Nepal, Australia sign trade and investment framework arrangement
The signing of the agreement is just another demonstration of our strong ties, says Australian assistant minister for foreign affairs. Kailash Raj Pokharel (left), ambassador of Nepal to Australia, and Tim Watts, Australian assistant minister for foreign affairs, sign trade and investment framework arrangement in Perth, Australia on Friday. Also in the photo, Foreign Minister NP Saud with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong. Photo: Courtesy of Foreign Ministry
Nepal and Australia signed and exchanged the trade and investment framework arrangement on Friday.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kailash Raj Pokharel, Nepali ambassador to Australia, and Tim Watts, Australian assistant minister for foreign affairs, signed the framework arrangement in Perth, Australia.
Foreign Minister NP Saud, who is on an Australia visit, and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong witnessed the signing ceremony.
In the bilateral meeting following the signing ceremony, the ministers exchanged views on matters of mutual interests, the foreign ministry said.
Foreign Minister NP Saud (left) meets his Australian counterpart Penny Wong in Perth, Australia on Friday. Photo courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“The signing of the agreement is just another demonstration of our strong ties. I’m looking forward to watching our economic relationship grow," Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Watts said in a post on X.
“Australia and Nepal are close friends and our relationship is underpinned by deep people-to-people links- Nepali Australians are our fastest-growing migrant community,” said Watts. “In Perth, we’ve made that a reality. Today Foreign Minister Saud and I met again when our two countries signed the Nepal-Australia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.”
Foreign Minister Saud left for Australia on Wednesday to participate in the 7th Indian Ocean Conference.
The foreign minister is scheduled to address the conference on the theme, ‘Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean,’ on Saturday. The Australian government and India Foundation are jointly organising the two-day event scheduled to start on Friday.
The minister is also scheduled to hold meetings with participating heads of delegations from different countries on the sidelines of the conference.
Saud will also visit Wellington, New Zealand for a bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters on February 14.
The bilateral meeting will be preceded by the second foreign ministry consultation meeting between the senior officials of the ministries, the foreign ministry said.
Minister Saud is accompanied by his spouse Jyotshna Adhikari Saud and officials of the foreign minister. Ambassador of Nepal to Australia Kailash Raj Pokharel will join the Nepali delegation.
The foreign minister is scheduled to return home on February 15.
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