointments committee had picked Kwatra for the post in early April.
Kwatra has an experience of nearly 30 years in the Indian Foreign Service. He joined service in 1988 and served as the Third Secretary and the Second Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India in Geneva till 1993.
Furthermore, he served as the Deputy Chief of Mission in Beijing, China. Kwatra represented India as the head of Trade, Economy and Finance Bureau at the SAARC Secretariat in Nepal from 2006 till 2010.
He was the Minister (Commerce) in the Embassy of India, Washington from 2010-2013. Kwatra has also served as the head of Americas Division, dealing with India's relations with Canada and the United States. In 2017, Kwatra was appointed the Indian envoy to France.
Prior to landing in Nepal as the Indian envoy in 2020, Kwatra had served as Joint Secretary in the office of the Prime Minister of India (2015-2017).
Meanwhile, according to a Hindustan Times report, Additional Secretary Naveen Srivastava is likely succeed Kwatra as India's next ambassador to Nepal.
Currently, Srivastava handles the East Asia desk and is said to be an expert in handling China affairs.