Billionaire businessman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia has been appointed first honorary Consul of the Republic of Nepal.
The father-of-three was confirmed by Bidya Devi Bhandari, the Nepalese President after he successfully presented his credentials to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Dr Ruparelia is the founder and Chairman of the Ruparelia Group, a 28-company conglomerate in Uganda which cut across financial services, real estate, education services, hospitality, agriculture and media/broadcasting. The group provides a major source of livelihood, directly to over 8,000 employees and their immediate families.
The role of a Consul is to represent interests of a foreign country in their home economy. In this case, Nepal and Uganda have a lot in common and Dr Ruparelia’s appointment is expected to strengthen trade ties and establish new opportunities for both.
Dr Ruparelia is expected to present his credentials to President Yoweri Museveni before he can officially start his role of taking care of the affairs of all the people of Nepal who reside and work in Uganda, as well as working to strengthen economic, political and diplomatic relations between Kampala and Kathmandu. He will also represent and push for Nepal’s interests in Uganda.
A Hindu Gujarati by descent, Dr Ruparelia has strong relations with the leadership in Nepal. He has visited various places in the Asian country, including an orphanage in the capital Kathmandu where he donated various items, as well as a baby elephant sanctuary.
Officially referred to as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the landlocked South Asian country is home to just over 26 million people. Surprisingly, the country, which borders with China and India, ranked number four on the list of countries contributing officers such as police, military experts on mission, staff officers and troops to UN peace keeping missions as of January 2020.
Speaking of his appointment, sexagenarian Dr Ruparelia said: “I feel truly blessed and now with this remarkable opportunity I wish to add even greater value to my home nation Uganda but also to the citizens of Nepal. Together we can help further improve the lives and livelihoods of people in both countries, giving them the chance to prosper in their chosen fields of work and home life.”
An inauguration ceremony is set to take place this month in the Ugandan capital Kampala where His Excellency Jhabindra Aryal Rajdoot, the Nepalese Ambassador to Egypt, will represent President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the event. Rajdoot has been doubling as Nepal’s representative to Uganda.
