Statement by Foreign Secretary Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai
on the Occasion of Nepal Foreign Service Day
Kathmandu, 10 Jestha, 2082
Former Foreign Secretaries
Distinguished former diplomats,
Dear colleagues,
It is a great honour and a matter of collective pride as we celebrate the Nepal Foreign Service Day – to honor the journey of our Foreign Service;
On this very day10th of Jestha in 2018 B.S., the ‘Foreign Service’ was constituted as a specialized service within Nepal’s civil service.
Every year this day is not only for jubilation, but it is also for solemn reflection, recognition and renewed resolve to serve our country in the best possible way.
It is also a day of gratitude for those who came before us, and a day of inspiration for those carrying the torch forward.
Let me begin by expressing heartfelt gratitude and deep respect for all those who walked this path before us.
From the earliest architects of Nepal’s diplomatic identity to the quiet diplomats who served in distant corners of the world with little recognition but immense dedication—we stand on your shoulders.
So, we bow to your dedication.
We are here because you persevered. Your service, your sacrifices, and your integrity have laid the foundation upon which we now build further.
This year’s celebration also comes after a major restructuring in our organization, with more focused divisions and additional human resources to meet the growing challenges.
With this, we have addressed the question of quantity to a great extent. Now, we must elevate our quality.
Let our significance not be proclaimed, but proven — through results. We must demonstrate that diplomacy is a vital instrument to make Nepal stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
Dear colleagues,
The institution of Nepal’s foreign office is one of the few oldest in Asia – a legacy that deserves reverence and revival.
While we must reflect and learn from our past and take inspiration from the road traversed by those who came before us, today I want to focus on what lies ahead of us.
I want to share my vision on how we should prepare ourselves to serve the nation in the rapidly changing world – pervaded with both opportunities and challenges.
The Foreign Service is not just a profession – but it is a calling for solemn duty to safeguard Nepal’s national interest.
And our constitution defines the national interest as:
“Safeguarding of the freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity, nationality, independence and dignity of Nepal, the right of the Nepali people, border security, economic well being and prosperity shall be the basic elements of the national interest of Nepal”.
This is our North Star which illuminates our path with a guiding light, a source of clarity and direction amid uncertainty
As a collective, we are the custodians of Nepal’s image, defender of the national interests, and we are the voice of our people on the global stage.
Every passport we issue, every document we attest, every negotiation we lead, every crisis we manage – each act is national service.
It is not the privileges bestowed upon us that define the essence of diplomatic service — it is our unwavering commitment to the nation.
Whatever prestige or privilege we are entitled to flows from the sovereign people of Nepal.
As their diplomatic representatives, our foremost duty is to serve them with absolute loyalty, integrity, and humility.
Let us remind ourselves: foreign service is not a route to luxury or riches. It is a path of commitment. Commitment to serve our motherland. It is a higher duty to make our nation richer and stronger and to make our people prosperous and happier.
Our real wealth lies not in what we gain –but in what we give to the nation.
Our real wealth lies in:
The greatness of our Service will be measured not by our perks, but by our impact.
Dear colleagues,
We are navigating an era of intensifying global uncertainty; where alliances are shifting, institutions are under strain, and rules of global engagement are constantly being rewritten.
From wars and economic upheavals to technological disruption and climate crisis, the world around us is in flux.
In such turbulence, some may ask: Does diplomacy still matter?
Yes, it matters now more than ever. In fact, it may be the only profession that can bring adversaries to the same table.
As a Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska once wrote “after every war, someone has to clean up. Things won’t straighten themselves up, after all.”
That someone is often a diplomat. Diplomacy is both a steady hand in a storm and a shield against it.
Thus, we must equip ourselves with strategic foresight, solution-oriented thinking, and bridge-building skills. We must continue to uphold our independent foreign policy, rooted in the UN Charter, non-alignment, Panchsheel, and our constitutional values.
We must be bold in negotiation, principled in partnership, and visionary in strategy.
We must turn MoFA into a learning organization — where experience is respected, learning is acclaimed. Where experience and knowledge bring a sense of humility, not hubris.
To the members of my Senior Management Team:
Leadership in the Foreign Service is about being the first to rise in a crisis and the last to retreat from responsibility.
I want you all to be not just titleholders, but mentors –those who set examples through their actions;
those who nurture, inculcate and empower the juniors for professional competency; those who solve the problem rather than shift the blame.
We must lead our junior colleagues on the path of excellence — not just by instruction, but by example. It is our collective duty to cultivate an organizational culture where every member feels valued, every voice is heard, and teamwork is second nature.
As senior diplomats, you are not merely supervisors; you are architects of unity, mentors of purpose, and builders of high-performing teams.
A true leader lifts others as they rise — that is the spirit we must embody.
Let us be transformational leaders, not in words, but in action.
We must lead from the front to make Nepal’s Foreign Service as one of the best such services –in Nepal and beyond.
We must put “we” before “me”.
Let’s stand as solid as a rock when it comes to protecting Nepal’s interests.
And to those who are in the middle of a diplomatic journey:
Your legacy begins now, not at retirement. What culture will you help create? What values will you embody?
In diplomacy, learning flows not just through instruction, but through osmosis — your juniors absorb as much from your tone as from your tasking, from how you act as much as what you assign.
Every word you speak, every instruction you give, every silence you keep — it teaches. So ask yourself: what are you really teaching them? Go beyond procedures — teach them precision.
Go beyond skills — instill values – values of hard work, dedication and devotion.
Shape not just their competence, but their character. Because in the end, the most powerful lesson is not what you say — it's who you are.
At this stage, either habits harden — or transformation begins. The choice is yours.
I encourage you to embrace reinvention. Stay curious. Question the status quo. And take a journey of transformation.
Push yourselves — you can still pursue sabbaticals, and training that teach and humble you.
As a mid-career diplomat, you are the bridge between juniors and seniors — a vital link in Team MoFA’s success.
Your professional competence is key to protecting national interest.
To our New Entrants and Young Officers:
You are now part of one of Nepal’s most visible, vital, and venerated institutions.
And we want you to know: You matter. Your energy matters. Your devotion and dedication matter.
We don’t ask for perfection. We certainly ask for:
Bring energy to break new ground, empathy to serve, and excellence to represent Nepal with distinction.
Most importantly, carry the fire within — the fire to serve our country with pride and purpose.
Never, never forget who you serve — the sovereign people of Nepal. We are their agents.
Dear colleagues,
In this profession, there will also be days of solitude, stress, and silence when you are in the duty station. In distant lands, among unfamiliar tongues, you will carry Nepal’s name.
But you will never walk alone. The Ministry is your second home. Let us build a culture where colleagues are family — where support is mutual and cynicism has no space
In every long journey, there comes a quiet, subtle temptation –the temptation to drift.
Not to fail, not to fall –but just to drift.
We may drift to seek self-interest over conviction to serve our sovereign people.
In the high calling of diplomacy, this drifting dulls the sharpness we need. It softens the resolve we require.
The fire fades into routine. Dedication deflects into dereliction.
And I caution you of this –while we drift, history does not. While we pause, others expedite. If we drift from our duty, our country will be left out.
Therefore, I urge each of you –regardless of rank --stay anchored to values. Stay awake to possibilities. Stay alert to your higher purpose.
We must rise above our personal desires.
Our dharma as diplomats is to place the nation first — always
Dear colleagues,
Before I conclude, let me reaffirm:
Let us carry forward a shared pledge —
To serve Nepal with unwavering integrity,
To serve our people with empathy and humility,
To embrace change with open minds,
And to face challenges with unshakable courage.
Together, from the newest recruit to the senior diplomats, we are the custodians of Nepal’s dignity on the world stage.
Let us walk forward hand in hand — united in mission, resilient in spirit, and proud of who we are.
Let us rise to the moment and transform MoFA into a premier institution — one that speaks for Nepal
with clarity, commands respect with dignity, and stands tall on the world stage with unwavering pride.
Let us make MoFA not just our second home — but an unconquerable fortress to defend our nation’s sovereignty and dignity.
I have every confidence, together, we can do it.
Thank you!
