By Nasriya Naffin, TON Sri Lanka

Germany intends to continue bilateral development cooperation with Nepal beyond 2023 announces the German embassy in Kathmandu. German Ambassador Dr. Thomas Prinz recently met Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to hand over a letter from Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz to express their interest in continuing their support to Nepal’s development efforts in some of the key areas such as, Sustainable Economic Development, Climate and Energy, and Health and Social Protection.

At the event, German Ambassador Dr. Thomas Prinz said: “I am extremely happy that the German Government has decided to continue bilateral development cooperation with Nepal. It gives us the chance to jointly tackle important challenges like climate change.”

It was said that the representatives of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ will be paying an official visit to have a government to government dialogue before the end of the year.

Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany established their diplomatic relationship for the first time in 1958. Ever Since bilateral relationship between Nepal and Germany have been growing on the foothold of mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation. They also have well established residential Republic  Embassies in each other’s capital cities. The  Federal  of  Germany  founded its  Embassy  in 1963 while Nepal founded its Embassy in 1965. Germany and Nepal celebrated their 60^th anniversary in 2018 with various programs organized across both countries to mark the establishment of diplomatic relations between them. Germany and Nepal have had long-standing bilateral collaborations for over 60 years. German Development Cooperation has been of immense support to Nepal in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

It is important to have a look at the factors that have helped two nations to remain in a long standing relationship that has benefitted both nations to flourish.

 Diplomatic visits

Paying frequent diplomatic visits has contributed to strengthen close and cordial bilateral relations between both the countries. Prominent visits have become more frequent after the restoration of democracy in 2006.

 Developmental efforts

Germany plays a vital role in Nepal’s development efforts as a significant donor. Development cooperation between Germany and Nepal commenced in 1961. Germany began by providing technical assistance to start a Technical Training Institute at Thapathali. Germany also invested in the Middle Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project.

Discussions on Bilateral Development Cooperation between both countries were held recently in 2018 in Berlin. The major areas of development with the cooperation of Germany include Energy, transmission lines and infrastructure development. After the pandemic Germany has also decided to assist the Government of Nepal with Technical support to meet the challenges of COVID-19.

Academic and cultural collaborations

Nepal and Germany signed a cultural agreement in 1992 in order to restore cultural sites. The projects in Nepal, focused on the cities of Patan and Bhaktapur, and the research work of German archaeologists have been of immense help in this area. Manuscripts for the project of the University of Hamburg to Catalogue Nepali (Tibetan and Newari) also came to an end in 2002. Heidelberg University has its own office in the country which offers long-term training programs in Germany that contributes to the development of human resources in Nepal. Goethe Centre in Nepal offers German language classes for those who are interested in learning the language and German has also been taught at Tribhuvan University over many years.

Disaster relief

To overcome the aftermath of the earthquakes in 2015, the Federal Foreign Office of Germany offered an immediate relief equivalent to EUR 3.5 Million through several channels, especially through the INGOs. The Government of Germany promised to support reconstruction works worth EUR 30 million to be spent under the declared priority sector such as health. An estimate of around EUR 120 million was brought in by the NGOs and the private sectors to support the affected people.

Trade Collaborations

Nepal’s major export trading products to Germany are carpets and textiles. Germany’s key export trading products to Nepal are machinery and industrial products.  Since October 1986 an investment protection agreement has been in place. The Nepal-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NGCCI) founded in 1990, located in Kathmandu promotes bilateral trade relations. Besides carpets, Nepal also exports handicraft, silver jewellery, garments, leather, wooden and bamboo goods, lentils, tea, essential oils from herb and aromatic plants to Germany. Nepal mainly imports industrial raw materials, chemicals, machinery equipment and parts, electric and electronic goods, vehicles etc.

Other collaborations

Germany has expressed its interest in collaborating with Nepal in security printing and management of Gautam Buddha International Airport.

Taking a look at the kind of relationship and the type of work Nepal and Germany have done together as two nations have mutually helped people in both countries without a doubt and it is commendable indeed. Nepal and Germany have set good examples on building and maintaining bilateral relations to the world.