Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal Calls on Honorary Consuls to Boost Trade, Investment, and Tourism

Kathmandu: Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has urged honorary consuls to play a more active and results-oriented role in advancing Nepal’s economic diplomacy by promoting trade, investment, tourism, technology transfer, and stronger international partnerships. Speaking at the 19th Annual General Meeting and Charter Day of the Honorary Consular Corps–Nepal in Kathmandu on Thursday, Khanal said economic diplomacy has become one of the key priorities of Nepal’s foreign policy and called for greater collaboration to achieve measurable economic outcomes.

The minister praised honorary consuls for strengthening Nepal’s friendship with countries that do not have resident diplomatic missions in Kathmandu. He said they have served as an important bridge in expanding people-to-people relations, business cooperation, cultural exchanges, and institutional partnerships. He also reaffirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to reviewing existing rules, facilities, and working procedures to make honorary consular services more effective, efficient, and citizen-friendly.

Highlighting the government’s broader foreign policy priorities, Shishir Khanal said Nepal remains committed to attracting foreign direct investment, expanding international trade, promoting innovation, increasing market access, strengthening technology partnerships, and supporting tourism and sustainable development. He added that recent political developments have created a stronger foundation for political stability, policy continuity, good governance, and inclusive economic growth.

Calling honorary consuls indispensable partners in Nepal’s economic transformation, the foreign minister urged each honorary consul to prepare country-specific strategic action plans focusing on tourism promotion, foreign investment, renewable energy, technology transfer, and trade facilitation. He also encouraged the regular organisation of business-to-business (B2B) programmes, improved public services, and stronger education, cultural, and youth exchanges, expressing confidence that closer cooperation between diplomatic missions, honorary consuls, and the private sector would further strengthen Nepal’s economic diplomacy and international relations.