Kathmandu. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has told that Nepal’s relation with Middle East will change and not be limited to the area of labor. On the 7^th Regional Meeting of NRNA Middle East that commenced on Friday, Minister Gyawali stated that other profitable businesses with Middle East will be explored soon.

“Till date, the Middle East has remained a major labor destination for Nepal. That has led to Nepal being featured as a supplier of manpower. We are trying to change that definition,” Minister Gyawali said. “Now, our relationship will not be confined to labor market, we shall diversify.” According to minister Gyawali, Nepal has plans to renew the relationship in the fields of tourism, investment and export trade.

Minister Gyawali lauded the pivotal roles played by the NRNA representatives in solving the problems faced by Nepalis in the Middle East during the corona pandemic. “NRNA has passed the litmus test. The help rendered by the organization to the Nepali workers during hard times is really commendable,” he said.

He told that the repatriation of more than 130,000 Nepalis had been possible due to the joint effort of Nepal government and NRNA Middle East.  There are still 26, 313 Nepalis waiting to be returned to Nepal, he informed.

The virtual meeting with the theme ‘Need of Non-Resident Nepalis Today: Guarantee of Health, Security, Safe Return, Employment and Social Rehabilitation’ is being held for two days. It is chaired by NRNA Middle East coordinator Prabin Gurung.

The assembly is attended by Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security Rameshwar Raya Yadav and other high profile officials of NRNA.

According to coordinator Gurung, the meeting will mainly focus on the problems faced by Nepali migrant workers in the Middle East, ways to use the experience and expertise gained in foreign land in motherland and the channeling of investment from the Middle East to Nepal.

The meeting is being organized under the coordination of Non Resident Nepali National Coordination Council (NRN-NCC) Qatar. The 6^th Middle East Regional Meeting was held in Dubai of UAE.