The government led by Balen Shah has rejected, at the last moment, a proposal for Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle to undertake his first official foreign visit.
The proposal, which was presented in a Cabinet meeting, aimed to send a delegation led by the finance minister to the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C.. Although the Chief Secretary had tabled the proposal with the minister’s consent, Prime Minister Balen expressed disagreement and blocked minister-level participation.
Despite arguments that the minister’s presence was important to brief the international community on Nepal’s current economic and political situation, the Prime Minister did not allow the proposal to proceed.
According to the Cabinet decision made on Chaitra 22, Senior Joint Secretary Dhaniram Sharma from the Ministry of Finance will now represent Nepal at the meeting.
The high-level meeting, scheduled from April 13 to 18, is considered significant. The absence of ministerial participation may result in Nepal missing an opportunity for high-level political and economic diplomacy, signaling that the country will be limited to technical representation on the international stage.
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