The second national conference of the Non Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA) National Coordination Committee of Australia has been scheduled for July 7 where the Diaspora Nepalis would discuss safeguarding their rights in the proposed NRN bill.

According to a statement by them, the one-day event is intended to share the NRN journey amongst all NRNs in Australia by building links and integrating thoughts.

The conference will be attended by different Nepali organisations, business community leaders, patrons, advisors, NRN ICC members, key community leaders and intellectuals including Dr Upendra Mahato, Chairman of the NRNA International Coordination Committee (ICC), Laurie Ferguson MP, Federal Member for Reid, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs of Australia, Charge d’Affaires of Nepali Embassy to Australia and several other ICC representatives from different countries.

“Coinciding with the historically most important time of Nepal’s transitional mode, it is paramount that we all NRNs unite for this very cause of linking all Nepalis back into Nepal regardless of where they live and what they do,” the statement reads.

It further says, “The issues raised by NRN movement are for the benefit of all Nepalis living abroad, their younger generations, future generations and also for Nepal and Nepalis living within the country. It is our collective responsibility to take this movement to a new height. While Nepal is going through a historical transition, it is perfectly necessary to accommodate and define NRN rights in the form of NRN Act, long-term visas and dual citizenship in respective order.”

In yet another news, NRNA has sent a formal application to the government expressing interest to invest in large hydropower projects in Nepal, Annapurna Post daily reported.

The letter states that NRNA is ready to invest in big projects like 300 MW Upper Karnali, 402 MW Arun III and 600 MW Budigandaki projects.

However, the government has asked the NRNA to see new projects like Upper Tamakoshi for investment as the process has already reached a final stage to select investor for the projects NRNA has proposed.