Nepal – Luxembourg Relations

Diplomatic Relations

The diplomatic relations between Nepal and Luxembourg were established on November 27, 1975. Since then the relations between the two countries have been cordial and friendly. Nepali Ambassador to Belgium is concurrently accredited to Luxembourg and the Embassy of Luxembourg in New Delhi is accredited to Nepal. Exchange of visits at high levels from time to time has contributed to strengthening relations between Nepal and Luxembourg.

Exchange of visits                                                                                                  

Foreign Minister of Luxembourg H.E. Jean Asselborn visited Nepal from 29 to 30 January, 2020. Prince Guillaume, the eldest son of Crown Prince Henri, visited Nepal in 1997, leading a scout delegation. It was followed by the visit of Princess Maria Teresa in 1998.

Former Prime Minister of Nepal Late Sushil Koirala visited Luxembourg on 30 September 2014 and had a meeting with Prime Minister of Luxembourg.

Foreign Minister Hon. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali visited Luxembourg in July 2018 and had a meeting with Minister for Development Cooperation.

Former Foreign Minister of Nepal Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat visited Luxembourg in February 2017 during which he had separate meetings with Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs.

Development Cooperation

Nepal has been receiving development cooperation from Luxembourg in the fields of education, environment and health sectors through NGOs. Luxembourg also provides its development cooperation to Nepal through multilateral channels. Nepal and Luxembourg came closer through partnership in scouts. There exists quite a long and significant cooperation and exchanges between the two scouts. Another visible symbol of Nepal-Luxembourg partnership in development cooperation is the establishment and operation of the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled in Banepa.

Trade

The volume of bilateral trade is quite small. Nepali export to Luxemburg has dominated by the traditional items like carpet, handicraft items (window frames), preparations containing tobacco, etc. whereas electrical machines and apparatus; moulds of injection or compression type; articles of steel or iron wire; etc are imported from Luxembourg. The statistics of trade between Nepal and Luxemburg for the last few years is given below:

Value in NRs.

Year Export Import Trade balance
2015 5,156,422 14,272,587 -9,116,165
2016 3,887,906 7,327,103 -3,439,197
2017 22,783,185 28,004,352 -5,221,167
2018 1,904,794 49,631,096 -47,726,302
2019 774,461 24,148,709 -23,374,248

 

Tourism and people to people contacts

Given the size of the population, a few number of tourists come to Nepal from Luxembourg. Though small in number around 360, the Nepali Diaspora in Luxembourg is playing important role in bringing our two societies further closer, appreciating each other’s cultures, traditions and way of life.

August 2020