I will take the initiative to increase the quota of Nepali workers in South Korea: proposed Ambassador Tumbahangfe

During the hearing at the meeting of the parliamentary hearing committee on Wednesday, the proposed ambassador Tumbahangfe said that since South Korea is an attractive destination for Nepali workers, he will take the initiative to increase the quota.

'South Korea is an attractive employment destination country for Nepali workers. The image of Nepali workers who are recognized as honest and hardworking workers has been seen well in Korea. Nepali workers are preferred by Korean employers because they return home after the contract period ends and do not live illegally. Because of this, the quota of Nepali workers in EPS has been increasing every year,' said the proposed ambassador Tumbahangfe, 'I will take necessary initiatives to increase the quota of workers by further publicizing the fairness shown by Nepal in the EPS system.'

Tumbahangfe also said that various programs will be carried out to take care of the health of the workers working in Korea.

"Nepalese in Korea are victims of depression due to mental stress, work pressure, diet, climate, etc., and there are also cases of suicide, so I will take initiatives to make the 'stress management' program effective to reduce mental stress and suicide," she said.

Telling that Lumbini will be the center of world peace, Tumbahangfe said, 'With the goal of making Lumbini the center of faith for 500 million Buddhist pilgrims, I will take the initiative to bring at least 0.5 percent of Buddhist pilgrims to Nepal . Dr. Korean professor to develop Lumbini as a world peace city. I will take the initiative to implement the master plan prepared by Kwak Yong Hun . The master plan envisioned as a state-of-the-art city mentions that Lumbini will be developed as a state-of-the-art city with peace and spirituality.

Tumbahangfe also said that direct flights between Kathmandu and Korea are necessary to bring more South Korean tourists into Nepal. She said, 'Currently, the number of tourists entering Nepal from Korea is at the 10th place. Statistics show that 23 thousand 743 Korean tourists visited Nepal in 2023 and more than 47 thousand before the Corona epidemic. In order to increase the arrival rate of Korean tourists, Nepal Airlines Corporation's Kathmandu-Korea direct flight will be able to bring significant Korean tourists into Nepal.'

With the increase in the number of foreign students going to study in South Korea, Tumbahangfe mentioned that the government there has tightened the visa policy and said that they will create necessary strategies against the trend of taking Nepali youth to Korea on student visas. She said that Nepali students will play a special role in creating an environment for doing business in Nepal after learning skills and returning home.

Tumbahangfe also said that there is a need for high-level visits from Korea and Nepal to each other country. "Using the golden year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Korea, a high-level visit can be made to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and bring in knowledge, technology and investment for development from Korea. Exchange of high-level visits is inevitable to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries. In addition to that, regular visits of relevant ministers or high-level officials from Nepal are necessary to meet, contact and increase their confidence in investing in Nepal,' she said.

Tumbahangfe said that to reduce the growing trade imbalance between Nepal and South Korea, emphasis should be placed on bilateral investment partnership. "Since the export of Nepal is very less compared to the import from Korea to Nepal, Korean investment in Nepal is necessary to maintain the trade balance. Investment partnership can be increased in fields like energy, tourism, agriculture, information technology. Energy, agriculture and tourism are the backbone of Nepali economy,' she said.

It was said by Tumbahangfe that it will propose for various construction works including road construction, large infrastructure, and ring road from Korea . Similarly, he also said that he will offer support in the field of information technology, waste management, opening of organic fertilizer production factories, etc. She also said that after studying the demand, competition and market conditions of Nepali products in Korea, they will identify the products that can be exported. She said, 'Since Nepal's agricultural products and handicrafts have more potential for export, I will play a necessary role in promoting those materials.'