PHILIPPINES-NEPAL BILATERAL RELATIONS
Establishment of Philippines-Nepal Diplomatic Relations
The Philippines and Nepal established diplomatic relations on 12 February 1960. The Philippines maintains friendly relations with Nepal and the rest of South Asia. It views the region as a market for Philippine products and services.
The Philippines and Nepal have long-standing bilateral ties spanning six (6) decades of friendly relations. The Philippines accords great importance to its bilateral relations with Nepal and continues to strengthen and explore new areas of cooperation with the aim of forging closer ties between the two countries.
Philippines-Nepal relations came into focus in 2015 as a result of a devastating earthquake that struck Kathmandu in April and subsequent developments in the country. In response to the earthquake, the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi sent two (2) crisis management teams to assist Filipino nationals affected by the disaster. The Philippine government sent a team from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to help in the rescue operations and the provision of medical services to the people of Nepal. The Philippine government also contributed to the Nepal Relief Fund in the amount of Rs 12, 964,633.77 to aid in the country’s rehabilitation.
People-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Nepal remain minimal. However, in recent years, Nepali students have been choosing the Philippines as a destination for tertiary education.
The Philippines’ non-resident Ambassador to Nepal is based in New Delhi, India, while the Nepalese non-resident Ambassador to the Philippines is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
HIGH-LEVEL ENGAGEMENTS/OTHER MEETINGS
- In November 2018, then Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo participated in the Asia Pacific Summit held in Kathmandu, Nepal. VP Robredo also had a bilateral meeting with her Nepalese counterpart, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, wherein both officials discussed all aspects of PH-Nepal relations and the strengthening of cooperation on other areas of mutual interests.
- On 30 March 2017, then Philippine Non-Resident Ambassador to Nepal Ma. Teresita C. Daza called on Mr. Shankar Das Bairagi, Foreign Secretary, and Mr. Druga Prasad Bhandari, Division Head, South East Asia and Pacific Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and discussed ways of enhancing relations between the Philippines and Nepal, including the possible establishment of a regular dialogue mechanism between the two countries.
- On 01 December 2019, the Philippines and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM). Both sides are in discussion for the conduct of the first BCM to review all aspects of bilateral relations, explore new areas of cooperation, and share views on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
CONSULAR OUTREACH
On 27-29 May 2022, the Philippine Embassy conducted a Consular Outreach Mission in Kathmandu, Nepal. The consular outreach was held at the Toyota Building in Kathmandu, where around 51 Filipino nationals submitted their applications for Philippine passport renewal, and almost 100 Filipinos and members of the Philippines-Nepal Chamber of Commerce participated in the town hall meeting with the Embassy officials.
ECONOMIC AND TRADE RELATIONS
The Philippines-Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NPCCI) was established on 3 March 2015.
The Philippines and Nepal’s trade and import/export volume from 2018-2022:
|
FY |
TOTAL TRADE (in US$M) |
PH EXPORT (in US$M) |
PH IMPORT (in US$M) |
BALANCE OF TRADE (in US$M) |
|
2018 |
1.54 |
1.49 |
0.05 |
1.43 |
|
2019 |
1.53 |
1.52 |
0.01 |
1.51 |
|
2020 |
0.92 |
0.92 |
0 |
0.92 |
|
2021 |
1.9 |
1.82 |
65.8TH |
1.76 |
|
2022 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
58.0TH |
1.2 |
NEPAL INVESTMENTS AND REMITTANCES TO THE PHILIPPINES
|
FY |
TOTAL IPA (in US$M) |
NET FDI (in US$M) |
OF REMITTANCES (in US$TH) |
|
2018 |
0.04 |
0.00 |
939.94 |
|
2019 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
324.38 |
|
2020 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
212.87 |
|
2021 |
- |
0.00 |
162.63 |
|
2022(H1) |
- |
0.00 |
30.37 |
*Conversion 1US$=50 PhP
NEPAL TOURIST ARRIVALS IN THE PHILIPPINES
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (Feb-Dec) |
|
8,696 |
6,018 |
940 |
178 |
2,016 |
FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN NEPAL
As of December 2022, it is estimated that there are approximately 128 Filipinos living in Nepal, including professionals, skilled workers, volunteers, missionaries, or spouses of Nepalese or other nationals.[2]
