Outgoing Australian Ambassador meets Industry Minister Bhandari

KATHMANDU: Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Felicity Volk, today held a farewell meeting with Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu.

Minister Bhandari congratulated Ambassador Volk on successfully completing her tenure and expressed confidence that the new ambassador will further strengthen the relationship between Nepal and Australia. He highlighted the cordial relationship between the two countries, based on friendship, cooperation, mutual trust, and respect. "Australia is an important partner in our development process," Bhandari stated.

He acknowledged Australia as a key destination for Nepali students pursuing higher education and thanked the Australian government for its support to the Nepali community in Australia. The minister also noted the encouraging number of Australian tourists visiting Nepal and expressed hope for an increase in the future.

Minister Bhandari stressed the need for more resources, technology, and partnerships to ensure Nepal's upgrade from a least developed country to a developing country by 2026 is sustainable and irreversible. He called for increased support from Australia in trade, investment, and tourism, highlighting investment opportunities in IT, hydroelectricity, and agriculture-based industries.

Ambassador Volk opined that trade, investment, tourism, and education between the two countries will continue to expand and strengthen. She anticipated that the first meeting of the trade and investment promotion committee in Nepal would be significant in boosting bilateral investment and trade.

The outgoing ambassador committed to remaining active in supporting the rights and interests of Nepal and Nepalis even after returning to Australia.

The meeting was also attended by Baburam Adhikari, Head of the Ministry's Bilateral and Regional Trade Division, and various officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.