Today, Nepal's foreign minister Dr. Arzu Rana is on an important visit to Oman She leads a four member team and going to the Eighth Indian Ocean Conference to be held in Muscat, the capital of Oman. The conference, scheduled for 15 to 20 February, aims to enhance maritime partnerships and regional cooperation.
Conference Activities
This year’s conference theme is “Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership.” Indian Ocean Region: World leaders and top thinkers will come together to discuss issues like trade, security, and climate change in the Indian Ocean region. Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, had extended the invitation to Minister Rana to represent Nepal.
During the event, Minister Rana will speak during a special session entitled, “Amplifying the Voice of the Global South.” This is session aims to give voice for countries like Nepal in global negotiation. Nepal has long been a proponent of more focus on developing countries’ issues such as climate change and trade disparities.
Strengthening Nepal-Oman Ties
Apart from the conference, Minister Rana is expected to hold significant talks with the Omani authorities, including senior personalities in the Foreign Ministry. They will discuss ways to promote trade, tourism and cooperation in renewable energy. FurtherMainly Nepal and Oman are also expected to sign a number of pacts, MoUs, to bolster cooperation.
Contacting Nepali Diplomats in Foreign Countries
While in Oman, Minister Rana will also conduct a virtual meeting with the Nepali diplomats stationed in the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). According to the officials, the meeting will focus on the challenges faced by various Nepali diaspora living in different countries of the Gulf region as well as ways to bolster Nepal’s diplomacy from those countries.
Importance of the Visits
Either way, Minister Rana’s visit would reflect a growing role for Nepalese diplomacy on the global and regional stage. Trade, Security and Environmental Cooperation: Oman’s Role in the Indian Ocean Region Biome Nepal’s Focus It is the case that Nepal has the experience to engage at an event like this: by coming together to attend this conference, and solidifying relations with Oman, Nepal is taking steps to be at the forefront of these discussions.
Oman plays a key role in the region and closer engagement with it could benefit Nepal in various sectors — from trade to tourism to renewable energy. Minister Rana is also set to meet with Oman’s Minister of Energy and Minerals to further discuss possible cooperation regarding energy development, given Nepal’s increasingly growing energy sector.
Minister Rana is schedule to return to Nepal upon the completion of her visit on 20 February. Her visit is an important step for strengthening Nepal’s diplomatic initiatives and making the country’s voice heard in international fora.
