FeNCAA Organised Community Interaction with Felicity Volk, Australian Ambassador to Nepal

Canberra, Federation of Nepalese Community Associations of Australia (FeNCAA), which is a national coordinating body of Nepalese community organisations representing people of Nepalese origin residing in Australia, has taken the initiative to organise a community interaction program with Her Excellency Ms. Felicity Volk, Australian Ambassador to Nepal, last night at the Lakeside Gurkhas Restaurant in Canberra. Her Excellency is travelling to Australia for her Mid-Term Consultations with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Canberra.

She is also meeting the leaders and members of the Nepalese community to find out any concerns or issues that the community may like to raise with the Australian government through her. FeNCAA President Dr. Krishna Hamal welcomed Her Excellency, Ms. Volk, to the interaction program and also thanked her for her valuable time given to the Nepalese community of Canberra to share their issues and concerns.

Community concerns raised by FeNCAA at the interaction program

• Reinstating the visa processing in the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu following much costly and hassle faced by Nepalese visa applicants to travel to New Delhi for visa processing purposes;
• Decreasing level of the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) provided by Australia to Nepal;
• Reducing Nepal’s bilateral trade deficit with Australia;
• Granting a temporary working visa to Nepalese to meet the seasonal shortage of labor force in Australia;
• Visa – It was mainly focused on aged care workers (semi-skilled), skilled laborers in the construction sector, and Health care professionals;
• Mandatory health insurance for visiting parents and inclusion of repatriation in the insurance scheme;
• Australia’s role in climate change adaptation and mitigation in Himalayan Country- Nepal
• Tourism and Hospitality (focusing – on Nepal as the best place for meditation & yoga)
• Decentralisation of biometrics and medical test centers in other parts of Nepal, making it easier for people outside Kathmandu valley;
• Implementing a Double Tax Agreement (DTA) between Australia and Nepal to prevent double taxation and fiscal evasion for the benefit of both countries;
• The Australian government encourages Australian airlines to commence direct flights between Kathmandu and Sydney.

The Participants in the Interaction Session

The interaction program was attended by 45 leaders representing different community organisations and businesses that includes Ashish Devkota, President of Australia-Nepal Friendship Society, Santosh Malla, President of Sanatan Samaj Australia, Yubaraj Khaniya, Canberra Nepalese Volleyball Club, Adarsha Jung Pandey, President of Overseas Nepalese Sports Meet, Dipak Pandey, President of Nepalese Society Queanbeyan, Deepak Hamal, President of Nepal Kala, Sanskriti and Sahitya Pratisthan Canberra, Lalit Malla, President of Nepali People’s Coordination Committee ACT, Ashok Basnet, Vice President of NRNA Australia, Mahata Chapagain, Vice President of Australia-Nepal Friendship Society, Manju Nepal, Vice President of Nepal Kala, Sanskriti and Sahitya Pratisthan Canberra, Raju Babu Adhikari, General Secretary of NRNA Australia, Bikram Subedi, Deputy Coordinator of NRNA Australia, Chandra Tiwari, Deputy Youth Coordinator of NRNA Australia, Kashi Bhusal, Secretary of NRNA Australia ACT, Basu Chapagain, Secretary of Sanatan Samaj Australia, Yuba Poudel, Treasurer of Australia-Nepal Friendship Society, Karma Lama, Founder of Tamang Ghedung Canberra, Dr. Durga Dutta Kandel, Advisor FeNCAA and Patron ONSM, Basant Bhatta, NCC Member of NRNA Australia, Khusbu Neupane, Former President of Australia-Nepal Friendship Society, Chudamani Sapkota, Former Vice President of NRNA Australia, Binod Raj Ghimire, Former Vice President of Australia-Nepal Friendship Society and other community leaders including Bhagirath Sapkota, Tanuja Subedi, Ramkrishna Karki, Prakash Parsia, Bibek Lohani, Ishwor Koirala, Kamal Kuwar, Abhisek Uprety, Ajay Poudel, Ganesh Kharel, Raju Pathak, Goma Pathak, Hemu Bhandari, Samir Acharya, Santosh Baral, Ritesh Kumar and Biva Niraula.

Her Excellency has planned to meet the leaders and members of the Nepalese community in Australia’s other major cities through the Office of Nepalese Honorary Councillor Generals.

It is stated in the media release issued by FeNCAA.

The Second Meeting between the Foreign Ministry of Nepal and DFAT Concluded