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Opening a New Chapter of Korea-Nepal Relations

Dr. Jagadish Pokharel, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission of Nepal, recently visited Korea at the invitation of the Korea Foundation. Dr. Pokharel, who has long served on Nepal’s National Planning Commission and also as special advisor of the Ministry of Finance, has been at the forefront of efforts to implement national rebuilding initiatives in Nepal. In regard to Korea, he hopes to expand Korea-Nepal cooperative endeavors in the political, economic, and social spheres.



Q: Since this is your first visit to Korea, how would you describe your initial impressions of Korea?
A: It was just past midnight when I arrived in Korea. First of all, the night view was very beautiful, and the convenient highway from the airport to downtown Seoul was impressive. Most of what I saw was more than I had expected.

Q: It has been noted that political instability and a lack of technology have posed obstacles to the economic development of Nepal. Please explain to us the current economic situation of Nepal.
A: The economy of Nepal today is similar to that of Korea in the 1960s. Nepal still needs to be more developed in many areas. Nepalese society is centered on self-sufficient agriculture, which accounts for about 30 percent of its GDP. The major industry of Nepal is tourism. The main factors that sustain Nepal’s include the earnings of Nepalese working abroad, and a few light industries: carpet making, ready-made clothing and herbs.

Q: During your stay in Korea, what ives did you hope to achieve?
A: I focused on three areas: First, to learn about the development success of Korea; second, to experience the current development of Korea with my own eyes; third, to find areas in which we could cooperate in the future. Of course, just a one-time visit to Korea cannot bridge the 40-year gap between the economies of Korea and Nepal.
But Nepal may be able to achieve what Korea has done over the past 40 or 50 years in 10 or 15 years, if we can utilize advanced technology, telecommunications, and human resources. No matter how small a country’s economy might be, it is being integrated into the global economy – Nepal is a member of the WTO. Technology transfer has become easier and quicker, unlike in the past. People have also made progress in their way of thinking. These are the factors that can accelerate the development of Nepal.

Q: You met with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Korea Development Institute (KDI), Seoul National University, and Non Resident Nepalese (NRN) in Korea. What was the focus of your discussions?
A: We discussed the politics, economy, and society of Nepal. Based on these discussions, we agreed to map out mid- and long-term projects that could be implemented in Nepal. In terms of politics, Nepal is about to launch a new government following the transitional leadership. I told that Nepal needs support from Korea, which has already achieved democracy. I asked for Korea’s political support of Nepal’s development efforts.
As for the economy, I emphasized the need to attract investment from Korea’s private sector. We agreed that it would be a winwin outcome if Korea’s capital and expertise could be combined with Nepal’s workforce and abundant resources. An economic cooperation project will soon be jointly launched with related Korean businesses in this regard. The KOICA has already started to establish an institution in Nepal to train and dispatch skilled Nepalese manpower to work in Korea. As for educational exchange, the KDI and Seoul National University expressed their intentions to expand exchanges with Nepal.
There is also a possibility to increase social and cultural the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Nepal, related to cooperative research and exhibitions. In addition, I think it would be helpful to adapt Korea’s success story to the situation of Nepal. After viewing the Cheonggyecheon restoration project, I have been inspired to develop environment-friendly streams in Nepal.

Q: Finally, what do you believe that the Korean government could do to encourage more exchange and cooperation between our countries?
A: I think the number of Korean tourists visiting Nepal could double or triple in a short period of time. Nepal’s tourism industry would further develop if Nepal was better known in Korea and more tourism products are offered to Korean travelers. After I return home, I will invite Koreans, related to the governmental, cultural, academic, and development areas, to visit Nepal to discuss practical ways to boost two-way cooperation.
In this process, the Korea Foundation, KOICA, and KDI are expected to play important roles. Further discussion is needed to determine what roles can be assumed by each organization. I ask for Korea’s active involvement in this respect. Personally, I will not forget this visit, which provided me with a wonderful opportunity to deeply understand Korea.
I will tell my colleagues at the National Planning Commission and the relevant ministries of Nepal all about what I have seen, heard, and felt in Korea. This will surely provide momentum for the promotion of cooperation between our two countries in the economic, social, cultural, and academic sectors. I have been deeply impressed by Korea and I return home with very positive thoughts. I look forward to seeing tangible results from my visit, and returning to Korea in the future.

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