WASHINGTON DC: Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat on Saturday urged the Nepali diaspora in the United States to invest and contemplate on how the knowledge and skills they have gained could be used for Nepal's development.

Addressing the Fifth General Assembly of Non-Resident Nepalese Association in Dallas, Minister Mahat noted that the role of the Nepali people living in nooks and corners of the world could be of paramount importance in economic development through implementation of the new Constitution in Nepal, Mahat's Press Coordinator Yek Raj Pathak said in a statement.

Underlining the need for all to work together for expediting economic progress in Nepal, Minister Mahat emphasised for the support of the NRNA in the campaign.

He also denied the claim that investment-friendly environment was absent in Nepal.

The Minister also discussed the unnecessarily raised questions regarding the change in Nepal's foreign policies, adding, "Nepal's foreign policy has not tilted anywhere, it has only tilted towards Nepal."

At the meeting, Nepali Ambassador to the US Arjun Karki and NRNA US President Keshab Poudel spoke of the Association's recent activities.

The General Assembly was attended by around 500 representatives of the 17 different NRNA chapters in the US and Canada.

The US has the highest number of NRNA members with more than 10,000 memberships. There are around 300,000 Nepali people in the US.