In the presence of Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, officials from the two countries signed two framework agreements here on Tuesday. The Legal Cooperation Agreement and memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tourism Cooperation aim to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. 

 

The agreements signed during the state visit of President Yadav come less than a year after the two countries fought for the presidency of the UN General Assembly.Improving relations with the Gulf state holds special significance for Nepal as Qatar is home to a large number of Nepali migrant workers and currently hosts the second highest number after Malaysia.Qatar is also hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup in which Nepali workers are likely to play an important role in the timely construction of stadiums and other facilities. The number of Nepalis in the Gulf state is expected grow rapidly in the run up to the World Cup as demand for both blue collar and white collar Nepali workers grows, Nepali officials said.

 

The Legal Cooperation agreement signed by Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hridayesh Tripathi and Qatari Minister for Justice Hasan bin Abdullah al Ghanem proposes a joint coordination committee to oversee implementation, sharing of experience and expertise on the pertinent field, imparting training to law practitioners and holding convention of law professionals. The MoU was signed by Nepali Ambassador to Qatar Suryanath Mishra and an official representing the Qatar Tourism and Exhibition Authority. 

 

It is expected to extend mutual assistance in promoting investment to boost tourism in both the countries.

However, two other proposed agreements could not be signed this time around. Nepal’s request to sign two other agreements—Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (BIPA) and visa exemption to diplomatic and official passport bearers—could not happen. 

 

Meanwhile, President Yadav held talks with Emir Bin Khalifa Al Thani on Tuesday. During the talks, Yadav invited the Emir on a state visit to Nepal. “The Emir agreed to visit Nepal in the near future,” Nepali Ambassador to Qatar Suryanath Mishra, who was present in the talks, said.

 

The President also requested the Emir to set up an embassy in Nepal to bolster the diplomatic ties between the two governments. In response, the Emir directed his officials to do the needful in this regard, Mishra said. The Emir also hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of the President.

 

Nepal established its embassy in Qatar on July 11, 2000. Later in the afternoon, the visiting Nepali delegation also held discussions with representatives of Hassad Food Company that invests on food, agriculture and livestock farming.The delegation also took a tour of Qatar’s traditional market, Souq Waqif, also identified as Irani market by the Nepali expatriates.Nepalis poised to become the largest migrant communityNepalis are all set to become the biggest migrant population in Qatar by next year, replacing the Indians whose number has just surpassed half a million recently, according to Nepali officials.

 

It is estimated that more than 3,50,000 Nepalis are working in Qatar currently, which is 13 percent of the total population of the Gulf state—second after the Indians whose population is around 20 percent.

Another 60,000 visas for Nepali nationals have been issued for next year by Qatari agencies, a senior foreign ministry official said. “We have estimated that an additional 200,000 or more semi and skilled Nepali workers could get new jobs in Qatar in another couple of years,” the official said. Nepalis are preferred in Qatar due to their politeness, honesty and their interpersonal skills, he added.

 

Nepal and Qatar have already signed a labour agreement. “Now, Nepal is focused on sending more skilled and semi skilled manpower and improvement in the salary and perks of our people,” the official said.

A recently endorsed working procedure for housemaids for the Gulf region by the Government of Nepal will open opportunity for another 150,000 housemaids in the region, including Qatar.

 

Top labour destinations

Malaysia     314,313

Qatar     232,346

Saudi Arabia     164,229

UAE     85,346

Kuwait     13,446

Bahrain     7,052

Source: Department of Foreign Employment