MP Arjun Kumar Karki Proposes Foreign Aid Management Shift to Foreign Ministry

Kathmandu. CPN (UML) MP Arjun Kumar Karki has proposed that the main responsibility for managing foreign aid should be given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MP Karki made such a demand while presenting an amendment to the policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year presented by President Ram Chandra Paudel in the joint session of the federal parliament. He emphasized that economic diplomacy should be given high priority in the country's foreign policy and asserted that the work of managing foreign aid, currently under the Ministry of Finance, should be carried out through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions. Recalling that Nepal is chairing the group of Least Developed Countries, Karki stated that poverty alleviation and the goal of upgrading to a developing nation can only be achieved through the proper mobilization of foreign aid. He argued that structural reforms are necessary to make economic diplomacy strong and result-oriented. Karki expressed the view that the specialized human resources working in diplomatic missions should be effectively mobilized in economic diplomacy. He said, 'It is necessary to effectively mobilize the specialized human resources working in our 44 missions in 33 countries in economic diplomacy. The main responsibility of mobilizing foreign aid should be given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Finance should focus only on which sector and development project the received aid will be spent on.' MP Karki, by amending point number 90 of the policy and program, has drawn the government's attention to effectively manage the 'NRN Investment Fund' to attract investment from the Nepali diaspora and non-resident Nepalis. He emphasized the need to free them from the double taxation system and create an investment-friendly environment to mobilize the capital of Nepalis living abroad for Nepal's development. MP Karki, who also has experience in the diplomatic sector, has suggested that the government should take special initiative to mobilize international aid while keeping national sovereignty and self-respect at the center.