Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, a Ugandan businessman turned diplomat said he will facilitate the exchange of tourism, trade and investment opportunities between Nepal and Uganda.
Addressing a gathering in Kampala after his inaugural as Nepali Consul to Uganda hosted at Kabira country club, he said: “The decision by the governments of Uganda and Nepal to establish a consulate is an important step towards enhancing bilateral relations between our two countries.
“The office of the honorary consul will act as a bridge for friendship promotion, the exchange of cooperation in all fields especially trade and investment in particular. It will also facilitate the sharing of Nepal’s experience in developing the tourism and leisure sectors and how Uganda can learn from their experience,” he said.
Dr. Sudhir, had earlier in the day, flanked by His Excellency Ambassador Jhabindra Aryal Rajdoot, presented his credentials to the Uganda foreign affairs ministry. The duo also officially opened the Nepalese Consulate in Uganda, at Crane Chambers. They also met Hon. Kiwanda Godfrey Ssubi, Uganda’s state minister for tourism, wildlife, and antiquities to discuss tourism-related opportunities.
Tourism is one of the largest industries in Nepal, employing more than a million people and contributing 7.9% of the total GDP. It is also one of the fastest-growing. The number of international visitors crossed one million in 2018 for the first time (not counting Indian tourists arriving by land). Nepal is home to four world heritage sites: Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, Sagarmatha National Park which includes Mount Everest, the highest peak on earth, and seven monuments in the Kathmandu Valley collectively listed as one, and Chitwan National Park.
Dr. Sudhir, who was also flanked by his wife, Jyostna Ruparelia and His Excellency Ambassador Jhabindra Aryal Rajdoot, the Nepalese Ambassador to Egypt, also said that the consulate will “also contribute to the growth of the political, economic and social relations between the two countries, under the guidance of the respective ministries of foreign affairs.” He also said that on top of providing consular services to the Nepali community in Uganda it will also facilitate the sharing of information with Ugandans travelling to Nepal for tourism, trade, education, and other opportunities.
I, therefore, look forward to working with the government of the Republic of Uganda and The Federal Republic of Nepal and the embassy on Cairo to carry out the above task of serving the Nepalese community in Uganda,” he said.
