Tim Watts is Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. Before getting into Parliament, Watts worked in the technology sector as a senior manager at Telstra and a solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons). He worked on critical tech issues including the rollout of the National Broadband Network, auction and distribution of sections of the radio communications spectrum and network pricing regulation. Watts is the author of two books, The Golden Country: Australia's Changing Identity and Two Futures: Australia at a Critical Moment (cowritten with fellow Member of Parliament Clare O'Neil). Watts was in Nepal on a two-day visit to strengthen bilateral cooperation, discuss shared strategic interests and further Australia’s trade and investment ties. The Post’s Sangam Prasain sat with Watts to talk about proposed air services between Nepal and Australia and development activities that it plans to support. Excerpts:

Nepal and Australia have celebrated six decades of diplomatic relations. How important is Nepal for Australia?

Nepal is a very important country for Australia. The relationship between Nepal and Australia is built on a strong foundation of people-to-people connection. More than 130,000 Nepalis live in Australia, including nearly 60,000 students. The expat community is an enormous wealth of trust and understanding between people in our country. I look at people-to-people connections as a potential wealth to grow the relationship.

Nepal-Australia ties have come a long way but still there are no air connections. What’s the latest development on operating flights between the two countries?

The air service agreement between Nepal and Australia has already been concluded. That authorises direct flight connectivity. All that is needed is to negotiate landing slots and to finalise regular trips. As I know from the Nepali-Australian expat community, there is an enormous demand for these direct flights. Once it is established, I am certain that there would be no shortage of our people to buy tickets. The people travelling would not only be students but there will also be family members meeting relatives living in other countries, there will be Australian tourists and businessmen to further strengthen business ties between the two countries. All these elements show that the flight will be successful. The launch of the flights will be in the hands of the airlines. I know, from first hand, that there is a significant demand for a direct flight between the two countries.

Are there any airlines from Australia interested in connecting Nepal?

I’m not sure about the private sector business, but I can say that there are 130,000 Nepalis and thousands of Australians coming to Nepal annually, and there is an enormous demand for the flights.

Nepali students make up the third largest international student population in Australia, but all visa applications from Nepal are processed by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, India. Is there a possibility that a visa processing facility will be available in Nepal in the near future?

Australia is a multicultural nation. Half of our citizens are born overseas. What that means is that our immigration system is very significant. We have a global visa processing platform with hubs in particular locations around the world. That’s designed to ensure that we can process visas as quickly as possible with any surges in demand from anywhere. But I can say, I do know that visas for Nepalis are processed in New Delhi. I do know they are processed exactly at the same speed as applications from other countries. At the moment, the average visa processing time is 19 days. There is completely equal treatment in the processing of applications for Nepalis.

Australia-Nepal trade was worth approximately $2.34 billion in 2021 with international education services accounting for about $2 billion. Imports from Australia are also rising sharply. But Nepal’s exports to Australia are small, resulting in a huge trade deficit. What should Nepal do to boost exports?

There is enormous demand for Nepali food and culture in Australia. Momo is a celebrated food in Australia. Interestingly, there is growing demand for Nepali cultural cuisine in Australia. That also gives business opportunities. In terms of economic relationships, I think it will grow with people-to-people ties. It’s not the government that creates demand. It’s individuals and companies that will spur up business opportunities and encourage them to make investments. So, I agree, there is a great economic potential between Nepal and Australia to grow with growing people-to-people ties.

Nepal received 38,972 Australian tourists in 2019. Is there any scope to increase the numbers?

I think direct flight connectivity between the two countries will make a big impact on the numbers. The numbers will definitely rise as it will make it easier for Australian tourists to get in. Before my arrival here, my father too told me how wonderful Nepal was as a tourist destination. Australians like Nepal’s spectacular natural beauty. Unfortunately, I am here for work. But it gives me a good reason to return to Nepal as a tourist in the future.

Australian aid helped Nepal become a pioneer in community forest management. Are there any new projects planned for Nepal?

Australia has a strong official development assistance relationship with Nepal. Australia provides a $26.6 million investment every year for Nepal in official development assistance. During Covid, Australia supported Nepal with $7 million in assistance for personal protective equipment and related infection prevention and control supplies. Nepal too helped the repatriation of Australian citizens. These arrangements exhibited a strong and mutual relationship. There are many areas that Australia can support. One area is vocational education and training. Australian vocational education and training are world class. In Australia, vocational education and training is a study that offers you the opportunity to learn specific and practical job skills supporting your personal development. We are exploring new models for the delivery of vocational education in Nepal.

Nepal is graduating from the status of a least developed country after 2026. Is there any initiative that the Australian government is taking to support Nepal in the graduation process?

Australia will remain with Nepal in its graduation process. We will still be there as an official development assistance partner. We will still be there as an educational partner of choice. We will still be there in international forums to support Nepal. We have many challenges on the climate change front. We can work together on the climate change issue for mutual benefit.

What is Nepal’s strength?

It’s nature. Apart from the spectacular natural beauty, Australians love the culture and history of Nepal. We showed respect for culture and history. Australia handed over a 13th-century wooden roof strut to Nepal. It was stolen from a temple in 1975 and was later acquired by an Australian collector who donated the artefact to the Australian Art Gallery until it was returned to Nepal.