Revamping Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

Dr. Trilochan Upreti

Merely changing the name of His Majesty's Government to the Government of Nepal (GON) is not sufficient to address the needs of the people. The government must strive to make its mechanism functional, action-oriented and result-oriented as per the changing times. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had asked the secretaries to recommend a road map on ways to make the existing mechanism more functional, responsible to the people and efficient. The report has already been submitted and is awaiting implementation.

Old bureaucracy

It is obvious that the present structure, policy and working culture do not meet the aspirations of the people. There have been several reports on reforming the bureaucracy in the past, but the suggestions were never implemented. The bureaucracy and its structure remain a ghost of past governments dating back to the Rana regime. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is no exception, and the present structure and its manpower are unable to cope with the challenges presently facing it.It is not possible to compare our Ministry of Foreign Affairs with similar entities from around the world, where there is continued research to make this high-profile government institution a centre of excellence. Its organisational structure remains as it was thirty years ago; the working culture is the same as during the Panchayat period, and sycophants and relatives of those in power continue to be given plum posts. There is little or no research, study, strategy and plan of action to tackle the challenges facing the nation ahead.

In the last 20 years, there have been incredible changes in international politics, international relations, international trade and business, and in the businesses of government. With these changes, such institutions were automatically revamped elsewhere, but our ministry refused to change. Neither the past government nor the ministry itself ever felt necessary to introduce reforms, make it efficient and establish it as a centre of excellence. Change is reform and evolution. But the type of changes required as well as the manpower and structure needed should be determined only after detailed study. What has obviously been felt necessary is that in order to bring more economic assistance, promote inward investment, tourism and enhance foreign employment, two divisions must be set up. Professionals, whether from within the government or hired from outside are urgently needed to lead the divisions. Without doubt, we need more investment, economic assistance, loans and technology for infrastructure development in this country. Huge investments are needed in water resources, tourism, railways, highways, education and health.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, doesn't have a Legal, Foreign Direct Investment Division or other necessary divisions, considered so vital to promote economic and other interests of the country. Every nation recruits highly knowledgeable professionals who work to safeguard the wider interests of the nation and its people. Expertise and legal assistance on such complex areas as negotiating skills, reaching agreements, implementing agreements, revising and signing treaties with nations are needed. For example, Nepal also faces legal challenges in the international courts and tribunals, for which expert opinion and suggestions are required. If such assignments are not handled by professionals, then the nation is bound to suffer huge economic, political and reputational loss. Matters relating to the WTO, BISMITEC, SAFTA, political relations and building treaties also require up-to-date and efficient legal service, which, unfortunately, is not felt necessary at our ministry. The area of arbitration is also a complex area, for which expert advice is frequently sought. For example, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) lost to IMPRISLIO SPA (an Italian bidder) in the Kali Gandaki 'A' case, and the former was made to pay a huge amount to the latter. If similar cases arising from the Middle Marsyangdi hydel project and Melamchi Drinking Water Project are not handled properly, then the Nepalese government will suffer heavy pecuniary losses, besides losing its credibility before the international community. In such a scenario, it will take years to establish the government's credibility before the international community.

The Political Division is another significant sector. For a nation like us, the United Nations is both a strength and an opportunity. However, professionals with knowledge of events taking place around the globe need to be recruited. Otherwise, we are less likely to benefit from this world institution.

Inconsistent policy

Policy formulation on what should be accepted during negotiation and what should be declined must be made. Nepal is infamous for inconsistency and discontinuity of its policy and frequent departure and changes in its policy, which is detrimental to our reputation and credibility. After every change of government, or even a change of ministers, huge changes are brought about without much consideration and without studying their implications. It is high time, Nepal restructured the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and promulgated a common foreign policy in order to deliver the expected needs of the people. This job can only be done with broader and wider mentality and wider consensus among the stakeholder, not in isolation.

Source: The Rising Nepal, June 8, 2007