Kathmandu. Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Chandra Prasad Dhakal has stressed the need for strong collaboration between the government and the Honorary Consular Corps Nepal (HCCN) to make Nepal’s economic diplomacy effective, coordinated and strategic.
Speaking at an interactive workshop on ‘Nepal’s Export Trade: Status, Challenges and Prospects’ jointly organised by the Department of Economic Diplomacy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and HCCN at Chandragiri in Kathmandu, FNCCI President Dhakal said Nepal should make proper use of the honorary consuls of 66 important countries of the world to enhance its economic diplomacy and make strides in development and prosperity.
Dhakal is also the Dean of Honorary Consular Corps Nepal (HCCN).
There is a need for trust and partnership cooperation between the Government and the Honorary Consular Corps Nepal. The state should treat and use the Honorary Consular Corps not only as an unpaid and ceremonial envoy but also as an economic diplomat,” he said.
According to Dhakal, the consuls are already active in trade, tourism, investment and economic cooperation and they are promoting Nepal abroad using their own resources, time and network without the government’s expense. He said the consuls could be used as a bridge between Nepal and the world economy.
Similarly, the countries represented by the consuls during earthquakes, floods and other crises extended their support to Nepal and said that this would further strengthen future cooperation with the countries represented by them through the consulates.
Welcoming the recently formed Department of Economic Diplomacy by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhakal expressed the belief that it would help in better coordination among the government, Honorary Consular Corps Nepal, private sector and diplomatic bodies. “Economic diplomacy is not limited to business. It is linked to many sectors including employment, technology, branding, tourism,” he said.
Stating that the private sector contributes more than 81 per cent of Nepal’s GDP and creates more than 86 per cent of jobs, Dhakal made it clear that the private sector does not need financial support but needs respect, recognition and space in the decision-making process.
Stating that the trade summits organized during the Prime Minister’s visit to India, China and the UAE have opened new doors of investment and economic cooperation, Dhakal expressed the belief that such programmes could be organized in a more systematic and effective manner in the coming days with the cooperation with the Department of Economic Diplomacy.
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