The Embassy of Nepal in Berlin

Dr. Shail Rupakheti

Relations between Nepal and Germany are amicable. Since the ten-year civil war ended in 2006, Germany has supported the democratisation process in Nepal. The two countries cooperate particularly in areas like trade, culture, academics and the scientific sector. Since the resolution of the country’s armed conflict, high-level visits have again become more frequent. Former Nepalese Foreign Minister Yadav, visited Germany for talks in March 2009 and former Commerce and Supplies Minister Lekh Raj Bhatt paid a visit in early March 2012. Other Nepalese government ministers have also attended major trade fairs in Germany.

As for the development cooperation sector, Nepal is an important partner country of German development cooperation, which aims to support Nepal in its efforts to deal with the aftermath of the civil war and to alleviate poverty there in the long term. German support focuses on the following areas: improving health care, promoting renewable energy (solar and hydroelectric power and biogas) and energy efficiency as well as fostering trade and sustainable economic development. Here, Germany is also currently coordinating international support for stepping up foreign trade. After the major earthquakes in Nepal in April and May 2015, the Federal Government made available a total of EUR 35 million in humanitarian aid and for reconstruction programmes.

For many years now, the Federal Foreign Office has funded projects to restore sites of cultural or religious significance in Nepal and in the former royal cities of Patan and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley. German archaeologists have also done important research work through their excavations. A cultural agreement between Nepal and Germany was signed in 1992.