LONDON, Aug 11: Ganesh Parajuli, deputy leader of the parliamentary party of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, RSP, has pledged that the state will gradually address the demands of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, NRNA.
Addressing the opening session of the NRNA Europe Region’s 17th Regional Conference in Dublin, Ireland, on Monday, Parajuli acknowledged that all of the association’s demands could not be addressed immediately but said they would be fulfilled gradually.
Parajuli, who attended the event as the chief guest, said the government was positive about addressing the concerns of non-resident Nepalis.
The two-day regional conference in Dublin was inaugurated by Parajuli, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nepali Embassy in the United Kingdom Bipin Duwadi, and Krishna Kumar Subedi, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who jointly lit a traditional oil lamp.
NRNA International Coordination Council, or ICC, President Dr Hemraj Sharma said the current executive committee would begin its campaign to restore unity within the organisation from Ireland.
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He said the NRNA would step up cooperation with younger generations, women, the government, the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and other institutions. He also said the organisation had placed the Global Knowledge Conference among its priorities.
Bipin Duwadi, the acting Nepali ambassador to the United Kingdom, said Nepalis living abroad had made important economic contributions to their families and the government in Nepal. He warned that second- and third-generation Nepalis were gradually becoming disconnected from Nepal, while the fourth generation was even further removed.
He said the NRNA must now seriously consider how to strengthen the connection between younger generations abroad and Nepal.
Duwadi said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was working continuously to connect the knowledge, skills, experience and capital of Nepalis living abroad with Nepal.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Krishna Kumar Subedi said the relationship between non-resident Nepalis and Nepal should not be limited to remittances alone. He said trust was the first condition for attracting investment into Nepal and added that the government was ready to provide legal protection to non-resident Nepalis.
He urged non-resident Nepalis to invest in Nepal with confidence.
Subedi said the NRNA’s real capital was not just money but also the experience, knowledge and skills of Nepalis living abroad. He stressed that the government should move beyond the idea of “Return to Nepal” and focus instead on “Connect to Nepal".
He added that the NRNA should move beyond simply holding meetings and presenting demands to the government, and make economic engagement, social development and knowledge transfer its main agenda.
At the ceremony, NRNA ICC Senior Vice President Robin Sherchan wished the conference success. Video messages from Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and NRNA ICC founding President Dr Upendra Mahato were also presented.
NRNA Ireland President Chet Raj Oli expressed happiness at getting the opportunity to host the historic regional conference and thanked all NRNA campaigners who contributed to making the event possible.
