The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on expanding its ambit by bringing three key departments currently run by other ministers under its purview.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and senior officials at the ministry are convinced that without bringing three key departments—the wings concerning foreign employment, foreign trade and foreign aid—it would be difficult to deal with the issues they are currently handling. Foreign ministry officials say getting these departments under their ministry is necessary to streamline their jurisdictions.

Similar kinds of attempts were made in the past by foreign ministers but they did not succeed due to multiple reasons including the lack of enough manpower with the foreign ministry and for not taking a strong position for the restructuring of the ministry.

Foreign Minister Khanal has instructed Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai to carry out an internal study so that the agenda can be pushed during the restructuring of the ministries and their work division, according to two joint secretaries at the ministry.

Unveiling a 100-point roadmap for good governance, the government on March 28 decided to bring down the number of ministries to 17 and formed a “restructuring management secretariat” at the prime minister's office. The secretariat will come up with a recommendation on bringing down the number of ministries from 25 to 17, and amendments to the work performance regulations to define the ambit and objectives of each new ministry.

In the new restructuring plan, Minister Khanal wants to annex three different key departments whose most tasks and liabilities directly concern the foreign ministry, said two joint secretaries. He also instructed the foreign secretary to prepare a strong position paper so as to convince other ministers and secretaries.

Out of these three departments, the internal and external components of foreign employment are currently dealt with by the Department of Foreign Employment which falls under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The labour ministry and the foreign employment department draft laws, issue no-objection letters to Nepalis who want to go for foreign employment, issue permits, and handle the foreign employment board established to look after the welfare of migrant workers.

According to a joint secretary, when it comes to the verification of workers, providing welfare and protection to the Nepali workers outside, rescuing them in troubled times, repatriation of dead workers, rescuing and evacuating the Nepali nationals from abroad, everyone looks up to the foreign ministry. “This makes our work very difficult,” said the joint secretary.

“So we want certain responsibilities of the department of foreign employment with us. Our ambassadors and officials engage in talks and negotiations regarding foreign trade and transit with immediate neighbours and other countries even as the department comes under the ministry of trade and commerce. This needs to change,” said another joint secretary.

The foreign ministry is also looking to annex the international economic cooperation co-ordination division of the finance ministry. This department deals with foreign aid and grants and holds negotiations with bilateral and multilateral donors. The foreign ministry seeks to perform some of the core objectives of this department while establishing a one-door system of negotiating for foreign aid and assistance.

“It is crucial to understand whether any foreign aid, assistance or loan is aligned with our strategic interest. It’s a worldwide notion that foreign aid and assistance should serve a nation’s domestic interests. Therefore, the involvement of our diplomats and officials is key in any negotiation process,” said another joint secretary.

Both joint secretaries, who are privy to briefings inside the ministry, said that for the larger welfare and security of Nepali migrant workers; bringing more foreign direct investment and foreign assistance into Nepal; effective implementation of economic diplomacy; exploring the international market for Nepal’s exportable goods; and establishing Nepal as a lucrative investment destination, restructuring of these departments is essential.

Former foreign minister NP Saud told the Post that he had tried his best to bring those departments under the foreign ministry. Saud served as foreign minister from April 2023 to March 2024.

“We discussed bringing those departments under our purview but we were short of manpower. We also conducted an organisation and management survey so that we would have adequate manpower to deal with the departments,” he said. When Arzu Rana Deuba became the foreign minister (from 15 July 2024 to September 9, 2025), the Cabinet endorsed the plan to recruit more than 100 officers up to the joint secretary level.