KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Shanker Das Bairagi, Foreign Secretary of Nepal met with Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
During the meeting, both sides expressed happiness over the friendly and cordial relations existing between the two countries. Underling the importance of high-level visits in further widening and deepening the relationship, Secretary Bairagi hoped to welcome a high-level visit from the UAE in the near future.
Bairagi also highlighted the various measures undertaken by the Government of Nepal to create a conducive environment for investment in Nepal and invited investors from the UAE to invest in productive sectors. The UAE side, while acknowledging the important measures undertaken by the Government of Nepal, underlined the importance of concluding, at the earliest, the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.
FS Bairagi holds meeting with UAE assistant undersecretary
Participation from the UAE in Sagarmatha Dialogue and convening of the meeting of the Joint Committee chaired by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu was also discussed in the meeting.
Bairagi congratulated the Government of the UAE for the excellent preparation for the Expo 2020 Dubai and wished for its grand success.
Later in the afternoon, Bairagi held a meeting with Saif Al Suwaidi, Secretary of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization at the latter's office in Dubai. Both sides acknowledged that Nepali people working in the UAE are contributing to the economy of both the countries and are serving as a vibrant bridge between the people of Nepal and the UAE.
Foreign Secretary underscored that the safety and security of Nepali migrant workers and matching the skills required in the country of destination with the skills of migrant workers in the countries of origin would be mutually beneficial. In this connection, he expressed the need for partnership in the skill development of Nepali youths.
Regular convening of the Joint Working Group Meeting to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the United Arab Emirates in the Recruitment, Employment and Repatriation of Workers signed in June 2019 was also emphasized in the meeting.
Bairagi was accompanied by Ambassador of Nepal to the United Arab Emirates, Krishna Prasad Dhakal and officials of the Embassy.