Some time back, there was rather sensational news in the media about the reported manhandling of a sitting foreign secretary by a minister, right under the nose of the prime minister who reportedly sought the rationale behind labor minister’s proposal to appoint additional labor attaches. No less appalling was the government’s apparent unwillingness to take to task the berserk minister. Among others, this incident brings into sharp focus the pervasive culture of impunity in the country being enjoyed especially by the high and the mighty. If a foreign secretary is made to look helpless and defenseless in his attempt to contest the wisdom of the proposal, one can easily imagine the plight of ordinary people!
MISPLACED PRIORITY
These are times marked by global economic downturn. Many industrialized economies have undertaken harsh and unpleasant cost-cutting measures in response. Without learning lessons and trying to be frugal, we may be focusing on issues of entirely misplaced priority. It is not the expansion of representation but ability to become proactive and cost effective that is important. In the absence of enough homework, mission clarity, and inter-ministry coordination, such appointments can be anything but an exercise in futility and an attempt at draining the national coffers simply to line the pockets of some corrupt ministers and bureaucrats! Nothing can be crueler than these efforts at a time when ordinary people have to relentlessly struggle for a hand-to-mouth existence.
The country is still immersed in a protracted transition. Continued political instability, miserable law and order situation and dwindling industrial environment have been factors impeding domestic industries to grow their productivities. Moreover, frequent bandas, labor strikes, and power shortage have forced closure of many industries. News of capital flights from the country, misplaced investment by banks, severe liquidity crunch and the increased interest rates are other added woes. Against such inclement domestic environment, there is a serious need to revisit the efficacies and rationales of these and any other extravagant proposals. Trying to be cost effective through the efficient operation of our missions abroad so as to achieve more with less should have been the mantra at such a difficult time. Singapore, Bhutan, Cuba and Srilanka are some of the examples of how a lean and thin but highly-focused diplomatic presence abroad can be effective in promoting national interests.
Nepal has 29 embassies, three consulate generals with a fair number of diplomatic staff, along with economic and commercial councilors and labor attaches. What is required is the perfection of staff in these missions to advance the agenda of economic diplomacy.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
We already have 29 full-fledged embassies, three consulate generals with a fair number of diplomatic staff, along with economic and commercial councilors and labor attaches. Together, the strength is quite sufficient. What is required is the perfection, not proliferation, of staff in these missions to engage them more constructively to advance the agenda of economic diplomacy. Preparation of a tailor-made, target-oriented and measurable work manual keeping in mind the works of each ambassador and embassy in consultation and coordination with the relevant ministries could be the first step in this direction. Inputs and suggestions from foreign policy experts and those from the retired senior-level foreign ministry officials can be important value addition in preparation of such manuals. Unfortunately, there seem little efforts made so far by the foreign ministry to seek and take on board the views of such long-serving and experienced compatriots.
The Institute of Foreign Affairs can and should be allowed to play a proactive role in this connection. Once such manuals are prepared and agreed upon, then there has to be sincere political commitments to implementing them, putting into place at the same time a follow-up and monitoring system. As a matter of fact, the performance evaluation of ambassadors and embassy staff must be directly linked with their ability to boost exports and foreign employment, as well as to bring into the country more business, foreign direct investment, tourism and joint ventures. These are not new proposals. If one looks at the reports of the task forces constituted at different times in the past, they have almost invariably made such policy recommendations. The apparent apathy of the government to implement is the real problem. Inherent reason for non-implementation is obviously political. Implementing these policy recommendations would mean the beginning of an end to the political patronization and the monopolized appointment of ambassadors. Introduction of such a measurable and performance-based evaluation system would also expose the ability of most of the politically-appointed but incompetent and non-performing ambassadors. This would bring more public pressures on our politicians in power to do away with the present system of rewarding their cronies as ambassadors with the sole objectives of reaping many political benefits from them, including pecuniary.
One of the ironies with the foreign ministry in all these years has been its unfair utilization by political parties in power only as a recruiting center for lucrative ambassadorial appointments for the party loyalists; much in the same way as the kings in the panchayat days would reward the retired bureaucrats, army and police chiefs and a few others loyal to them. A small example below is sufficient to substantiate this point. Of the total 29 embassies, more than 69 percent of ambassadors currently are political appointees, mainly from the major three political parties. The CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress enjoy the lion’s share; they have eight ambassadors each, the UCPN (Maoist) has three and the Madhesi parties have one. The share of the foreign ministry is just a paltry 31 percent! Is it not a glaring proof of how much the political parties have monopolized and exploited the foreign ministry?
In sum, appointment of a greater number of ambassadors from career diplomats, setting into motion of a quantifiable work manual for ambassadors and embassy staff to institutionalize a performance-based evaluation system, reorienting the focus of embassies abroad on pushing the agenda of economic diplomacy and depoliticization of the foreign ministry are the best possible solutions. In the meantime, why not get the support of our honorary consulate generals and consuls abroad and those appointed from friendly countries in Nepal to promote Nepal and Nepali products in the international markets? We have seen them simply hobnobbing with diplomats and big sorts in and around Kathmandu enjoying diplomatic privileges and blue plates. One positive step toward engaging them could be the hosting of their meeting in Kathmandu at the initiative of the current dean of the honorary consulate generals in Nepal. The cost of the meeting can perhaps be picked up jointly by the foreign ministry, ministry of commerce and trade, labor ministry and home ministry. The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) can also share the cost. The participating honorary consuls and consul generals from abroad may be more than willing to bear their roundtrip ticket fares. In this way, the meeting can be made cost-effective. It may be noted that we have never had such a meeting in Nepal, whereas these are regular features in other countries. A meeting of this kind could perhaps be an important occasion to bring representatives from leading business houses, industrialists, FNCCI and other trade representatives and officials from relevant ministries face to face with our honorary consul generals from abroad for sharing inputs and perspectives, challenges and opportunities of markets abroad in a frank and open manner. Conclusions and recommendations drawn from such informed meetings can be instrumental in exploring ways for boosting our exports, rather than the eccentric proposals of appointing more greenhorn government officials for the same purpose.
(Writer is former Chief of Protocol, Foreign Ministry.)
bhimsen29@gmail.com
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