Kathmandu: Japan’s new ambassador to Nepal, Maeda Toru, paid a courtesy call on Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung. During the meeting held at the Minister’s office in Singha Durbar, the Minister spoke about Nepal’s development priorities and the potential for attracting investment from Japan. He urged the ambassador to encourage Japanese investors to explore opportunities in Nepal.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Gurung expressed his happiness about the ‘Nepal-2025 World Expo’ scheduled to be held in Osaka, Japan. He was hopeful that the event would promote Nepali products and enhance bilateral trade ties. The Minister also mentioned that Nepal and Japan will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2026, the same year Nepal is set to graduate to a middle-income developing country.
Recalling past ministerial visits from Japan, Minister Gurung expressed confidence that such interactions have strengthened Nepal’s democracy. He highlighted Japan’s longstanding support in Nepal’s socio-economic development and mentioned various areas of Japan’s economic cooperation, including infrastructure, human resources, agriculture, and culture.
The Minister emphasized the benefits Nepal hopes to gain from Japan’s experiences in infrastructure, industrial development, agriculture, and hydropower. He acknowledged the significant presence of the Nepali community in Japan as a testament to their strong bilateral relations and wished Ambassador Maeda a successful term, hoping for a focus on economic cooperation and investment.
Japan has been providing annual scholarships to Nepal’s government officials since 2016 under the Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) and has started technical training for Nepali students. Minister Gurung expressed gratitude for this support and Japan’s assistance during natural disasters, highlighting the importance Nepal places on its relations with Japan.
Ambassador Maeda expressed Japan’s readiness to continue cooperation with Nepal. He noted the growing Nepali community in Japan, mentioning the increasing number of Nepali-operated restaurants. Ambassador Maeda shared his appreciation for Nepali cuisine and expressed interest in visiting Mustang, noting Nepal’s natural and cultural richness.
Minister Gurung briefed the Ambassador on the attractions of Lamjung district. The meeting was attended by Secretary at the Ministry Radhika Aryal, Joint Secretary Kosh Hari Niraula, Information Technology Expert Dr Shaligram Parajuli, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.