Press Release on the First Nepali Professionals Summit Meeting, 2019
On the occasion of the completion of sixty years of Nepal-Germany diplomatic relations, the Embassy of Nepal in Germany, the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and GIZ/CIM jointly organized the first Nepali Professionals’ Summit in Berlin on April 16-17, 2019.
E. Mr. Ramesh Prasad Khanal, Ambassador of Nepal to Germany, Mr. Dirk Augustin, Director of South Asia Division of the Federal Foreign Office and Ms. Annet Frick, Head of Nepal Desk at the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany jointly inaugurated the event by lighting the traditional Nepali lamp.
The Summit Meeting, attended and addressed by Hon. Dr. Usha Jha, Member of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha, Vice Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and Mr. Bishwas Dhakal, President of the F1 Soft Co, Nepal, concluded on April 17, 2019 with successful deliberations on roles and scope of Nepali experts residing in Germany to the overall socio-economic development of Nepal.
The Summit Meeting also decided to form a Network of Nepali Professionals under the patronage of the Embassy of Nepal in Germany. Similarly, it was decided to organize such meetings every year to chart out programs and make suggestions to policy formulation in view of the rich knowledge, expertise, experiences and skills of Nepali diaspora available in Germany.
In his address, H. E. Mr. Khanal, underlining the importance of rich resources of knowledge among Nepali diaspora, emphasised on further need of concerted efforts to build a network to remain connected to Nepal in order to achieve the goals of a “Prosper Nepal, Happy Nepali” in a very short span of time.
Mr. Augustin and Ms. Frick, representing their respective organizations, highlighted the importance of friendship and mutual cooperation existing between Nepal and Germany over the years and urged for further expansion of areas of cooperation in view of the peace and stability achieved by Nepali people in recent years.
The Summit meeting was organized to provide a common platform to Nepali professionals in Germany in order to find a common ground to share and exchange knowledge, skills, experience and technology and, ultimately, form a network of Nepali Professionals in Germany for the long-term commitments and contributions to overall development of Nepal. This meeting was one of the stepping stones on the road towards brain-gain policy of the Government of Nepal.
During the two days Summit meeting, Panel and Sectoral discussions were held on the major agenda, among others. Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha from the NAST made a keynote presentation on Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change whereas Hon. Dr. Usha Jha from NPC made her keynote presentation on Public Health and Health Care System. Similarly, Mr. Biswas Dhakal of F1 Soft made a keynote presentation on Information and Commnication Technology and Informatics respectively.
Mr. Bishal Bhattarai, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Nepal made a presentation on “Development and Diaspora.” Mr. Jiba Lamichhane, Patron and Former President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) and Hon. Consul of Nepal Mr. Ram Pratap Thapa also shared their thoughts on the role and importance of Nepali diaspora in knowledge sharing and development process in Nepal. Ms. Pasma Dahal and Ms. Narmina Jalalova of GIZ/CIM shed lights on cooperation with Nepal and GIZ programs related to migration and diaspora activities.
As Chief Moderator of the event, Dr. Maheshwor Rupakheti of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) Potsdam, emphasised on a strong collaboration of Government agencies and Nepali diaspora to bring desired changes in Nepali society. Dr. Prajal Pradhan of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research(PiK), while summing up the whole day deliberations, urged to remain connected with each other and form a network to facilitate projects and programs to be executed in Nepal.
In the beginning of the Inauguration Program, national anthems of Nepal and Germany were played. Similarly, Ms. Lejuna Shrestha and Ms. Ruby Raut presented a traditional Nepali dance performance to celebrate the occasion.
On April 16, 2019, a Networking Session and Interaction was hosted by H. E. Ambassador of Nepal to Germany at his Residence in Berlin Spandau.
On both occasions, a large number of Nepali professionals, German officials, scholars and researchers, who came from around Germany, took part in the two days event with much enthusiasm and eagerness.
Embassy of Nepal,
Berlin, Germany
April 17, 2019