KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli is set to embark on an official visit to Spain this Saturday. During the visit, he will participate in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 3, 2025.
According to Nepali Ambassador to Spain, Shanil Nepal, all preparations for the visit have been completed. He also noted that the Nepali community in Spain is enthusiastic and eager to welcome the Prime Minister.
During his stay, Prime Minister Oli will hold bilateral talks with his Spanish counterpart. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on key areas of cooperation is expected to be signed, aiming to further strengthen bilateral ties.
The Prime Minister will also engage with members of the Nepali diaspora and Spanish business leaders, and attend other important bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the conference.
Spain, a Western European nation, operates under a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. With an area of approximately 505,990 square kilometers and a population of around 47.4 million, Spain joined the European Union in 1986 and the Schengen Area in 1995.
The population comprises 84% Spaniards, with Moroccan (1.7%) and Romanian (1.2%) minorities, among others.
The country is also a football powerhouse, boasting 20,000 football clubs and over 1 million registered players. Spanish is the fourth most spoken language in the world.
Nepal–Spain diplomatic relations
Nepal and Spain established diplomatic relations on May 13, 1968. However, Nepal opened its resident embassy in Spain only in 2018, while Spain handles its diplomatic affairs with Nepal through its embassy in New Delhi.
Approximately 20,000 Nepalis live and work in Spain, primarily in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, tourism, and construction.
High-level exchanges between the two nations include King Birendra’s visit to Spain in 1983 and King Carlos’s visit to Nepal in 1987.
Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (‘Prachanda’) attended a high-level conference on trafficking in persons during conflict in 2016, and then-Communication Minister Gokul Baskota participated in a GSMA ministerial program in 2019.
In 2021, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari visited Spain, resulting in agreements on cooperation in climate change and tourism.
Spain remains a popular destination for foreign employment and global tourism, attracting over 125 million tourists annually. In 2018, 19,563 Spanish tourists visited Nepal, though that number declined post-COVID-19.
With Nepal’s natural beauty, diverse culture, spiritual heritage, and potential for adventure tourism and meditation retreats, it is seen as a growing destination for Spanish and other European tourists.
This high-level visit is expected to further enhance Nepal’s visibility and attractiveness as a tourism and investment hub in Europe.
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