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Jinoos Shariati is the First Secretary for Trade and Investment at the British High Commission in Delhi, India. She previously served as Director of Trade and Investment at the British Embassy in Doha, Qatar, and led the Technology and Smart City Investment division at the UK Department for International Trade, where she collaborated with global tech giants and investors to attract their investments to the UK.

Shariati was in Nepal recently to participate in the Nepal Infrastructure Summit. Pratik Ghimire of ApEx talked to her about infrastructure, investment in Nepal, and UK-Nepal collaboration. Excerpts:

How has your experience been at the Infrastructure Summit and what are your thoughts on the current state of UK-Nepal bilateral trade?

Though this is my second time in Nepal, it is my first time attending a summit here. I have been very impressed with the quality of the speakers and the depth of the discussions during the summit, particularly following the success of the Investment Summit. By the first quarter of 2024, bilateral trade between the UK and Nepal reached 287m pounds. The UK’s total exports to Nepal amounted to around 95m pounds, marking an increase of 5.6 percent, or 5m pounds, compared to the same period last year. UK imports from Nepal were even higher, at 192m pounds in the fourth quarter of 2023 and through the end of Q1 2024. However, we aim to increase this bilateral trade between the UK and Nepal, which is why we are here.

It was great to see a blend of both international and local speakers. I was particularly impressed by the participation of notable experts, such as the former Foreign Minister of the Philippines and a renowned expert from South Korea. They brought a wealth of experience in infrastructure development in their respective countries and shared valuable insights on how to apply best practices as Nepal continues to develop its infrastructure.

How does your team support UK companies in navigating the business landscape in Nepal?

We have a department for business and trade, with a team based in the embassy whose primary role is to promote Nepal and its business opportunities to UK companies. Part of their job is to highlight the positive messages coming out of Nepal, particularly from events like the Investment Summit and this infrastructure summit. They also promote projects in the pipeline to UK companies across various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and education. So, while we focus on infrastructure and energy, we are also covering other sectors. If Nepal is opening up new markets, we are eager to promote those opportunities to British companies.

Essentially, our department’s mission is to promote business opportunities to British companies interested in Nepal. We also promote investment opportunities in the UK and globally. Just as Nepal is working to attract foreign direct investment, we are doing the same for the UK. Additionally, we work on trade policy and address market access issues and trade barriers that affect UK companies doing business in Nepal. My team collaborates with colleagues across the embassies and Nepali authorities to resolve any market access challenges UK companies may face.

What factors do UK companies consider when looking for investment opportunities in Nepal?

UK companies are seeking investment opportunities where their investments are secure and offer a good return on investment. If they see that the business environment is friendly, the projects follow international best practices, and there is transparency, then naturally, we can attract UK companies. If Nepal can develop a strong pipeline of infrastructure projects that are bankable, well-funded, and aligned with international standards, I am confident that this will appeal to UK companies.

How can Nepal improve its competitive edge to attract foreign direct investment (FDI)?

There is a global competition for FDI, with countries around the world vying for it. It’s encouraging to see that Nepal is hosting business and infrastructure summits and addressing the challenges businesses face when entering the country. If the government works with the private sector to resolve these issues and encourages international companies to come to Nepal, it could attract more businesses to set up operations here. I believe there are significant opportunities for many companies to do business in Nepal, but it’s essential to create the right conditions for them to operate, such as improving the ease of doing business and facilitating the movement of resources into the country. The UK has extensive experience in attracting foreign direct investment, and we have examples that we can share with our colleagues in Nepal.

What are the challenges when trying to invest in Nepal?

Some challenges I hear from UK companies, particularly regarding infrastructure projects, involve a lack of accessible data. They are seeking information about the availability of data, whether it exists, and whether the project is well-funded. This information gap poses a challenge. Establishing a one-stop shop to provide this data and reduce costs would be very helpful for companies. Another issue is with pre-procurement processes, where procurement is not always entirely merit-based. If we can create a level playing field, I’m confident that UK companies would be more interested in investing in Nepal.

How do you plan to involve UK companies in the dialogue with Nepal?

There are already ongoing discussions with our colleagues from different teams within the embassy. We have existing programs in place for dialogue with Nepal, and through these dialogues, we also bring UK companies to Nepal. If there is interest from Nepal, I’m confident that we can bring in some of our experts. Additionally, I believe that my team and the wider embassy may organize a business summit in the first quarter of 2025. This summit would provide a platform for experts to come together and discuss both the challenges and opportunities.

The Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival was recently held in Kathmandu, celebrating the shared literary and cultural traditions of Nepal, India, and South Asia over two days. An extension of the Kalinga Literary Festival, originally founded in Bhubaneswar, India, the event aimed to foster cross-cultural dialogue and promote the exploration of art, literature, and heritage across borders. In this context, ApEx spoke with Ashok Kumar Bal, CEO of the Kalinga Literary Festival. Excerpts:

As the CEO of the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF), what are your key responsibilities?

As Patron and CEO of KLF, I oversee the planning and execution of the various festivals we organize throughout the year. My responsibilities include resource mobilization, session planning, logistics, and coordination with speakers, organizations, and the press. While it’s primarily a team effort, my role focuses on oversight, advice, and overall coordination. This year, our team in Nepal did an excellent job in organizing the Kathmandu KLF.

From your perspective, how successful was the latest Kathmandu-Kalinga Literary Festival?

The 3rd Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival was a tremendous success. The two-day event featured over 60 sessions, with a strong emphasis on Nepali literature, art, and culture. The enthusiastic response from the audience and their active engagement were particularly encouraging. We were especially pleased to see the large turnout of young students from colleges and universities in Kathmandu. Their participation means a lot to us, and we are committed to doing even better in the next edition of the festival.

In what ways does the Kalinga Literary Festival promote literature, arts, and culture in the South Asian region?

The Kalinga Literary Festival stands out from similar events by fostering cross-border and cross-civilizational partnerships. These collaborations are vital for nurturing a global culture of peace, understanding, and sustainable development. Our mission began three years ago, with Kathmandu as the stepping stone. Nepal’s long-standing traditions of wisdom, enlightenment, and resilience align with KLF's vision to unite people through the power of literature and the arts. This year’s theme, ‘Nepal—The Gateway to Asian Art, Culture, and Literature,’ reflected this goal. The KLF in Kathmandu is more than just an event—it continues a centuries-old dialogue reaffirming shared values and aspirations between India and Nepal.

Do you have plans to organize the Kalinga Literary Festival in other parts of South Asia?

Yes, as part of our South Asian initiative, we’re encouraged by the success of our Kathmandu festival over the past three years. We plan to expand to other locations, such as Bali and Colombo, with which we share ancient cultural bonds.

How can Nepal’s literature and arts community benefit from the Kalinga Literary Festival?

KLF serves as an excellent platform for dialogue and exchange between writers, poets, authors, and artists from India, Nepal, and gradually, the broader South Asian region. Nepalese students, in particular, stand to gain from these cultural and literary interactions. We’ve been inviting Nepali writers, poets, and artists to participate in KLF events in Bhubaneswar, and over time, this exchange will be mutually beneficial, fostering greater connection, communication, and collaboration.

Shahida MacDougall is the Country Director of British Council Nepal. She has previously worked with the British Council under various roles in countries such as Tanzania, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. In this interview, Shreya Shrestha of ApEx talks to MacDougall about her experience, motive and programs that the British Council has organized in Nepal. Excerpts:

The British Council has been in Nepal since 1959. How would you summarize the key contributions and milestones of the British Council in Nepal over the past 65 years?

The British Council has been a key partner in Nepal since 1959. Over these 65 years, we have supported Nepal’s government and people with our work in English language, education, arts and culture. We started first as a British Library, and since then, we've impacted millions through education and skills programs utilizing our UK expertise and global presence across over 100 countries. In the 60s and 70s, we introduced UK literature and education models, including Budhanilkantha School.

In the 90s, we advanced English language initiatives, like Cambridge A Levels, and helped form Nepal English Language, Nepal English Language Teachers Association (NELTA) and Association of British Alumni (ABAN). 

We’ve supported the EU-funded Dakchyata project for vocational training and the School Sector Development Plan, focusing on Nepal’s strategic priorities for graduation and positioning for the Middle Income Country by 2030. Our current work with youth, particularly women, is crucial in skills development and collaborations in English, education, arts, culture, and UK qualifications.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the British Council played a significant role in institutionalizing English education in Nepal. How did these initiatives shape the current state of English language education in the country?

The Government of Nepal endorsed the National Education System Plan (1971–76), which made English a compulsory subject in the school curriculum from Grade 4 up to the undergraduate level. We played a key role in supporting this agenda. We trained university-level English teachers and designed various teacher training programs. We also provided scholarships to hundreds of professionals who studied in the UK and now influence English education policy in Nepal.

Tribhuvan University graduates capable English teachers, scholarship recipients shape English education policy, and NELTA forums benefit for teachers across seven provinces, improve English skills for marginalized girls for better jobs, standardized assessments like listening and speaking, and provide access to international exams like IELTS and A Levels.

Last year, we researched the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs of teacher educators to enhance teacher training and classroom quality and are now developing a competency framework with Center for Education and Human resource Development (CEHRD).  We’re working with all levels of government to improve English teaching and assessment. We’re also partnering with other organizations to extend our reach to marginalized and remote areas, supporting the School Education Sector Plan (SESP).

How has the British Council promoted cultural exchange between Nepal and the UK, and what impact has this had on fostering mutual understanding and collaboration?

The British Council has a rich history of fostering cultural exchange between Nepal and the UK. The main mission is about creating people’s connection because its mutual benefit is not just only for Nepal but also for people in the UK. Over the past decades, we’ve continued to be that bridge between our nations and cultures through various programs.

It connects artists and cultural sectors from both countries. Each year, we send Nepali artists to the UK for art programs and festivals to expand their networks. For instance, this year, we supported a Nepali filmmaker to attend the Sheffield Documentary Film Festival and sent two other artists to festivals and residencies. Our Culture Responds program focuses on diverse groups, including youth, women, disabled individuals, and LGBTIQA+ people. Over the past three years, we’ve worked with UK and Nepalis partners to support green business entrepreneurs through our ‘In Our Hands’. We’ve helped over 80 teams develop green business ideas and supported 17 teams with research and prototyping.

Since 2017, we’ve organized the Women of the World Festival in Nepal, focusing on gender issues. This major arts-culture festival has reached over 25,000 people. This year, we’re hosting the 7th edition in Kathmandu, in partnership with Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Projects include Maithili relief sculptures, archival work in Dolpo, the Kusunda language, and food heritage among Nepal’s indigenous communities are being promoted.

The Dakchyata project focuses on skills development in agriculture, construction, and tourism. How has this project impacted these industries in Nepal, and what are the future plans for similar initiatives?

The EU-funded Dakchyata Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) Practical Partnership Project, run by the British Council, aimed to enhance public-private partnerships in TVET, focusing on agriculture, construction, and tourism sectors for Nepal’s economic growth. 

The project trained 6,750 individuals (29 percent female, 47 percent aged 15-24) and developed an Occupational Demand Tool. For the first time in Nepal, five private sector federations, including construction and tourism associations, worked together on skills development and also assisted with the Ministry of Education Science and Technology in creating the 10-year TVET Strategic Reform Plan, shaping the sector for the next decade.

In partnership with UNDP, ILO, and IOM, we up-skilled over 2,000 returnee migrant workers, aiding their reintegration into Nepal’s economy during Covid-19. Our public information campaigns reached over 2.2m people through TVET festivals, broadcasts, social media, and digital platforms, raising awareness about TVET among young people.

How has the British Council’s role in providing technical assistance to projects like the School Sector Development Plan influenced Nepal’s education system?

The British Council has supported Nepal’s SSDP, aiming for inclusive, quality education and federalism. Since 2019, technical assistance has improved teacher development, assessment, curriculum reform, and Education Management Information System (EMIS). A teacher mentoring system has been developed, enhancing local officials’ capacity and supporting government delivery.

During the Covid pandemic, we modeled interventions around remote teaching by developing national strategies and guidelines, training teacher trainers, and enhancing CEHRD’s online learning portal. Our work included developing handbooks and assessing the portal’s accessibility to support safe online learning.

We also contributed to national reforms, including the development of a national assessment framework, improvement of the Grade 8 examination with 3,000 test items, and training local officials on administering the exam. We improved the EMIS system and trained 1,000 educators. In partnership with UNICEF, we are supporting the government and developing multilingual education standards and capacity building for teachers.

What has been your personal journey with the British Council, and how do you see your role contributing to its mission in Nepal? 

I’ve been with the British Council for over 11 years. The individual has experienced the transformative power of education and cultural exchange, driving their career with the British Council. As Country Director, we are here as trusted partners to support the government’s strategic objectives by building people-to-people connections, collaborating with government agencies, educational institutions, and development partners to enhance English language education, cultural exchanges, and educational reforms.

Additionally, I’m committed to driving innovation within our program. This means exploring new approaches and solutions that can address emerging challenges and opportunities. A significant part of my role also involves nurturing a collaborative and inclusive environment within our team, celebrating and embracing diversity. 

Ultimately, my goal as Country Director is to ensure that the British Council’s work in Nepal continues to make a positive difference. By leveraging my experience, focusing on strategic partnerships, and fostering innovation, I believe we can contribute significantly to Nepal’s educational and cultural development and ultimately continue strengthening the bonds of mutual understanding between our two nations.

K V Rajan and Atul K Thakur are the co-authors of “Kathmandu Chronicle: Reclaiming India-Nepal Relations”. Definitive and deeply researched, the book opens a window to many stories of India–Nepal relations that largely remain untold and therefore unknown till date. Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx interviews Rajan, also a former India’s ambassador to Nepal, and Thakur, a policy professional, writer and columnist.

What are the key revelations in the book from your anecdotal accounts as India’s longest serving Ambassador to Nepal?

K V Rajan: At the outset, let me clarify that whatever I have set down is with the intention of conveying the total picture as I know it—pertaining to Nepal and to India-Nepal relations. If in the process I have upset or hurt anyone, I can only apologize and hope that the overall context of goodwill and empathy for Nepal will not be doubted. The core message that should come across through the anecdotal reflections is one of hope and optimism for Nepal's future, respect for its insistence on equality and sovereign space, and admiration for the resilience and capacity of the Nepali people and leaders over many years to take the country forward in the face of major odds. 

The linkages between our two nations are old, many and time-tested, the economic complementarities have a compulsive logic of their own, the reservoir of human talent is huge. We need only to understand and draw lessons from the past, deal with imagination and sensitivity to the trends and issues of the present, in order to craft a great future for a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous India-Nepal subregion which will be a role model for the region and perhaps the world. 

We need to have a broad based consensus on the kind of relationship we both want, and establish mutual acceptance in our ties. We can achieve wonders by jointly building on our soft power assets, new technologies, and complementarities. No issue is incapable of solution between India and Nepal if tackled in the right spirit and in the context of their unique linkages and unshakeable faith in a common great future. 

Happily, a consensus-based effort on both sides in tackling problems and making progress is possible, so that projects can be negotiated and delivered despite changes of government. This has been demonstrated time and again, for example spectacularly during the negotiation and parliamentary ratification process of the Mahakali Treaty. 

The book has a different take as to who might have perpetrated the royal assassination of 2001 that wiped out King Birendra Shah and his family, which changed Nepal’s natural progression. Can you elaborate?

K V Rajan: The readers’ will have to draw their own conclusions after going through the concerned chapter in the book. Even the facts that are in the public domain support the strong probability of an international conspiracy whose core was a foreign-based large scale smuggling and terrorism-related industry that was thriving on misuse of the India-Nepal border. The palace tragedy followed a series of serious incidents and exposures. India and Nepal were enjoying excellent relations under the twin pillar policy being followed by the former, of supporting the monarchy as well as multiparty democracy. The expanding Maoist insurgency was a matter of growing concern for India as well as Nepal, but signals were being exchanged on possible compromise solutions. The smuggling-terrorist nexus was the one major force which did not want such a negotiated compromise to be reached and had also been steadfastly trying to undermine relations between India and Nepal and was also uncomfortable with Nepal’s identity as a Hindu state.

All available indications are that the crown prince was trapped in a sinister plan combining serious drug abuse with targeted misinformation. The rest is history. 

How do you think we can reclaim India-Nepal relations in the changed times with Nepal grappling with challenges on several fronts including governance and economy?

K V Rajan: As vibrant democracies the two countries have the duty, responsibility, the right, and the necessity to reclaim their age-old relationship for the sake of peoples on both sides of the border and of future generations. A reset in the bilateral relations is a necessity, for Nepal today is a completely transformed country and India too is very much on the rise, both confronted by new challenges as well as new opportunities in an uncertain and changing world order. Strengthening democracy, improving governance, and accelerating inclusive development must occupy top priority. Future major cooperation must be consensus-based cutting across party lines to the extent possible and civil society needs to play its part in this exciting endeavor.

Catering to the interests and aspirations of youth on both sides on the border, and improving the lot of the marginalized, the most disadvantaged, the poorest and the most needy, should also be a focus. Just as India has set a goal of becoming a developed country by 2047, we should dare to think of a new vision for India-Nepal ties, so that they can scale new heights within the next two decades. A joint endeavor in this direction—which would include sectors like education, health, creation of job opportunities on a huge scale to protect the demographic dividend, and new supply chains which will foster greater interdependencies and economic integration— would go a long way. 

Opportunity is banging at the door. A business-as-usual approach will not do. 

As a long-time scholar on Nepal, your book is making news in both India and Nepal. Could you reflect on Nepal’s prolonged transition and fluctuating graph of India-Nepal relations?

Atul K Thakur: Despite their much-vaunted ‘special relationship’ (a term rarely used by Nepal in recent times), India-Nepal ties have repeatedly experienced setbacks, some of them with long-term implications. Since India’s independence, Nepal has undergone several significant transformations, and not coincidentally, India has been intimately involved in many of these pivotal moments. 

Yet, there have been regular anti-Indian eruptions in Nepal, and there is so much mutual distrust and suspicion despite India's best intentions. I believe Nepal and India, both at the level of government as well as civil society, urgently need to come to terms with the past, understand comprehensively and objectively the unique challenges and opportunities offered by the present, and ‘repurpose’ their relationship if it is to achieve its exceptional potential in the coming years. 

Our book, based on first person experience, deep research, analysis and introspection, and new resource materials, facilitates understanding of how an India with credible aspirations to becoming a major world player and a transformed Nepal in a transforming world order could revisit their ties to ensure a steady upward trajectory.

Both countries owe it to their peoples to free the relationship from political vicissitudes as well as the negative legacies of the past. Concepts of national interest and mutual security need to be relevant to the world of today and tomorrow. Only mutual empathy, as either country strives to overcome its major challenges, can transform the relationship into a truly special one.

The book makes a sincere and honest effort to add to the literature on the subject through original analyses, interpretations and research.

How is China a big factor for repurposing India-Nepal relations?

Atul K Thakur: The new post-monarchy dispensation only hastened the expansion of Chinese influence and removed possibilities of ending long festering irritants like the border dispute in the Kalapani area—a unanimous multiparty Parliamentary vote endorsed a new map of Nepal incorporating border areas which it had not claimed earlier.

India has made its Nepal ties a function of Nepal-China relations. Yet the fact is that Chinese influence in Nepal will continue to expand. It is only natural that the people of Nepal, particularly the younger generation, yearn to take advantage of all kinds of economic opportunities and benefits that China has to offer. Nepal's importance to China was initially because of its desire for security on the question of Tibetan refugees. It did not seem to mind India’s preponderant influence over Nepal. Today China has additional reasons to assert itself: one is to reduce India to size to the extent possible, the other to ensure that its Middle Kingdom credentials are enhanced. But India can draw comfort from the increased wariness of Nepal about Chinese intentions because of its overtly intrusive interest in the former’s internal affairs, and the long term price of too close a Chinese embrace.

China is just not over-pervasive in Nepal with projects and political manipulation, its best edge is with the propaganda machinery that is oriented to damage the finer fabrics of India-Nepal relation beyond the core. The China factor is being played out in Nepal and unfortunately not for a constructive aim of enhancing its economic ties with the northern neighbor but to create a complex web involving India’s stake and finally letting a disastrous narrative help the traders of ultra-nationalism for scoring high politically and ruling the game of late.

How should Idia reclaim the true spirit of its old good bilateral relations with Nepal or reset it in the changed times?

Atul K Thakur: India and Nepal must return to the core strength of their unique social, cultural, strategic, political, and economic ties. India and Nepal share deep social, cultural, strategic, political, and economic ties that have been forged over many centuries. Unfortunately, ties wither if exposed to the changing fundamentals of time. India-Nepal ties have frayed slowly as the economic bonds between the two countries have failed to keep pace with India’s modernization and growth. The opportunities offered by India’s prospering economy have become increasingly inaccessible, and thereby irrelevant to ordinary Nepalis. The persistent border dispute between the two countries is an opportunity for them to modernize old ties towards a shared vision of prosperity. India and Nepal must do more than merely resolve boundary issues.

Notwithstanding the centrality of complementarities in bilateral relations, oftentimes, the official line has taken its own turn in interpreting the not-so-easy situations. While repurposing India-Nepal relations, the prudent move would be to rely more strongly on the trust factor, subsiding apprehensions and complexities. India and Nepal have a credible past as well present in engaging with each other—and walking with the changing times. In knowing the new aspirations of both sides, and accordingly creating the background of cooperation, India-Nepal relations will see further heights. In the times to come, hopefully better chapters of India-Nepal bilateral relations will be scripted.