KATHMANDU: India has appointed senior diplomat Sudhakar Dalela as its next ambassador to Nepal, as Kathmandu and New Delhi seek to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity and regional affairs.
According to a statement issued by the Indian government on Friday, Dalela, a 1993-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer currently serving as a secretary at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, is expected to assume his new assignment shortly.
He will succeed Naveen Srivastava, who took charge as India’s ambassador to Nepal on June 25, 2022. Srivastava has served in Kathmandu for more than four years, during which the two countries continued to advance cooperation in cross-border energy trade, connectivity and economic partnerships. Both diplomats belong to the same IFS batch.
Dalela brings extensive diplomatic experience, particularly in South Asian affairs, including Nepal-Bhutan relations, as well as experience working in the Indian prime minister’s office and participating in international trade negotiations. His diplomatic assignments have also taken him to Bhutan, Bangladesh, the United States, Israel and other countries.
His previous involvement in Nepal-related matters at India’s foreign ministry is expected to be valuable as the two neighbours seek to deepen economic cooperation and address longstanding bilateral concerns.
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