KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has stressed the need to make Nepal’s foreign policy more closely aligned with the country’s economic interests and development objectives.
Speaking at the fourth AIDA Lecture Series organized by the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDA), Khanal said diplomacy should go beyond strengthening political and diplomatic ties and focus on generating tangible economic benefits through trade, investment, tourism, technology transfer and employment opportunities.
He said economic diplomacy should be an integral part of Nepal’s broader development strategy, particularly as the global economy, regional competition and geopolitical landscape continue to evolve. Nepal, he added, must be able to translate its diplomatic relationships into concrete economic opportunities.
Khanal said Nepali diplomatic missions abroad should be actively mobilized to promote trade, attract investment and expand economic cooperation. He emphasized that economic diplomacy should not be viewed as the responsibility of a single government agency but as a coordinated effort involving state institutions, the private sector, entrepreneurs and the Nepali diaspora.
“In formulating and implementing foreign policy, economic aspects must be prioritized, and diplomatic achievements should be linked to concrete economic outcomes,” Khanal said.
He also called for stronger coordination among government agencies, regular engagement with the private sector and enhanced institutional capacity at Nepali missions abroad.
Khanal further stressed the need to use economic diplomacy to expand Nepal’s export capacity and increase the presence of Nepali products in international markets. He said achieving these objectives would require professional diplomatic practices combined with greater participation from the private sector.
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