TRADE DELEGATION TO KATHMANDU – 12 to 19 October 2011
The UK Trade delegation to Nepal which took place on 13-18 October was the first of its kind to be backed by so many different development institutions such as BNCC, NBCCI, FCO, UKTI, Gateway Asia, NRNA, the Embassy of Nepal in London and the British Embassy in Kathmandu and other sponsors. This Trade Delegation was by all accounts, a great success.
Over 20 delegates enjoyed a busy programme of events, not only the formal meetings listed below but also many one to one business meetings with potential and existing partners.
Wherever the delegation went, the genuine warmth of the reception was palpable, reflecting the long held respect and wealth of good feelings existing between Britain and Nepal..
Both the British Ambassador to Nepal; His Excellency John Tucknott MBE, and the Nepalese Ambassador to Britain; His Excellency Dr Suresh Chalise, played an active part in proceedings and attended most of the formal meetings with high level Government officials , including Ministers and the President of Nepal and also other stakeholders such as FNCCI and the Nepal Bankers Association.
The Delegation was lead by Sabe Tibbitts of UKTI, ably supported by Mahanta Shrestha,Vice-Chairman of BNCC, Ash Verma, Chairman of Gateway Asia, Barry Jaynes Secretary of BNCC and Prashant Kunwar, Office Secretary of the Embassy of Nepal who was appointed Project Manager for the delegation.
The mission was sponsored by two UK government bodies; FCO and UKTI and other sponsors included the British College in Kathmandu, FNCCI, Gateway Asia, NBCCI, Nepal Tourism Board, South London College, and Top Tea.
The schedule of events began in a relaxed manner with drinks at the Yak & Yeti Hotel on arrival on the evening of Thursday 13th and the following brief schedule gives the tenor of the official part of the mission:
Friday 14 th – Briefing and orientation at the British Embassy followed by a meeting with the Minister of Commerce and Supplies, the Hon. Lekh Raj Bhatta – then on to a meeting with Mr Lok Bahadur Khatri; Acting Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.
In the afternoon there was a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister; the Hon. Narayan Kaji Shrestha – then on to a reception at the hotel hosted by the BNCC.
Saturday 15 th - An all day tour incorporating the world’s tallest statue of Lord Shiva, Nagarkot and Bhaktapur followed by dinner and entertainment hosted by the Nepal Tourism Board..
Sunday 16 th - Meetings with the Nepal Bankers Association followed by a meeting with, the Hon Barsha Man Pun, Minister of Finance.
In the evening a dinner in honour of the delegation was given by the British College at the Yak and Yeti Hotel where Ambassadors Dr Suresh Chalise and John Tucknott MBE and delegation leader Sabe Tibbitts spoke about the trade mission to Nepal.
Monday 17 th Started at 8.00 am with a meeting with 4 selected party political contacts hosted by DCMGuy Harrison of the British Embassy. Visits were also made to NIBL and to Dr Shankar Prasad Pandey; Education Secretary. Later that day, a meeting with Minister of Industry; Hon. Anil Kumar Jha took place.
The delegation then met the President of Nepal, to whom the Secretary of BNCC presented one of the Chamber’s noted ties, after which they met with Hon.Posta Bahadur Bogati, the Minister for Energy.
Then on to meet the Governor of the Rastra Bank; Dr Yubraj Khatiwada after which the delegation met the FNCCI and later, in the evening at the hotel a meeting took place between the BNCC and the NBCCI – then on to the British Embassy for a farewell reception where Ambassadors John Tucknott and Dr Chalise both spoke followed by Rajen Khetan of, the BNCC sister organisation in Nepal, the NBCCI.
The increasing stability in Nepal can only augur well for the future and it was clear from all official meetings that politicians fully recognise its unique position between China and India which attracted the soubriquet “ The Switzerland of Asia “ – a phrase first coined by the last BNCC delegation, over 10 years ago - when a stand was taken in the British Pavilion at the Himalayan Expo – and now in wide use.
The special biodiversity of its geography lends other unique possibilities from hydropower to medicinal herbs, from tourism to infra-structure development and from textiles to education – it is a country both eager and willing to develop its economy with partners like the UK.
Such was the apparent success of this mission that the next one from UK is already being discussed in some quarters.
N B Jaynes – 23 October 2011
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