Apr 05, Kathmandu - Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has commenced efforts to overhaul the restructuring of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has taken steps to bring departments and divisions under other ministries that share overlapping areas of work into the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To facilitate this process, Minister Khanal has entrusted Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai with the responsibility to conduct a study. According to sources, the government is planning to reduce the number of ministries from 25 to 17 as part of its policy to streamline the administrative structure.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs primarily plans to bring three key entities under its umbrella: the Foreign Employment Department under the Ministry of Labour, Foreign Trade related to the Ministry of Commerce, and the Foreign Aid section under the Ministry of Finance. Sources within the ministry indicate that efforts are underway to integrate these bodies, which have direct relevance to foreign relations, under one roof.

Senior officials and Foreign Minister Khanal have concluded that until these three entities are brought under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, resolving ongoing challenges will be difficult. They believe that bringing these bodies under the ministry will clarify responsibilities and enhance work efficiency.

Currently, the Foreign Employment Department operates under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. However, most functions such as worker certification, welfare, safety, rescue, and repatriation of bodies are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions abroad. To eliminate this duplication of efforts, discussions are ongoing to bring the department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with legal provisions also being reviewed.

Similarly, certain aspects of foreign trade related to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies are also linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although trade promotion activities are conducted by trade representatives and ambassadors appointed through the Foreign Ministry, this interconnection is being further organized through the ministry’s initiative.

Additionally, talks are underway to bring the International Economic Cooperation Division under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Currently engaged in negotiations and agreements related to foreign aid, this division has been coordinating these efforts, but the Foreign Ministry has been playing the leading role. The proposal aims to operate foreign aid through a one-door system, with the Foreign Ministry taking the lead.