The government has initiated preparations to appoint ambassadors through a merit-based open competition.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, in a discussion with senior officials of the ministry, stated that an advertisement will be issued soon to appoint ambassadors through open competition, officials said.
Khanal indicated this during a discussion with senior officials of the ministry on Monday. Minister Khanal has also reached an agreement with Prime Minister Balendra Shah to appoint ambassadors through open competition.
This is the first time since the Balendra Shah (Balen)-led government was formed that ambassadors are being appointed through open competition.
Earlier, the KP Sharma Oli-led government had set criteria for ambassadors to be appointed through political quotas in 2075 BS as well.
The 'Guidelines on Appointment of Ambassadors, 2075 BS' stipulates that the government must appoint 50 percent of its ambassadors from the Foreign Service and the remaining 50 percent through political appointments.
However, the previous government had not appointed ambassadors through open competition.
In Nepal, ambassadors have been appointed from among the ‘career diplomats’ working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and those selected by the ruling party.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have urged Minister Khanal to appoint more than 50 percent of ambassadors from 'career diplomats' this time as well.
The ministry has prepared to ask for details such as age, experience and educational qualifications of aspirants in advertisements for open competition.
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