Kathmandu, June 1 :

The second regional non-resident Nepali (NRN) conference is scheduled for June 3 and 4 in Bonn, Germany.

The conference will coincide with a meeting of the International Coordination Council of NRN Association. The regional conference is being organised jointly by NRNA-ICC and NRN National Coordination Council, Germany to strengthen NRN association’s networking efforts in Europe and raise awareness of NRN objectives among Nepalis residing in the region.

The regional conference is expected to highlight educational and employment opportunities as well as integration

of Nepalis in European countries, transfer of skill and knowledge, bringing remittances through formal channel, dual citizenship, issues of British Gurkhas and other legal issues of NRNs, states a press release issued today.

In the light of the changes of historical significance taking place in Nepal, the conference is expected to reflect on the utilisation of NRN resources in reconstruction. Deliberations will also take place on Constituent Assembly, various aspects of peace-building and NRNs possible involvement in the process, according to Ram Thapa, honorary Nepali consul in Koln, Germany.

The ICC meeting will mainly focus on the progress made in realising commitment of the Kathmandu Declaration issued at the end of the Second Global NRN Conference in October 2005. Decisions will be made on the country where the ‘100-million NRN Nepal Investment Fund’ will be established as well as its legal requirements and management options. The Bonn meet will be attended by aro-und 200 NRNs and friends of Nepal from all over Europe and other parts of the world. The ICC has invited finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat to attend the meet.

The first regional NRN conference was held in Doha, Qatar in 2005.