A Seasoned Diplomat — Secretary H.E. Amrit Bahadur Rai

A young and diligent boy from Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal, who joined civil service in 1996, gradually transitioned to the Nepal Foreign Service as an undersecretary in 2005. His steady progress led to his appointment as Foreign Secretary, the highest post achievable by a career diplomat in Nepal, on January 8, 2025 – making him the 28th individual to hold the coveted position. 

As Nepal steers through a rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai stands at the helm of the country’s diplomatic machinery, managing both challenges and opportunities. 

Calm, composed and confident, Rai has built an extensive career in diplomacy, global governance, and domestic administration. He assumed the role of Foreign Secretary following the appointment of his predecessor, Sewa Lamsal, as Nepal’s ambassador to Belgium and the European Union. 

Upon assuming office, Rai stated that Nepal is at the threshold of immense challenges and opportunities. “I will work sincerely to tap the opportunities in the interest of the nation by addressing the challenges. I will prioritize economic diplomacy for steering the country ahead towards prosperity,” the newly appointed Foreign Secretary announced. 

Prior to his recent appointment, Rai served as the Acting Foreign Secretary from 24 November 2024. He was previously the Division Chief of the UN, International Organizations, and International Law Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position he held from July 2023. Additionally, he also served as the Ministry’s spokesperson. 

In this multilateral world, with Nepal positioned between two global giants – India and China- possessing rising economic and military influence, it is indeed a challenging task to navigate and shape Nepal’s foreign policy. Rai’s experience and leadership will be instrumental in strengthening the country’s bilateral ties and expanding its role in multilateral diplomacy. 

Dinesh Bhattarai, a former Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Ministers of Nepal (2014-2015 and 2017-2018) describes Rai as a dedicated, well-read and a highly competent diplomat. “He displayed remarkable diligence, professionalism and commitment from his early days,” said Bhattarai, Rai’s former colleague at the ministry, who also served as Nepal’s Ambassador and Permanent representative to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Rome and Vienna from 2007 to 2012. 

Acknowledging pressures faced by career diplomats in Nepal, Bhattarai stated that political leaders, including Prime Ministers and Foreign Affairs Ministers, impose their directives and many secretaries have had to make compromises to align with political leadership. “One of Secretary Rai’s challenges will be to maintain diplomatic integrity, maintaining professionalism while dealing with these political influences.”

During his tenure as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, in New York (March 2019 to June 2023), he held several key leadership roles including Vice-President of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (2022–2023). Likewise, he was also the Chair of the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) during the 75th Session (2020–2021), and Chair of the Board of Governors for the International Think-Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries (2022–2023). 

The global community is a witness to his sincere and effective  work during Rai’s time at the UN, Rai’s address to the 77th session of the UN General Assembly being one of the high-points of his tenure.

Additionally, Rai also served as Nepal’s Ambassador to South Africa from December 2014 to December 2018, with concurrent accreditation to 18 other countries. He also served as Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau for Least Developed Countries from April to June 2023. His assignments within the Foreign Ministry featured prominent positions including Joint Secretary of the South Asia Division (2013–2014), Europe and Americas Division (2013), and Planning and Monitoring Division (2018–2019).

A diplomat close to Rai noted that his leadership roles have significantly enhanced Nepal’s multilateral profile, advancing national interests in the global forum. However, they were quick to add, “Running Foreign Ministry as its chief is a tough task given the political and institutional pressures. The ability to handle these pressures will ultimately define his tenure.”

Despite the pressures and challenges, Secretary Rai remains determined in his mission to strengthen Nepal’s diplomatic standing.  “We are on the path to finalizing the peace process, which will strengthen Nepal’s credibility in the international community. We have also gained significant goodwill globally as the leading contributor to UN peacekeeping missions,” he stressed during his appointment.

As Nepal continues to navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai’s leadership will be pivotal to maintain a pragmatic and adaptable foreign policy, while ensuring that the country stands in the face of emerging global challenges.