HomeBilateral Relations
Nepal-Israel Relations
Political Relation
Nepal, a country nestled in the highest mountains of the world and Israel, a country lying on the Mediterranean Sea and the lowest point on the Earth the Dead Sea, established diplomatic relations on June 1, 1960. Immediately, Israel opened its residential Embassy in Nepal in 1961, its first residential diplomatic mission in South Asia. Nepal opened its Embassy in Israel in August, 2007. Nepali Embassy in Egypt was concurrently accredited to Israel prior to the opening of Nepali Embassy in Israel. An office of the Honorary Consulate General of Nepal was in operation in Israel since 1993. An Honorary consulate General of Nepal to the port city of Haifa in Israel is also working in promoting Nepalese interests in Israel since January, 2009. Relations between the two countries have remained friendly, cordial and cooperative with mutual understanding to each others' interests. Nepal and Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2010.
Exchange of High Level Visits
| :Visits to Israel | |
Date and Year of Visit |
Name of Dignitaries |
1960 |
Prime Minister B.P. Koirala |
1963 |
King Mahendra |
1968 |
Crown Prince Birendra |
January, 1992 |
Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana |
23-25 June, 1993 |
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala |
17-21 November, 1993 |
Minister of Agriculture and Local Development Ram Chandra Paudel |
January 8-11, 1996 |
Assistant Minister for Education Hasta Bahadur Malla |
September 16-22, 1997 |
Minister of Communications Jhala Nath Khanal |
July 12, 2007 |
Minister for Foreign Affairs Mrs. Sahana Pradhan |
2009 |
Minister of Labour and Transport Management Aftab Aalam |
14-18 March, 2010 |
Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav |
Visits from Israel |
||
1963 |
President Zalman Shazar |
|
1979 |
Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan |
|
2-4 Dec. 2001 |
A four-member delegation of the Knesset headed by the Deputy Speaker MK Nawaf Mazalha, paid a friendly visit to Nepal at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal. |
|
Economic Relations
Trade
The current status of trade between the two countries shows that trade is greatly in favor of Israel. The following chart shows the trade balance for last seven years between Nepal and Israel. As of today, there is no formal trade agreement exists between the two countries.
The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Trade and Export Promotion Centre can play vital role in further enhancing trade contacts between Nepal and Israel. A Protocol of Cooperation was signed between the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries and Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce in Tel Aviv on 25 June, 1993 during the official visit of the then Prime Minister Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala to Israel. In June, 2011, the Embassy of Nepal in Israel organized an interaction program on prospects of trade and investment in Nepal for Israeli businessmen with great participation and enthusiasms.
Nepal-Israel Trade Statistics (2002/03 to 2008/09)(Value in Thousand Rs.)
2008/09 |
2007/08 |
2006/07 |
2005/06 |
2004/05 |
2003/04 |
2002/03 |
|
6664 |
5586 |
6811 |
4117 |
5141 |
3176 |
6344 |
Export |
613317 |
560153 |
273453 |
64049 |
65408 |
483695 |
442545 |
Import |
-606653 |
-554567 |
-266642 |
-59932 |
-60267 |
-480519 |
-436201 |
Balance |
Israel, an affluent and developed country and an OECD Member, can be developed into a good market for Nepali products such as tea, coffee, woolen carpets, handmade paper, cashmere products, and handicrafts, wooden and metal products. Israel is still an unexplored market for Nepali products. Nepal can also buy super technology, chemicals and other computer related products from Israel. The trade between Nepal and Israel has remained in favour of Israel. Nepal exported items worth NRs 31,654,755.00 and imported items worth NRs 409,565,578.00 having a trade deficit of NRs 377,910,823.00 in the fiscal year 2010/11, (Source: TEPC).
Investment
Israel is also looking for investment in Nepal's telecom sector. Former Israeli ambassador to Nepal Dan Stav had told reporters in Nepal that Israeli businessmen would be interested to tap Nepal’s growing telecommunication sector. Saying that telecommunication sector is the most importation sector of cooperation between two countries, Stav said the Israeli investors were especially eying the cellular mobile sector the coverage of which is still at low level. He also hinted about the possible involvement of Israeli businesspeople in supplying materials for hydropower projects.
Tourism
It has been estimated that about 5 thousand Israeli tourists visit Nepal every year; mostly young students and adventure seekers. University graduates and other youths are the major target for Nepal's tourism products. There is a great necessity of conducting Israeli youth oriented tourism promotion programs in Israel. Taking into consideration of 50 years of Nepal-Israel relations, tourism prospect from Israel is abundant. Israel as a country of per capita income of 27,000 dollars could be tapped as a potential market for Nepal which ultimately helps contribute to enhancing bilateral relations.
Air Links
Government of Nepal and the Israeli Government signed a bilateral Air Service Agreement (ASA) on November 18, 2002. Implementation of the ASA would greatly encourage Israeli tourists to visit Nepal in big number.
Cooperation in Education and Culture
There is a huge prospect of cooperation in educational and cultural sectors between Nepal and Israel. Israel has been regularly providing some scholarships to Nepali students to undergo Post Graduate courses in Agriculture etc. As Israel is well ahead in technical education, Nepal could further boost the number of Nepali students to come to study in Israel and learn excellent education facilities available in Israel. In order to achieve this goal, Nepal can initiate the process of regular exchange of students, scholars and cultural troupes to enhance the people-to-people contacts of the two countries.
Initiating a Hebrew language centre under the Tribhuvan University or any other university in Nepal as well as opening up of an Israel Study Centre would contribute in deepening bilateral relations in the long run. As the number of Nepali workers is growing in Israel, it would be beneficial for the government to have good Hebrew communicators while dealing cases related to Nepali workers in Israel.
According to information received at the Embassy, at present, 10 Nepali students pursue post graduate courses under the Hebrew University of Israel. Most of the Nepali students are at the Rehovot College of Agriculture under the Hebrew University. One Student is carrying out his studies at the Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheeva, Israel. In 2011, three Nepali students have received scholarship to study at the Technion, the topmost technical educational centre in Israel.
Cooperation in Agricultural Development:
Nepal has been receiving technical assistance from Israel for its agricultural development. Nepal and Israel have signed an agreement with an aim to contribute to the achievement of agricultural development, promote exchange of technical and scientific knowledge for the benefit of the agricultural sectors in both countries. Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, who was on a visit to Israel from 14-18 March, 2010, and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel Shalom Simhon signed the agreement to this effect. As per the pact, the two countries will also exchange data and experience on agricultural policies and their implementation and encourage cooperation between their respective associations, organizations and private sector. The signing of the framework agreement is expected to pave the way for extension and deepening the collaboration in agriculture sector for the mutual interest of Nepal and Israel.
Major Agreements/MOUs
25 December 2006 |
Air Services Agreement between Nepal and Israel |
20 August 2008 |
Memorandum of Understanding between MASHAV- Center for International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and the Agricultural Development Bank Ltd. (ADBL) of Nepal for cooperation. (3 Year MOU) |
October, 2011 |
Renewed the Memorandum of Understanding between MASHAV- Centre for International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and the Agricultural Development Bank Ltd. Of Nepal for Cooperation. |
In Pipeline
a. Memorandum of Understanding on Consultation Mechanism between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and State of Israel
b. Agreement between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of Nepal on cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Educational and Science
c. Agreement between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of Nepal on Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic Passports
d. Agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal on Gainful occupation for family members of a member of a Diplomatic Mission or Consular Post
Status of Nepalese Workers
Israel began to recruit Nepali workers/care givers in a systematic manner from early 2000 to provide services to old and sick people in Israel. In a short period, Nepali workers were able to receive praises from Israeli employers for their hard work, sincerity and humble nature and, therefore, the number of Nepalese workers increased within very short span of time and reached above 10,000 in 2007. Exact number of Nepali workers in Israel could not be ascertained at the moment. In a rough estimate, about 7000 Nepalese workers are working in Israel at the moment; majority of them are in Care Giving and rest work in Agricultural farms. Workers earn according to hours of work and are mostly insured for health, basic human rights protected by the State and law in general, could knock at the door of the courts or NGOs dealing with issues of migrant workers. Nepali women started to go to Israel especially as it is a lucrative destination that offers an average earning of Israeli shekel 3850 a month. Israel has recently restarted the process of recruitment of Nepali workers (caregivers) from August, 2011 after almost two years gap.
Back to Bilateral Relations
Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs
Narayan Kaji Shrestha 'Prakash'
Foreign Secretary
Durga Prasad Bhattarai
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Code of Conduct 2011
Kutnitik Aachaar Sanhita, 2068 Diplomatic List 2011