The first meeting of the Nepal–Portugal Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) has been held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
The meeting, held on Friday at Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reached an agreement to enhance cooperation and collaboration in the areas of bilateral trade, investment, tourism, culture, education, and science and technology.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the overall aspects of Nepal–Portugal relations, including political, economic, and consular matters. Discussions were also held on climate change and other regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
The Nepali delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, while the Portuguese side was headed by Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dr. Ana Isabel Xavier. The Nepali delegation included Nepal’s Ambassador to Portugal Prakash Mani Paudel, Joint Secretary and Head of the Europe Division Ganesh Prasad Dhakal, Under-Secretary Uttam Ghimire, and other senior officials from the embassy.
According to Ambassador Paudel, the meeting involved in-depth discussions on reviewing bilateral relations, areas of common interest, and expanding cooperation and collaboration. The Nepali side also made a special request to the Portuguese authorities to facilitate solutions to document authentication issues faced by Nepali nationals residing in Portugal.
“We have also urged for the establishment of a Portuguese embassy in Nepal. The meeting has opened new avenues of possibility between the two countries,” Ambassador Paudel said.
On the occasion, Foreign Secretary Rai expressed gratitude to the Government of Portugal for its goodwill toward the Nepali community living in Portugal. Secretary of State Dr. Xavier praised the contribution of the Nepali community to Portugal’s economy. Following the meeting, Dr. Xavier hosted a luncheon in honor of the visiting Nepali delegation.
Foreign Secretary Rai also held interactions with officials related to the renewable energy sector at the Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency. He suggested that Portuguese investors explore opportunities in Nepal’s energy sector—including hydropower generation, transmission, and distribution—through discussions with Nepal’s Investment Board.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Rai paid a courtesy call on Francisco Maria de Sousa Ribeiro Telles, Secretary-General of Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The embassy stated that discussions were held on further strengthening bilateral diplomatic relations.
The delegation led by Foreign Secretary Rai is scheduled to return home today after completing the visit. The Nepal–Portugal Bilateral Consultation Mechanism was established in 2018.
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