BAHRAIN'S Nepali community could be finally set to get some permanent diplomatic representation following years of campaigning.

Nepali Club officials confirmed Kathmandu was in the final stages of deploying a diplomat to Manama to provide more help to its nationals.

"There are over 20,000 Nepalese workers in Bahrain and there is no embassy or diplomat to assist them," said a spokesman.

"This will be the first time a Nepalese diplomat will be deployed to Bahrain and the community here is looking forward to this in a positive manner."

Last year the Nepali Club sent a letter to Nepalese Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai requesting a diplomat to be appointed to Bahrain amid increasing pressure on officials dealing with labour and consular matters.

The spokesman said for years the club, in Adliya, had done the work of diplomats in taking care of labour issues and passport issuance and renewals.

"We collect all the documents and send it to the embassy in Riyadh," he said.

The Nepalese Foreign Ministry has just published a 13-page report suggesting opening as many as 18 diplomatic missions - 12 embassies and six consulate-generals, consulates or consul offices, in countries which it has long diplomatic relations with.

Investment

Its joint-secretary and incumbent UAE Ambassador Dhnanjay Jha suggested opening the embassies, with acting ambassador-level positions in Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq and Singapore, according to the Nepalese paper The Himalayan Times.

No deadline has been given to set up the missions, but the report said priority would be given economic and commercial relations and prospects of foreign investment.

"The report has estimated annual operation cost to be $500,000 (BD188,502) for each embassy and $400,000 (BD150,800) for each consulate-general or consulate," it stated.

sandy@gdn.com.bh