Bilateral Relations (Nepal-France) Bilateral Relations Nepal and Republic of France established diplomatic relations on 20 April 1949. There are residential missions of the both the countries in each others capitals. The relations between the two countries have always been marked by goodwill, trust and mutual respect. Exchange of Visits Late King Mahendra paid a State Visit to France in October 1966. In October 1989, late King Birendra paid an unofficial visit, followed by a State Visit in September 1994. The then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, visited France in 1995. The then Prime Minister Mr. Man Mohan Adhikary stopped over in France in April 1995 on his way back from Denmark after attending the World Summit on Social Development and met a cross-section of personalities. Then Prime Minister Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala paid an official visit to France from 5 to 9 March 2001. The then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli met with the President of the French Constitutional Council Pierre Mazeaud on 3rd October 2006. Mrs Mahalaxmi (Dina) Upadhyaya, the then Minister of state for water Resource of Nepal visited France from 30 to 31 July 2008. From France, President Francois Mitterrand paid a State Visit to Nepal from 2 to 3 May 1983. Dr. Margie Sudre, French Minister of State for Foreign Affairs paid an official visit to Nepal in May 1996. A French Delegation of French Senators led by Mr. Yvon Collin, the Chairman of France Nepal Amity Group in the French Senate, visited Nepal on 24-26 September 2006. Cooperation Bilateral economic cooperation programme was initiated in 1981 when the two countries signed the First Protocol amounting to French Franc 50 million. The French Government converted debt into grant which matured on and after 1st January 1989. Food aid and the counterpart funds that it generates have been the main form of aid since 1991. France has extended assistance in the form of grant, treasury loan and commercial loans. Main areas of cooperation are national seismologic network, petroleum exploration, water supply, Kavre and Gulmi and Arghakhanchi Rural Development Projects, rehabilitation of airports, food for work, and others. Some French NGOs have been operating in Nepal working mainly in the areas of health and education. France is contributing multilateral aid to developing countries through United Nations agencies and other International Organizations. In view of the major role being played by France in the European Union (EU), the prospects of cooperative relations between Nepal and the EU is expected to receive added impetus through excellent economic and trade relations with France. The French government had been providing a few scholarships in the field of public administration, diplomacy, journalism, hotel management, musicology, literature, French as a second language, etc. until the last few years. Trade/Investment Nepal exports pulses, incense sticks, handmade papers, carpet, handicrafts, ready-made garments, woollen goods, silver jewellery etc. to France. Similarly, Nepal imports machinery and parts, industrial raw materials, aircraft and spare parts, fertilizer, telecommunications equipment, electrical goods, scientific research equipment etc. from France. Import value is higher than the export value, as shown in the table below: Value in Rs.000 Year Export Import Balance 2009 1,171,782 1,618,633 -446,852 2010 1,217,904 2,170,711 -952,808 2011 1,165,035 1,226,583 -61,549 2012 1,070,043 2,016,878 -946,836 Nepal and France signed an agreement concerning Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investment in 1983. The major areas of French investment are in hotels, restaurants, medicine, aluminium windows and doors, vehicle body building sectors. Alcatel had become the leading supplier of the Nepal Telecommunication Corporation. Several French companies have expressed their interest in the hydroelectric sector. The Government of Nepal awarded a contract to Oberthur Technologies of France in 2010, for printing, supply, and delivery of Machine Readable Passports. As of July 2012, French investors have invested Rs. 350 million in 57 various joint venture projects of Nepal, which has created 2,273 jobs. Culture/Tourism The Government of Nepal and the French Embassy in Kathmandu have exchanged letters to renew the agreement on the establishment of Alliance Françoise de Katmandou (the French Cultural Centre in Kathmandu) for ten more years (up to 31 June 2014). Further, Nepal and France have signed an agreement on the conduct of the Ecole Françoise de Katmandou (French School) for a period of ten years up to 01 August 2014. The School had been functioning with the approval by Government of Nepal since April 1989. A significant number of tourists arrive in Nepal from France each year. The following figures show the tourist arrivals from France in recent years: Year Number 2007 16,770 2008 22,402 2009 22,154
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 14:37:19 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015