Regional Residential Representative of International Organization for Migration ( IOM) for South Asia, Shahid-ul Haque, UN Residential Representative to Nepal, Matthew Kahane and Joint Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Madhuban Paudel (from left to right) in the opening of the IOM office in Nepal, Tuesday, Sep 12 06. nepalnews.com/rh
Regional Residential Representative of International Organization …
The International Organization for Migration ( IOM) has formally opened its office in Kathmandu from today.
With Nepal facing several migration related problems-youth migration for foreign employment, refugees, human trafficking and internally displaced people-the opening of the IOM office in Kathmandu can be instrumental to deal with these transnational problems in many ways.
Addressing the function during the opening of the office, the Regional Residential Representative of the IOM for South Asia, Shahid-ul Haque, expressed his commitment that the IOM office will work together with government and civil society to encourage the positive migration for the economic development of Nepal. The top IOM official further informed that the office will work as liaison office in the beginning and start to serve as full phased office in near future.
UN Residential Representative to Nepal, Matthew Kahane and Joint Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Madhuban Paudel also highlighted the role of the IOM in the program.
According to the IOM, the majority of Nepalese migrants work in South Asia, the Middle East and South East Asia, notably in India, Malaysia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Some 95% of the total Nepalese migrants are men and over 90% are unskilled labourers. In 2002-2003, Nepalese migrant workers’ remittances reached US$720 million, representing some 14.8% of GDP and 65% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
The office, IOM’s 292nd office worldwide, is expected to work with the Nepalese government to enhance its migration management capacity and to help it to address irregular migration issues including human trafficking..
With 118 member states, a further 20 states holding observer status and offices in over 120 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.