KATHMANDU, JULY 8
Experts in the field of international relations and diplomacy have pointed out the need to promote national interest and forge meaningful economic partnerships while conducting foreign relations.
In a research symposium organised by the Institute of Foreign Affairs here today, experts have stressed on investment promotion, technology exchange and export expansion for the country's development.
National Planning Commission Vice-chair Pushpa Kandel said the NPC had been preparing strategy to uplift the county to the status of developing country in the next five years.
"Foreign development investment and mobilisation, economic diplomacy, use of remittance in productive sectors, formal channelling of remittance and tourism promotion have been included in the strategy and this is an important achievement of the 15th periodic plan," Kandel said.
He further said it was necessary to materialise the national campaign of 'Prosperous Nepal: Happy Nepali' to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. He also stressed the need to strengthen the research capacity of universities, think tanks and academic institutions.
Former foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali argued that effective operation of economic diplomacy was imperative to ease international trade. He also said special strategy had been prepared to promote tourism and economic diplomacy, focusing on 35 nations. He also stressed the need to increase export and lessen import.
Similarly, Secretary at the foreign ministry Bharat Raj Poudyal said the ministry was making maximum efforts to increase export of Nepalese goods by forging coordination with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply and the Export Promotion Centre.
He also said that economic diplomacy was an effective medium to extend multi-sectoral, regional and bilateral relations, adding that the ministry and Nepali embassies abroad were effortful to promote national interest.
Likewise, IFA Executive Director Rajesh Shrestha briefed about the latest research publication and activities of the Institute.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 9 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
