Foreign Minister Khanal Initiates Restructuring of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kathmandu. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has initiated homework to restructure the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has begun efforts to bring departments and divisions currently under other ministries, but whose scope of work aligns with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under its jurisdiction. 

Minister Khanal has assigned Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai the responsibility to study this matter. According to sources, the restructuring is being carried out in line with the government's policy to reduce the number of ministries from 25 to 17.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to bring three main bodies under its jurisdiction: the Department of Foreign Employment under the Ministry of Labor, foreign trade-related matters under the Ministry of Commerce, and foreign aid under the Ministry of Finance. According to ministry sources, homework is underway to bring these entities, which have a direct connection to foreign affairs, under a single umbrella. 

Foreign Minister Khanal and senior ministry officials have concluded that it will be difficult to resolve the problems faced by the ministry unless these three bodies are brought under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They believe that bringing these entities under the Foreign Ministry will clarify responsibilities and increase work efficiency. 

Currently, the Department of Foreign Employment is under the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. However, most tasks such as worker verification, welfare, security, rescue, and the repatriation of deceased bodies are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions abroad. Discussions are underway to bring the department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to eliminate this duplication of work. Legal provisions required for this are also being discussed. 

Similarly, several issues related to foreign trade under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies are also linked to foreign affairs. Although consuls and ambassadors are appointed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, their trade promotion work relates to the Ministry of Commerce. The Foreign Ministry has taken the initiative to further organize this interconnection. 

Likewise, discussions are ongoing to bring the International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division under the Ministry of Finance under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although this division is currently involved in negotiations and agreements regarding foreign aid, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been performing the coordinating role. The Foreign Ministry has put forward this proposal to operate foreign aid through a one-door system.