Nepal-France Relations

Political Relations

The diplomatic relationship between Nepal and the French Republic was established on 20 April 1949. Since then, the two countries have been enjoying cordiality, friendship and cooperation based on goodwill, trust and mutual respect. The two countries established their embassies in each other’s capital in June 1967.

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, Ministers and senior government officials. Likewise, the high-level visits from the French side include the visits of Head of State, Foreign Minister, Parliamentarians and other senior government officials.  

The recent visit from Nepal was the visit of the Prime Minister Mr. 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 Kumar Nepal (in 1995).

The recent visit from the French side includes 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).

Bilateral Consultation Mechanism

The Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) between the two countries was signed in 2019. The fifth meeting of the BCM was held in Kathmandu in June 2025.

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 in the past were national seismologic network, petroleum exploration, restructuring of Water Supply Corporation, Kavre Integrated Project and Gulmi - 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.

Trade

Nepal enjoys duty-free and quota-free market access in France and other European Union markets under the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme.

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 000 Rupees)

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, hospitality, medicine, and aluminium products, among others. As of the 2023/24 fiscal year, France’s total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stock in Nepal stood at Rs. 56.1 million.

MoUs and Agreements

The two countries have signed the following agreements and MoUs:

1. Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) (1983)
2. Agreement on Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (1983)
3. Agreement Between The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and The International French School of Kathmandu (2019)
4. Agreement on the Establishment and Functioning of the Alliance Francaise of Kathmandu (2022)
5. MoU on Technical Cooperation Programme between Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and Directorate General for Civil of France (2023)

Tourism and People-to-People Relations

A significant number of French tourists visit Nepal every year.

Following table highlights the number of French tourists who visited Nepal in various years:

Similarly, around 13000 to 14000 Nepalis are estimated to be living in France.

Alliance Française de Katmandou, a cultural centre providing and promoting French language and culture, has been acting as a bridge of cultural linkages between Nepal and France. Likewise, École française internationale de Katmandou, a French school in Nepal has been providing French education since 1987.

Restoration of Panauti

One of the most iconic French cooperation in Nepal is the restoration of the historic town of Panauti during 1990s.

Mountaineering: Nepal Mountaineering Association has longstanding cooperative relations with the Ecole nationale de ski et d’alpinisme located at Chamonix in the Alpes, including training in France for their mountain guides.

Europe Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As of March 2026