Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is set to lead the Nepali delegation on an official visit to the European country of Spain this coming Saturday. During his visit, he will attend the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, scheduled to be held in Spain from July 1 to 4 (Ashar 16–19).
According to Nepal’s Ambassador to Spain, Shanil Nepal, all preparations for the official visit have been completed, and the Nepali community in Spain is eager and excited to welcome the Prime Minister.
During the visit, PM Oli will hold bilateral meetings with his Spanish counterpart, where key agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation and relations between Nepal and Spain are expected to be signed. The Prime Minister will also interact with the Nepali diaspora in Spain as well as Spanish entrepreneurs and industrialists.
The Nepali embassy has confirmed that other important bilateral meetings are scheduled during the conference.
Spain, a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy located in Western Europe, spans approximately 505,990 square kilometers and has a population of about 47.4 million. It joined the European Union in 1986 and became a member of the Schengen Area in 1995. Demographically, Spain consists of 84% Spanish, 1.7% Moroccan, 1.2% Romanian, and 12.3% other ethnic groups. Spain is home to around 20,000 football clubs and 1 million registered players. Spanish is the fourth most spoken language in the world.
Nepal–Spain Diplomatic Relations
Nepal and Spain established diplomatic relations on May 13, 1968, though Nepal’s residential embassy in Spain was only opened in 2018. Since Spain has no embassy in Nepal, its diplomatic affairs related to Nepal are handled through its embassy in New Delhi.
An estimated 20,000 Nepalis reside in Spain, working primarily in agriculture, hospitality, tourism, and construction sectors.
High-level exchanges between the two nations have occurred in the past. King Birendra visited Spain in 1983, and King Carlos of Spain visited Nepal in 1987 for a four-day state visit.
In 2016, then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ attended a high-level debate in Spain focused on human trafficking in post-conflict contexts.
Similarly, in 2019, then Minister of Communication Gokul Baskota participated in a ministerial-level GSMA event in Spain.
Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari also visited Spain in 2021, during which Nepal and Spain agreed to cooperate on climate change and tourism. Spain is emerging as a new labor destination for Nepalis and is globally known as a major tourist hotspot.
According to available data, over 12.5 million tourists visit Spain annually. From Spain, 19,563 tourists visited Nepal in 2018, although that number declined following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given Nepal’s geographical diversity, natural beauty, unique cultural heritage, and distinct tourist attractions, there is considerable potential to attract Spanish tourists. Nepal is seen as an ideal destination for adventure tourism, spiritual retreats, meditation, and yoga due to its favorable climate and rich offerings.
This high-level visit from Nepal is expected to promote Nepal among tourists in Spain and other European countries, creating a strong foundation for increased tourism and bilateral cooperation. RSS
