MoFA plans a major revamp.

ANIL GIRI

KATHMANDU, SEP 16 -
To cope with the increasing scope of foreign policy engagements inside the country and outside, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is recommending expansion of its presence, while also adding more personnel to the existing missions and divisions.

In its new ‘Organisation and Management Report’, which is yet to get a final nod from the Cabinet, mandarins have suggested giving a fresh look to this tiny but sophisticated service. Joint Secretary at MoFA Dhanajaya Jha, who is also the division head of Europe, America, West Asia and Africa, is leading a team where officials from the Ministry of Finance and General Administration are the members. Besides the recently set up Central Passport Office, the report suggests adding three more divisions in the offices—West Asia, Africa and SAARC to be headed by Joint Secretaries.

After the addition, the number of political divisions would reach 10. “That obviously means we would need more personnel,” deputy spokesperson at MoFA, Harish Chandra Ghimire, said. A separate desk to look after foreign affairs at the President’s Office has also been proposed.

The report also suggests adding two more joint secretaries in the Nepali mission in Washington and London in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Mission. The proposal also points out the need to open up a new Consulate General’s Office in New York given the pressure of trade, commerce, visa and other consular matters. The report also advises the government to take a lead to open up new missions in line with the growth of Nepali presence, engagement, and investment within SAARC nations, Singapore, Oman and Spain. “This revamp has been necessitated by the growing Nepali diaspora in the US and Europe,” said Ghimire.



Brazil to open mission

KATHMANDU: South American giant, Brazil, has decided to open a mission in Nepal, said MoFA officials. President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed to set up a mission here in July, according to an official. “We are hoping for more reciprocity from other countries. Canada and South Africa are likely to take similar initiative soon,” the official said. (PR)


Posted on: 2010-09-17