KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali has said that Nepal’s relations with the Middle East will not be limited to the labor sector.

Inaugurating the Seventh Regional Meeting of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) in the Middle East on Friday, Minister Gyawali said the Middle East countries would not be limited at labor destinations.

“Until now, the Middle East has been a major labor destination for us. It has been featured that Nepal will only supply workers. We want to change this definition, “said Minister Gyawali.” Relations between Nepal and the Middle East will no longer be limited to the labor sector. He said that Nepal wants to move ahead with the new context of tourism, investment and export trade, not only with the labor sector.”

He also praised the NRNA representative for playing an important role in resolving the problems faced by Nepalis working in the Middle East during the pandemic.

He said that it was possible to return Nepalis with the help and coordination of NRNA and the embassy.

Minister Gyawali said that the government of Nepal was also doing homework to create an employment environment at home for the youths who have lost their jobs abroad.