The diplomatic relationship between Nepal and the Republic of France was established on 20 April 1949. Since then, the two countries have been enjoying cordiality, friendship and cooperation underpinned by immense goodwill, trust and mutual respect. The two countries established their embassies in each other’s capital in June 1967. The year 2024 marked 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and France.
Exchange of Visits
Nepal-France relations have been further nurtured and cemented by the exchange of high-level visits. The high-level visits from Nepal include the visits of the heads of state, heads of government, foreign ministers, other ministers and senior government officials. Likewise, the high-level visits from the French side include the visits of the head of the state, foreign minister, parliamentarians and other senior government officials.
The recent visit from Nepal was the visit of the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. K P Sharma Oli in June 2019.
Other high-level visits from Nepal in the past include the visits of King Birendra (in 1994) and King Mahendra (in 1966), Prime Ministers Girija Prasad Koirala (2001) and Man Mohan Adhikari (in 1995), Foreign Ministers Mr. KP Sharma Oli (in 2006) and Mr. Madhav Kuamr Nepal (in 1995).
The recent visit from the French side include the visits of Mr. Daniel Salmon, President of France-Nepal Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group at the French Senate in September 2022 and Mr. Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, Secretary General of the French Foreign Ministry in January 2019.
Other high-level visits from the French side in the past are the visits of President Francois Mitterrand (in 1983), Foreign Minister Dr. Margie Sudre (in 1996) and French Senator Mr. Yvon Collin, Chair of the France-Nepal Amity Group (in 2006).
Nepal-France Bilateral Consultative Mechanism
The Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) between the foreign ministries of Nepal and France was signed on 13 December 2019. The Mechanism provides an opportunity to discuss the bilateral relations and cooperation as well as share views on matters of regional and global common concerns.
The Mechanism came into effect with the convening of its first meeting in Kathmandu the same day the MoU establishing the Mechanism was signed. The meeting of the BCM has been held regularly. The fourth meeting of the BCM was held in Paris in March 2024.
Parliamentary Cooperation
A five-member Nepal-France Parliamentary Friendship Group has been formed in the Federal Parliament of Nepal in December 2024 with the view to further deepening the Nepal-France parliamentary relationship.
Economic Cooperation
Bilateral economic cooperation programme between Nepal and France commenced in February 1981 with the signing of the First Protocol amounting to French Franc 50 million loans to Nepal. Main areas of Nepal-France cooperation are national seismologic network, petroleum exploration, restructuring of Water Supply Corporation, Kavre Integrated Project and Gulmi and Arghakhanchi Rural Development Project, rehabilitation of airports, 'food for work', and others.
There is no significant bilateral official development cooperation from France at present. The French development cooperation to Nepal has now been entirely channelled through the EU and the UN.
Restoration of Panauti
One of the most iconic French cooperation in Nepal is the restoration of the historic town of Panauti from 1991 to the end of the 1990s.
Humanitarian Assistance
In the aftermath of the earthquakes in April 2015, the French government expressed solidarity with the people and government of Nepal. An eleven-member rescue mission along with the necessary equipment and medical supplies had landed in Kathmandu.
The French government announced financial assistance amounting to Euro 20,000 to 55 households, who were affected by the outburst of glacier lake in Thame village of Solukhumbu District in September 2024.
Mountaineering: Nepal Mountaineering Association has longstanding cooperative relations with the Ecole nationale de ski et d’alpinisme located at Chamonix in the Alpes, including in the areas of training in France for their mountain guides; and the French access to the best high altitude summits in the world.
Trade
Nepal enjoys duty-free and quota-free market access in France and other European Union markets under the Everything But Arms (EBA) policy of the EU.
Nepal’s main export items to France include woollen shawls, scarves, mufflers, carpet, essential oil, garments, handmade paper, plants and parts of plants, drawing and paintings, tea, spices, etc.
Similarly, Nepal’s imports from France include machinery and parts, industrial raw materials, aircraft, and spare parts, communications equipment, research equipment, etc.
The bilateral trade balance remains in favour of the French side. The table below reflects the export/import trend between the two countries.
Value in USD ‘000’
|
Year |
Export |
Import |
Trade balance |
|
2022 |
13,249 |
63,486 |
-50,237 |
|
2021 |
12,547 |
45,267 |
-32,720 |
Source: TEPC
Investment
Nepal and France have Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) in place since 1983.
Major areas of French investment in Nepal include security printing, hotels, medicine, aluminium products, etc. As of July 2023, there were 109 projects with French FDI of NRs. 1101.95 million generation employment opportunities for 3648 people.
Tourism
A significant number of French tourists visit Nepal every year. In 2023, the number surpassed 23,000. Similarly, around 10,000 Nepalis are estimated to be living in France. The French tourists arriving in Nepal and the presence of a sizeable Nepali community in France have contributed to further strengthening the Nepal-France people-to-people relations.
Europe and the Americas Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
As of January 2025
