KATHMANDU: United States Ambassador to Nepal, Dean R. Thompson, reflects on his enriching experiences during over two years in the country, highlighting the recent Dashain celebrations at the Embassy as a poignant reminder of the vibrant traditions that connect communities.
In this engaging interview with Ishwar Dev Khanal, Editor of Khabarhub, Ambassador Thompson delves into the strong and evolving U.S.-Nepal relationship, focusing on collaborative efforts to empower local communities, enhance economic growth, and address pressing issues like climate change.
He also shares insights on initiatives such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s transformative projects, the potential of Nepal’s cultural and natural beauty to boost tourism, and the role of food as a bridge to understanding local culture.
Through memorable experiences and a commitment to partnership, the ambassador underscores a shared vision for a prosperous and resilient Nepal. Excerpts:
The Embassy’s social media highlighted vibrant Dashain celebrations at the Embassy in Kathmandu and you being a part of it. How did you like celebrating the festival?
Celebrating traditional Nepali festivals is a great part of being here. Every year, the U.S. Embassy hosts a Dashain cultural program to honor local traditions celebrate our unity in diversity.
Jane and I enjoy the camaraderie, love the delicious Nepali food, and share the spirit of the festive season with family and friends at the Embassy.
Check our social media to see a video of me crushing our Public Affairs Chief in my first “Changa Chait” competition.
The sense of togetherness, family and community during these celebrations cultivates an even greater appreciation for Nepal’s rich cultural heritage.
We’re honored and privileged to be here and to take part in such a vibrant and significant tradition.
It’s been over two years since you’ve been in Nepal. How has your experience in this Himalayan country been?
It has been an amazing journey, working with the Government(s) of Nepal, traveling across the country, experiencing Nepal’s natural beauty and cultural heritage and spending time with so many Nepalis from different places and communities.
Nepal offers so much. I’m always eager to explore more, meet and spend time with people, listen to their stories, and find innovative ways to collaborate with the Nepali government, civil society organizations (CSOs), and individuals to help build a more prosperous future for Nepal and all Nepalis.
Climate change is a critical global issue, impacting people, homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure that serve as key supply routes for the economic health of nations.
My two years here have focused on empowering Nepalis – young people, women, farmers, entrepreneurs, and content creators.
More broadly, we’ve been partnering with Nepal to create economic opportunities, supporting tourism and private sector growth and developing its hydropower potential.
We’ve also worked to develop Nepal’s disaster preparation and response capacity through grant assistance to purchase helicopters and planes, training, and joint exercises.
I’m incredibly proud of our 77-year partnership and the work we’ve been doing to support Nepal’s long-term success, preserving its sovereignty in fostering a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future.
How do you evaluate the current status of U.S.-Nepal relations, and what key areas should be prioritized for future collaboration?
The relationship is strong, productive, and dynamic. For 77 years we have supported Nepal, its people, democracy, and economic prosperity and we will continue to do so.
Our cooperation is deep and wide, including many U.S. agencies across multiple fronts.
This includes the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the Library of Congress, and more—all working together to support Nepal’s development and empower Nepalis to thrive and build a better future for themselves.
A key focus throughout this relationship has been listening to and engaging with Nepali society.
This approach has helped us refine the range of tools and resources we offer to meet Nepal’s evolving needs.
Our priority is to help Nepal build a robust economy and create an environment where business can thrive and where young people catch a vision for what they can do to build their country.
The United States offers many tools and assets that Nepal can leverage to grow its economy.
The overwhelming volume of our support is grant-based. A great example is the MCC Nepal Compact that provides large-scale, transformative infrastructure projects crucial to Nepal’s economic growth.
The MCC Nepal Compact will help expand Nepal’s road and electricity infrastructure networks, strengthening the energy sector and introduce new technologies to make roads safer, more reliable, and easier to maintain.
As an ambassador, what have been your main priorities in strengthening the U.S.-Nepal bilateral relationship? As you look ahead, what is your vision for U.S.-Nepal relations over the next two years, and what key initiatives do you hope to see come to fruition?
Our focus remains on strengthening the 77-year-old U.S.-Nepal partnership by working with Nepal to help shape its peaceful, prosperous, resilient, and democratic future.
We support Nepal’ s vision for long-term economic prosperity, including its goal of graduating to a middle-income country and its efforts to have more Nepalis build their futures right here in Nepal, rather than having to go abroad to support themselves and their families.
We are committed to supporting Nepal’s private sector and increasing private sector investment to create jobs and drive inclusive economic growth.
We are deeply invested in Nepal’s economic future and have consistently promoted its economic growth.
We remain committed to creating economic opportunities for all Nepalis, including through specific projects aimed at empowering women and marginalized communities.
The MCC Nepal Compact alone will support the creation of 10,000 jobs. Last year, USAID programs supported over 1 million Nepali women across multiple sectors.
We are also building access to financial and business development services for Nepal’s private sector, improving market connectivity, and fostering a more productive business environment.
Additionally, we are working to strengthen Nepal’s agricultural sector and support the growth of its high-tech industry.
The United States is committed to supporting key sectors such as energy, tourism, technology, and high-value agriculture, while increasing private sector investment in Nepal to create jobs and promote inclusive economic growth.
What specific economic initiatives or projects is the U.S. currently supporting in Nepal through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and how do they align with Nepal’s development goals?
The MCC Nepal Compact builds on the United States ‘ long history of partnering with Nepal to strengthen its energy and transportation sectors.
Developed in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, the MCC Nepal Compact prioritizes transformative clean energy infrastructure with a $500 million grant from the United States and a $197 million contribution from Nepal.
The MCC Nepal Compact is an ambitious project that will transform Nepal’s energy and transportation sectors while creating 10,000 jobs.
The U.S. government is excited about the progress of the Nepal-led MCC Compact, made possible through continuous support from a wide range of stakeholders, successive governments, and political parties throughout MCC’s work in Nepal.
We have built momentum, and the projects are unfolding quickly. In the first year, The Millenium Challenge Account (MCA-Nepal) awarded three substation contracts worth $ 126 million, and the 18-kilometer transmission line contract valued at USD 12.36 million.
MCA-Nepal also implemented the Livelihood Restoration Program for 270 project-affected individuals following land acquisition in the Ratmate Substation area.
Additionally, Compensation Fixation Committees were established, and primary forest census work was completed in 9 out of 10 districts to prepare site access for contractors.
From the towering Himalayas in the Himal region, the bustling streets of Kathmandu, and the beautiful plains of the Terai, Nepal is a destination that captivates the hearts and imagination of travelers worldwide.
These milestones underscore our commitment to strengthening Nepal’s energy infrastructure and fostering regional trade.
Both the U.S. government and the Government of Nepal are absolutely committed to ensuring the success of the MCC Nepal Compact because it will be a gamechanger for Nepal and for so many Nepalis, both in meeting their energy needs and helping Nepal become a regional powerhouse as an energy exporter.
Given Nepal’s vulnerability to climate change, what role do you see the U.S. playing in supporting Nepal’s climate resilience efforts?
Climate change is a critical global issue, impacting people, homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure that serve as key supply routes for the economic health of nations.
Nepal is hard-hit by climate change – lives have been lost and changed because of recent flooding in Nepal.
As an agriculture-based economy, Nepal has also seen reduced agricultural yields and diminished crop quality due to increased flooding, droughts, landslides, and environmental degradation.
The United States has partnered with Nepal on various efforts to address the threats posed by climate change. We support the Government of Nepal’s efforts to raise awareness about mountain ecological systems, build community resilience, and apply nature-based solutions to adapt to the daily threats of extreme climate change.
In addition, we are working with Nepal on environmental protection, food security, and biodiversity.
USAID has been strengthening the capacity of local communities to take ownership of their resources and manage them in ways that benefit themselves, their communities, and Nepal.
Beyond our partnership with the Government of Nepal, we also closely collaborate with organizations such as ICIMOD (the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development).
Since 2010, ICIMOD has worked with the SERVIR program—a partnership between USAID and NASA—to help communities use satellite data and geospatial technology to improve local, national, and regional climate resilience and resource management.
Our Regional Environment Office works closely with Nepali institutions on climate change issues, enhancing the exchange of knowledge and skills needed to combat this global challenge.
What aspects of Nepal’s natural beauty and cultural heritage do you believe have the greatest potential to attract more international tourists?
Nepal is particularly unique due to its rich cultural, historical, religious, and geographical diversity.
I greatly appreciate the unity among Nepal’s diverse communities and believe Nepal’s diversity is a strength for it as it paves its own path to prosperity in the future.
From the towering Himalayas in the Himal region, the bustling streets of Kathmandu, and the beautiful plains of the Terai, Nepal is a destination that captivates the hearts and imagination of travelers worldwide.
The cultural heritage of the durbar squares in the valley, the religious significance of the birthplace of the Buddha in Lumbini, the Mukthinath and Pashupathinath sites, the colorful Janaki mandir too, and of course the food throughout Nepal – all of these are really amazing.
Having experienced Nepali cuisine, what are some of your favorite traditional dishes, and how do you see food playing a role in promoting tourism in Nepal?
I love all Nepali food! I especially enjoy Nepali dal bhat. I’ve tried biryani in Nepalgunj and Kathmandu, both of which I found to be very good.
Momos are always amazing, with so many different varieties. We even had the chance to learn how to make momo while filming a fun video with a Newari family in Patan, where we explored Newari cuisine. Yomari is incredible, and buff choila is my favorite. The food in Nepal has been fantastic.
Last year, I was in Upper Mustang during apple season, which was a real treat – we brought back an unbelievable number of apples from that trip. The Marpha apple pie and apple wine were a big favorite!
As I mentioned, Nepal’s rich culinary heritage, featuring dishes like momo and dal bhat, can draw food enthusiasts from around the globe.
The vibrant street food scene and traditional feasts can offer tourists an authentic taste of local culture.
Could you share a memorable experience from your travels in Nepal that has deepened your appreciation for the country and its culture?
My latest trip to Lumbini really made a lasting impression on me, partly because I had the chance to see Nepal’s religious diversity up close.
While there, I interacted with various local communities, including a group of USAID’s media fellows, devotees at the Maya Devi Temple, students at the American Corner in Bhairahawa, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and Muslim kids at a local madrasa.
I greatly appreciate the unity among Nepal’s diverse communities and believe Nepal’s diversity is a strength for it as it paves its own path to prosperity in the future.
Comment