Diplomatic Relations
Nepal and Finland established diplomatic relations on 21 September 1974. The relations between the two countries have been marked by friendship, cordiality and cooperation. The Finnish Embassy was opened in Kathmandu at the Charge d’ Affaires level in 1992, which was upgraded with the appointment of its Ambassador from September, 2011. Nepal has no residential Embassy in Helsinki. The Embassy of Nepal in Copenhagen is concurrently accredited to Finland. Prior to the establishment of Nepalese Embassy in Copenhagen, Nepalese Ambassador to the United Kingdom was concurrently accredited to Finland.
Bilateral consultations on development cooperation were held between Nepal’s Ministry of Finance and Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2003, 2007, 2010 and January 2013 in Kathmandu.
Exchange of Visits
Among several high-level visits have taken place between Nepal and Finland, including:
Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ paid an official visit to Finland on April 1-3, 2009 at the friendly invitation of the Prime Minister of Finland H.E. Mr. Matti Vanhanen. The then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Sujata Koirala visited Finland in March 2010.
Finnish Foreign Trade and Development Minister Mr. Paavo Vayrynen’s visited Nepal on 3 February 2009. Ms. Heidi Hautala, Minister for International Development visited Nepal from December 2-6, 2011.
Cooperation
Finnish cooperation in Nepal began in 1982 with the grant assistance of 6000 MT of chemical fertilizers. Such assistance has increased and widened in recent years. Earlier the Finnish development programme in Nepal was focused on energy, forestry and water resources. In recent days, Finnish development cooperation has been shifted towards alleviation of poverty, sustainable development, and promotion of democracy, human rights and participatory system of governance.
Nepal is one of Finland’s eight long-term development partner countries, along with Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia and Kenya in Africa, Nicaragua in Latin America and Vietnam in Asia. In addition to water and sanitation, education and environment sectors, Finland has supported in Nepal’s Peace Trust Fund, OHCHR as well as Nepalese NGOs. Finland provided US$22 million in the Fiscal 2010-2011.
Trade/Investment
Trade between Nepal and Finland is sill insignificant, as shown in the table below:
| Import (Rs.)
(Jan to Dec 2017) |
Export (Rs.)
(Jan to Dec 2017) |
Import
(Jan-Dec 2018) |
Export
(Jan-Dec 2018) |
|
| Finland | 289,358,093 | 101,641,314 | 220,866,212 | 121,238,014 |
Source: TEPC, Nepal
A MoU between FNCCI and its Finnish counterpart was signed in 1993 during then Nepalese Prime Minister’s Visit to Finland. Similarly, an agreement between Nepal and Finland on Promotion and Protection of Investment was signed l on 3 February 2009.
Tourism
Though the number at present is not very considerable, there is prospect of attracting more tourists from Finland.
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Joint Press Statement
Nepal and Finland Establish a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism between Foreign Ministries of Nepal and Finland was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu today.
Joint Secretary and Head of Europe America Division at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari and Ambassador of Finland to Nepal H. E. Mr. Pertti Anttinen signed the MoU on behalf of their respective Ministries.
As per the MoU, Nepal and Finland will hold regular consultations alternatively in Kathmandu and Helsinki in order to review bilateral relations and identify new areas of cooperation between the two countries, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Nepal and Finland established diplomatic relations in 1974. They enjoy cordial relations based on mutual respect, cooperation and trust.
Kathmandu
21 June 2019