Non-Resident Nepali Association
गैरआवासीय नेपाली संघ

Dear All Media Friends,

NRNs, distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Namaste! It is our great pleasure to inform you that we have successfully concluded Oceania Regional Meeting & Knowledge Convention 2020 on 13th September 2020. Program inauguration started 2 pm Sydney time (9:45 am Nepal time) on Saturday, 12 September 2020 with chief guest Hon. Pradip Gyawali (Foreign Minister of Nepal). Similarly, following special guests from Nepal, Australia and New Zealand attended the program, Hon. Dr. Ram Saran Mahat (Former Finance Minister of Nepal), Hon. Top Bahadur Rayamajhi (Former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal), Hon Mrs. Melissa McIntosh (Federal Member of Parliament , Australia), Hon. Michael Wood (MP, Chief Government Whip in the House of Representatives, New Zealand), Hon. Jodie McKay (MP, Shadow Minister, NSW, Australia). Ambassador His excellency Mahesh Dahal, consulate Generals for NSW, VIC and SA were also present on the program. NRNA ICC current and past international and regional leaders were present on the meeting including President Mr. Kumar Pant, and chief Patron Dr. Shesh Ghale, Vice President Mana KC, woman co-ordinator Bhoma Limbu. Similarly NCC/SCC past and present leaders including president from Australia, New Zealand, PNG and Vanuatu were among the participants. There were foursessions on first day namely: Inauguration, Women and Youth, National Coordination Committee & International Coordination Committee for reporting and discussing the opportunities and challenges. On second day Knowledge Convention was conducted over two sessions namely, Economy and Health to discuss the challenges and opportunities developed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Following are the key summary of the program outcome/declarations

. 1. Inauguration session was a symbolic and historical event where high level federal and state level ministries and member of parliaments, diplomats and NRNA leaders globally were present. This has helped to strengthen relation between NRNA, Nepal and the Oceania countries in particular Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

2. Women and Youth session managed to identify the great work done by NRNA diaspora in Oceania reason to empower women and youth.

3. Women and youth Forum, chaired by the Regional WOMEN Coordinator, has decided to thank and appreciate all regional Women and youth forum of this region and encourage to continue the future commitment and project plans as discussed. In Nepal, Women Forum Oceania has been working with Nepal Women Commission and Ideal Women Department Centre Chitwan to empower women and children in Nepal.

4. Some recommendations have been concluded to engage second generation NRNA for the betterment of the community, organisation and Nepal.

5. NRNA national committees from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea provided detail progress report of the organisation activities which included great community help to assist the needy students and community to help the challenges caused by COVID-19. NRNA Oceania Regional Meeting, 12-13 Septmber-2020

6. NRNA New Zealand and Australia also presented their financial reports and showed a great example how volunteer organisation like NRNA can manage the financial transparently and professionally.

7. During economic knowledge session, there were seven presenters from Nepal, New Zealand and Australia covering pollical leaders, government secretaries and Reserve and commercial bank leaders and experts from Oceania region.

8. During health knowledge session, there were seven presenters covering diverse aspects of health including the medicine, hospital management, mental health and public health related matters which included experts from Nepal and Oceania region.

9. Oceania counties like Australia and New Zealand has managed the COVID-19 very well compared other countries in the world. The Convention helped to exchange ideas between Nepal, Oceania region and rest of the world to minimise the health and economic impact of the COVID pandemic.

10. Following presenters presented in knowledge sessions:

i. Hon. Surendra Pandey, Member of parliament and Former Finance Minister of Nepal

ii. Hon. Dr. Minendra Rijal, Member of Parliament and Former Communication Minister of Nepal

iii. Dr. Hari KC, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kathmandu, Nepal

iv. Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha, Nepal Rastra bank, Executive Director, Nepal

v. Mr. Bhoj Bahadur Shah, Chairman Megha Bank

vi. Dr. Kamal Adhikari, Research Scientists Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand

vii. Dr. Krishna Hamal, Senior Economist, Specialised on economic and social policies and program. Long experience in NENA, Social and Government work.

viii. Arun Kumar Thakur, Australia

ix. Dr. Rameshwor Adhikari, Director, RECAST, TU, Nepal

x. Kabita Kandel & Samiran Subedi, Chief Scientific Officer, Alpha Agro Pvt. Ltd. Nepal

xi. Dr. Kush Shrestha, Orthpedic surgeon, Australia. ANMDA Secretary.

xii. Dr. Dilli Banjade, Director of Medical Physics in Central West Cancer Care Centre, Orange Hospital

xiii. Bimala Khadka, Nepal Women commission, senior case manager, Law expert/domestic violent/rehab/counselling

xiv. Mr. Bharat Nepal, Population Health Practitioner with special interest in mental health issues

xv. Drona Rasali et al, NAPA, USA 11.

Following were the panel members of the sessions to analyse the presentation and provide suggestion.

Knowledge Sessions

a. Moderator – Dr Binod Shrestha

b. Panel Chair- Dr. Raju Adhikari NRNA Oceania Regional Meeting, 12-13 Septmber-2020

c. Member - Hon. Deepak Khadka

d. Member - Hon. Chandra Yonzon

e. Member - Mr. Durga Acharya

f. Member - Dr. Hom Murti Panta

g. Member - Dr. Basundhara Bhattarai

h. Member - Mr. Dharma Raj Adhikari

i. Member - Mr. Dinesh Raj Joshi

j. Member - Ganesh KC

Health Sessions

a. Moderator – Ashok KC

b. Panel Chair – Ms. Bhoma Limbu

c. Member - Hon. Deepak Dhamala

d. Member - Deepak Sharma

e. Member - Santosh Kunwar

f. Member - Dr. Chandra Prakash Pokharel

g. Member – Mr. Alex Karki

h. Member – Mrs. Babita Shrestha

i. Member - Dr. Mom Biswakarma

j. Member – Mr. Neeraj Shrestha

Thank you.

On behalf of Oceania NRNA Team. Note: This is a summary only and a detail report will be complied in near future.

Hom Nath Pandey

Regional Coordinator,

Oceania Non-Resident Nepali Association

E mail: rcoceania@nrna.org, Mobile: +61 432 827 773