KATHMANDU: Acting Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai has officially taken on the role of the 26th Foreign Secretary of Nepal, following his promotion by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. Rai assumed his new position on Wednesday.
In a statement after assuming office, Rai expressed his commitment to navigating the challenges and opportunities facing Nepal.
“Our country is at the threshold of challenges and opportunities. I will work sincerely to tap the opportunities in the interest of the nation by tackling the challenges,” Rai said.
He also emphasized his dedication to prioritizing economic diplomacy as a key strategy to propel Nepal towards prosperity.
Rai, who holds a Master’s degree in Public Management from the University of Potsdam, Germany, and in Public Administration from Tribhuvan University in Nepal, has had a distinguished career in both domestic and international governance.
He joined the Civil Service in 1996 and became part of the Nepal Foreign Service in 2005 as an Under Secretary.
His career includes serving in several prominent roles. Prior to his current appointment, Rai held the position of Acting Foreign Secretary from November 2024.
He also served as Division Chief of the United Nations, International Organizations, and International Law Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he simultaneously acted as the Ministry’s Spokesperson.
Rai’s international diplomatic experience includes his tenure as Nepal’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 2019 to 2023, where he held leadership positions such as Vice-President of the UN General Assembly and Chair of the Economic and Financial Committee.
His contributions to the interests of least developed and landlocked countries were particularly notable, as he chaired the Global Coordination Bureau for Least Developed Countries.
Rai’s previous roles also include serving as Nepal’s Ambassador to South Africa from 2014 to 2018, with accreditation to 18 other countries, and holding senior positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs focused on South Asia, Europe, and the Americas, among others.
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