Nepal and Oman have decided to ink various agreements and understandings this year on labour, tourism, health, and cooperation between institutions of the two countries. The decision was reached during bilateral talks between Foreign Minister Arzu Rana and her Omani counterpart, Badar bin Hamad Al Busaidi, in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Busaidi also paid courtesy calls on President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Oli on Tuesday and discussed matters of mutual interest.

Nepal is seeking support from Oman’s sovereign fund as it prepares to graduate from the category of least developed country in 2026 and aims to be a middle-income country by 2030.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Office, Nepal is also aiming to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045.

Nepal needs the support of the Omani government, to meet these targets, said the president, according to the statement. “As there are several similarities between Nepal and Oman on the foreign policy front, both countries can work together in expanding trade, tourism, and investment.”

In the meeting, Busaidi described his talks with Nepali officials as open and productive, highlighting Oman’s desire to build good relations with Nepal. He also stated that Oman is positive about opening an embassy in Nepal and conducting direct flights between the two countries, according to the statement issued by the President’s Office.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Rana and Busaidi had delegation-level talks, during which the two foreign ministers reviewed all aspects of Nepal-Oman relations, including matters relating to labour and employment, tourism, trade, air connectivity, and investment, among others, said a foreign ministry statement.

According to a statement issued by the foreign minister’s private secretariat, during the talks, Foreign Minister Rana had urged her Omani counterpart to conduct flights to Pokhara and Bhairahawa international airports.

Earlier, Oman had operated direct flights from its capital to Bhairahawha, which were later discontinued.

Minister Rana said the government has since introduced various incentives for airlines that operate flights at these two airports. The Omani foreign minister stated that he will consider the proposal, according to the statement.

“During the meeting, Nepal raised concerns about the welfare of Nepali migrant workers in Oman and expressed interest in sending more workers.”

The statement mentioned that Oman’s labour laws and working conditions are favourable, and this makes Nepal a good source of human resources.

The Omani side acknowledged that Nepali labourers are honest and dedicated, so Oman may take in additional manpower as needed, the statement issued by Rana’s private secretariat said.

Delighted to meet my Nepali counterpart @Arzuranadeuba in Kathmandu and discuss our growing relations across many economic and cultural spheres and share views on issues of common interest, the Omani foreign minister writes in X, I look forward to continue building on today’s meetings for the benefit of both nations.

The two countries have also agreed to soon sign an updated labour agreement.

At present, Oman hosts around 21,000 Nepali workers.

During the meeting, foreign minister Rana highlighted Nepal’s abundant natural beauty, including Mt Everest and eight of the world’s tallest peaks, and urged her Omani counterpart to consider investing in Nepal’s tourism.

This is also another area where Nepal and Oman can jointly explore opportunities, said the statement.

Rana also called on Omani investors to explore opportunities in hydropower and other sectors, and invited both the Omani government and private sector investors to invest in Nepal.

After the meeting, Rana told reporters that both sides are in the final stages of signing several agreements and understandings, most probably within this year, covering labour, health, tourism, and cooperation between the Institute of Foreign Affairs and its Omani counterpart.

“They [Omanis] are quite positive about hiring more Nepali workers. We have also urged them to invest in sectors like hydropower and tourism. Since Omani labour laws are progressive, we hope Nepali workers will benefit even more once we sign the new agreement, which we expect to do within this year,” said Rana.

Rana and her Omani counterpart also discussed the foreign policy priorities of the two countries. “Our foreign policy aligns with Oman’s, as we are both committed to multilateralism,” said Rana.

The Nepali delegation at the meeting included Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal; Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Ganesh Prasad Pandey; Nepal’s Ambassador to Oman Dornath Aryal; and other officials. The Omani delegation included senior officials led by Foreign Minister Al Busaidi.

Published on: 28 August 2024 | The Kathmandu Post