KATHMANDU, Aug. 4: The government has started preparations to appoint ambassadors to 21 countries and missions where the posts are currently vacant.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the appointment process for 21 missions, including 16 vacant diplomatic missions and five missions where ambassadors have been working on extended terms after completing their four-year tenure, will move forward within two weeks.
The five missions include Egypt, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal's permanent mission to the United Nations in Vienna.
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Currently, Nepal has ambassadors in only 15 countries and missions, while ambassadorial posts remain vacant in 16. Nepal has embassies in 28 countries.
In addition, Nepal has three permanent missions to the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Vienna, along with eight consulates general, bringing the total number of diplomatic missions to 39.
Nepal currently has ambassadors in New York, Geneva, Vienna, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, France, Kuwait, Myanmar, Pakistan, Portugal, Thailand and the UAE.
Ambassadorial positions are vacant in Australia, China, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the UK, the US and Spain, according to the ministry.
The government has also decided to shut down three embassies in South Africa, Brazil and Denmark from the current fiscal year.
The MoFA said it is currently reviewing applications received through the open call for ambassadorial positions. The government plans to recommend ambassadors from among the applicants.
This will be the first time Nepal is appointing ambassadors based on recommendations from an open application process.
