Government recommends ambassadorial posts for different countries; meeting also approved the proposal on tourist visa mutual exchange between Nepal and US

-RSS

The government has recommended five joint-secretaries to the vacant ambassadorial posts in different countries.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Banskota shared the information at a press conference organized here Thursday to disclose the decisions of the Council of Ministers meeting held on 21 and 24 December.

The government has recommended joint-secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ganesh Prasad Dhakal as resident ambassador for Thailand and non-resident ambassador for Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Singapore, informed Minister Banskota, also the government spokesperson. The government also decided to designate him as permanent representative for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific Region and the Asian Institute of Technology.

Likewise, joint secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mani Prasad Bhattarai has been recommended as a permanent representative for Nepal's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva and resident ambassador for Switzerland and non-resident ambassador for Italy, San Mario and Lichtenstein. Bhattarai is also designated as a permanent representative for World Trade Organization and World Health Organization, Banskota added.

Similarly, joint-secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bhrigu Dhungana is recommended as a resident ambassador for Canada and non-resident ambassador for Cuba and Jamaica. Dhungana is also entrusted as a permanent representative of International Civil Aviation Organization.

Chief of Protocol Deepak Adhikari has been recommended as a resident ambassador for France and non-residential ambassador for Andora, Monaco and Portugal. He is also designated as a permanent representative for UNESCO.
Joint-Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Durga Prasad Bhandari is recommended as a resident ambassador for Kuwait and non-resident ambassador for Iraq. Bhandari is also assigned as a permanent representative for Asian Cooperation Dialogue.

The government has also instructed the existing ambassadors for the countries to perform their jobs until the agreements received from the respective countries for the recommended ambassadors.

Three ambassadors recalled

Nepali Ambassadors to South Korea, Spain and Bangladesh Arjunjung Bahadur Singh, Bharat Bahadur Rayamajhi and Prof Dr Choplal Bhushal respectively have been recalled by the government.

The meeting also approved the proposal on tourist visa mutual exchange between Nepal and US. As per the new provision, both the Nepali and the US tourists need to pay US dollars 160 as fee for five years multiple visa from New Year 2019.

Similarly, the Foreign Ministry has been directed to make necessary coordination with the US Embassy to remove the additional charge of US dollars 200 it has been taking from the Nepali citizens for study visa.

Also, a proposal on expansion and upgrading of Chandragadhi airport was approved. Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Programme (operation procedure) Regulation (first amendment) 2075 has been approved.

The government gave approval for the submission of the bill on national identity and registration.

Govt to buy 300 electric buses

The Cabinet made a policy-level decision to procure at least 300 electric vehicles. A concept paper on 'public transport management' prepared by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport was approved in the meeting.
Various other work procedures and grants relating to integrated settlement were approved on the occasion.