Foreign Secretary pledges to prioritize economic diplomacy

Kathmandu, Jan 9: Acting Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai has officially assumed the responsibility as the 26th Foreign Secretary from Wednesday. A meeting of the Council of Ministers had, on Tuesday, promoted him to the position of Foreign Secretary.     

"Our country is at the threshold of challenges and opportunities. I will work sincerely to tap the opportunities in the interest of the nation by tackling the challenges," Rai said, talking to RSS after assuming office on Thursday morning.    

Foreign Secretary Rai also expressed the commitment to work keeping the economic diplomacy in priority for taking the country ahead towards prosperity.    

He holds Master's degree in Public Management from University of Potsdam, Germany and in Public Administration from Tribhuvan University of Nepal.    

He joined the Civil Service in 1996, and later joined the Nepal Foreign Service in 2005 as an Under Secretary.    

Rai has an extensive career in diplomacy, global governance as well as domestic governance. Rai’s distinguished career in the Civil and Foreign Service is marked by his steadfast commitment to advancing Nepal’s national interests, strengthening global partnerships, and promoting Nepal's presence on the international stage.    

Since joining the Nepal Civil Service and the Foreign Service, Rai has served in several high-profile capacities. His most recent role was as Acting Foreign Secretary, a position he held since November 2024. Before that, he served as Division Chief of the United Nations, International Organizations, and International Law Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he also fulfilled the role of Spokesperson of the Ministry.    

Rai’s international diplomatic experience includes his tenure as Nepal’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2019–2023), where he held leadership roles such as Vice-President of the UN General Assembly, Chair of the Economic and Financial Committee, and Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau for Least Developed Countries. He also served as Nepal’s Ambassador to South Africa (2014–2018), with concurrent accreditation to 18 other countries.    

His contributions to multilateral diplomacy, particularly in advocating for the interests of least developed and landlocked developing countries, have significantly bolstered the country’s image and national interests in international forums.    

Rai has held senior roles within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including in divisions focused on South Asia, Europe and the Americas, and planning and monitoring. Earlier in his career, he served in the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, the Ministry of General Administration, and the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Welfare.    

Born in 1970 in Sankhuwasabha district, Mr Rai’s journey from a civil servant in 1996 to Foreign Secretary exemplifies his unwavering dedication to public service. (RSS)