The Ambassador of Nepal, Mr Bharat Raj Paudyal, met with Minister Falah Mustafa during his first visit to the Region yesterday to discuss the growing Nepali community in Kurdistan Region and ways of broadening relations.


The non-resident ambassador is concurrently accredited to Pakistan and three other countries, including Iraq. He is based in Islamabad, and this is his first visit to Iraq as well as to Kurdistan.

Speaking about the growing number of Nepalis seeking employment opportunities in the Region, Ambassador Paudyal said: ‘Our community speak highly of the region, especially the warmth they receive from the Kurdish people and the welcoming attitude.’ It is estimated that there are over 2,000 Nepalis in Kurdistan.

Minister Mustafa welcomed him to the Region and appreciated his comments and encouraged the ambassador to explore ways of further strengthening ties between both sides. He said, ‘It is important to have this openness to establish new relations and to deepen the existing ones.’

‘We have our own history and culture, and this is an opportunity for us to showcase Kurdistan to the rest of the world,’ he added.

Minister Mustafa added that the KRG receives positive feedback about the Nepali community in Kurdistan, describing them as ‘hard-working and peaceful’.

Both officials also discussed the stable and peaceful atmosphere in Kurdistan and talked about to make sure that this is reflected in future cooperation.

They also touched on the upcoming elections in Kurdistan and areas of cooperation that both sides can benefit from each other.