Beyond Cost-Cutting: Reimagining Nepal’s Embassies Abroad

Close your eyes and imagine yourself travelling far away from Nepal.

You can choose among 33 different capitals and major metropolises around the world. Do you prefer a destination like New Delhi or Kolkata? What about Dhaka?

Or would you travel further—to Pretoria, Brasília, or Cairo? Or perhaps to major East Asian cities such as Beijing, Tokyo, or Seoul?

The reason for this imaginative teleported journey is the opening of a new exhibition of Nepali paintings at one of Nepal’s diplomatic missions abroad.

Notably, alongside the exhibition, the embassy in question will also open a Nepal Tourism Information Point—an innovative idea to showcase the country’s historical and natural wonders.

Now, let us pause this imaginary journey and return to reality.

Foreign policy, as we know, is a mirror reflecting a nation’s internal politics.

Indeed, foreign policy is about prioritising certain approaches and forms of engagement, emphasising specific policy dimensions over others, and introducing new dynamism in relations with neighbours.

But ultimately, the conduct of foreign affairs transcends strategy and goes beyond tactical shifts.

It is also about managing existing resources and ensuring they are maximised and leveraged effectively.

Amid ongoing debates about closing some embassies that Nepal opened over the past decade, it may be worth opening a conversation on the role of foreign missions in advancing national interest.

This discussion is also driven by the upcoming federal budget.

According to several media reports, Finance Minister Swornim Wagle is keen to introduce cost-effective measures in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including reducing some diplomatic postings.

The possibility of shutting down embassies should prompt policymakers to ask key questions.

First, what is the tangible overarching goal of an embassy?

How does a diplomatic mission contribute to promoting “Brand Nepal” abroad? Do these embassies have the skills and capacity to achieve this ambition?

It is widely accepted that the consular function of embassies—supporting Nepali citizens abroad—is essential, especially in countries with large Nepali populations.

This is one of the reasons Nepal recently opened an embassy in Portugal, where migration has increased in recent years.

However, while serving citizens abroad is crucial, diplomatic missions must also have a broader and more ambitious role.

An embassy should function as a hub for diplomatic and public engagement, guided by multi-year plans that each ambassador—acting as a CEO of Brand Nepal abroad—should design and implement.

Returning to the imagined journey at the beginning of this column:

The idea of hosting a painting exhibition is not far-fetched.

The same applies to integrating tourism promotion functions within embassies.

Even a small display of paintings or photographs could be meaningful. The goal would not be to compete with institutions like the Louvre or the British Museum.

Rather, it would be a symbolic yet powerful showcase of contemporary Nepali art, signalling that Nepal leverages creativity despite limited resources.

It is entirely possible that the Nepali diaspora in each country could help cover shipping costs for artworks.

They could also assist in organising exhibitions in galleries or public spaces.

While modest in scale, such initiatives would offer a valuable window into Nepal’s cultural richness. A smart use of social media could further amplify these efforts among local audiences.

Similarly, a Tourism Information Point within embassies would not be difficult to establish.

Every citizen is, in a sense, an ambassador of their country. A small but well-designed space could provide information on Nepal’s heritage and natural beauty.

Importantly, such a Tourism Information Point would not sell travel packages. That role belongs to private operators, who could support the initiative with brochures and materials.

These ideas may appear unconventional to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The key principle is that such initiatives should be implemented without additional state expenditure. The diaspora and private sector can play an important role, but what is equally needed is a shift in mindset among embassy staff.

Second-generation Nepalis abroad could also contribute by supporting public diplomacy initiatives.

Imagine internship opportunities where young Nepalis—or even those with strong ties to the country—help manage tourism desks or cultural exhibitions on a voluntary basis.

Public talks could also be organised featuring prominent Nepali visitors.

A simple system could encourage visiting public figures to spend a few hours engaging with audiences in the cities they visit, with diaspora communities helping facilitate such events.

Returning to the idea of ambassadors as CEOs, they must be empowered with sufficient flexibility to set goals aligned with national priorities.

Can ambassadors step out of their comfort zones and act as CEOs of Brand Nepal? Are embassy staff willing to develop new skills and embrace public diplomacy without additional financial incentives?

This is the real challenge.

Yet it is possible to operate within limited resources and turn constraints into opportunities.

Ultimately, the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must support a deeper organisational shift across embassies.

A strong public diplomacy strategy would elevate Nepal’s global profile and reshape international perceptions of the country.

Nepal should not be seen as a lagging or struggling state, but as a modest nation with global ambition that consistently punches above its weight.

At this point, policymakers must ask: should some embassies be closed—or should pilot initiatives first be tested to explore new ways of projecting Nepal’s image globally?