Foreign Secretary Arjun B Thapa inaugurated the Nepali embassy in Oman by lighting a traditional lamp amid a ceremony on Wednesday.

After the inaugural function, Chargé d’Affairs Jhabindra Aryal of the Embassy hosted a reception to celebrate the occasion.

The reception was attended by the visiting Nepali delegates, senior officials of the Oman government, heads of diplomatic corps based in Muscat and members of the non-residential Nepali community, according to a statement issued by the embassy.

Earlier, Thapa had a meeting with Hamed Khamis Al-Amri, labour secretary at the Omani Ministry of Manpower in Muscat, according to the Nepali Embassy in Oman. The two officials discussed matters related to increasing employment opportunities for Nepali workers, creating a conducive environment for workers and employers, the safety and welfare of the workers and the need for a bilateral labour agreement between the two countries. Al-Amri welcomed the idea of having such an agreement and assured of his cooperation to initiate the process to this effect.

Foreign Secretary Thapa thanked the Oman government for providing opportunities to Nepali workers. The Omani labour secretary, meanwhile, applauded Nepali workers for their honesty, sincerity and hard work, the statement read.

Foreign Secretary Thapa also met with Khalil bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Khonjim, chairman of the Oman Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Issues related to employment, trade, tourism and bilateral investment opportunities in Nepal were discussed in the meeting.

Published on: 25 December 2013 | The Kathmandu Post