President Bidya Devi Bhandari is leaving for Iceland on Monday to attend the Reykjavík Global Forum to be held on November 8-10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

This will be her first foreign trip since the Covid pandemic.

The Forum is co-hosted by Women Political Leaders (WPL), the government of Iceland, and the Icelandic parliament.

Initiated in 2018, the Forum is an annual event convening women leaders across politics, business, civil society, academia, arts and media, the ministry said in a statement.

“It is a platform to deliberate on the best practices in gender equality, empowerment and women leadership,” the statement added.

Women Political Leaders have decided to confer this year the prestigious WPL Trailblazer Award on Bhandari, the ministry said.

The award is presented to incumbent and former women presidents and prime ministers in recognition of their achievements as leading women politicians.

During the visit, President Bhandari is scheduled to receive the Award and deliver an acceptance speech.

The President will also deliver a keynote speech at the Forum. The Nepali delegation accompanying the President will include senior officials from the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bhandari will return home on November 12.