British envoy hosts reception to mark King Charles III's birthday

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, May 4: British Ambassador Rob Fenn and his spouse, Julia Fenn, hosted a reception on Friday evening to celebrate the official birthday of King Charles III, welcoming guests from across the UK-Nepal relationship. 

The event, attended by Vice President of Nepal, Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav and high dignitaries from the government and private sector, political leaders as well as diplomatic community, served as a reminder of the strong and growing friendship between the UK and Nepal, only months after the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh earlier this year, the British Embassy said in a statement.

In his remarks, Ambassador Fenn highlighted key areas of cooperation, including the role of Gurkhas, educational ties, investment partnerships and development collaboration. He expressed appreciation for the longstanding goodwill shown by the people of Nepal and emphasised that the UK remains a close and committed partner.

Ambassador Fenn shared a metaphor comparing the UK and Nepal to trekking partners who had reached a fork in the trail. He noted that Nepal had chosen the steeper, more rewarding path toward long-term prosperity through reforms and international finance. He cited key milestones, including Nepal’s first sovereign credit rating, the issuance of its first green bond and support from British International Investment.

Likewise, he also noted several priorities going forward. On the national budget, he urged Nepal to better use the resources it already has to strengthen its case for international support. On concessional loans, he encouraged the government to tap into available funds from institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. 

Similarly, on education, he promoted transnational education partnerships to keep more students in Nepal. Regarding the diaspora, he called for recognition of UK qualifications to encourage skilled Nepalis abroad to return and contribute.

Likewise, he stressed that reforms, especially on profit repatriation, are essential for building investor confidence.