Ambassador of Israel to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass called on Minister for Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) Raghuji Pant.
During the meeting the Ambassador lauded various bilateral related issues. Informing about the Israeli Internship Program to Minister Pant, the Israeli Ambassador Bass urged Nepal Government to resume the “earn and learn” agricultural internship program for Nepali students in Israel, according to the press release of the Embassy of Israel in Kathmandu.
“Earn and Learn Internships Program,” begun in 2001, is a scheme for young students from Nepal to attend college, participate in a combined work and study program in Israeli agro-farms to gain practical skills and theoretical knowledge. The program will furnish the participating students with valuable work experience, earnings, and exposure to a different work culture.
“So far, the internship program has benefited over 4,000 Nepali students in the agriculture sector to gain theoretical and practical knowledge and experience about the in Israeli methods of agriculture,” Israeli envoy informed adding, “many of them have made significant contributions to Nepal’s agricultural sector since returning from Israel with knowledge and experience.”
“However, following the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, the program has been temporarily halted. But as the situation has returned to normal Israel has reopened this “earn and learn” program in Israel,” said the Ambassador Bass, the release added.
“If this procedural delay is on-going, about 1,000 agricultural internships that could further advance Nepal’s agriculture could be lost,” said the Israeli envoy.
Thus, Ambassador Bass urged the MoEST to cooperate in implementation of the timely registration of students in universities and to arrange for them to go to Israel, it reads.
The note further adds, appreciating the support provided by Israel to Nepal in various fields from the past to the present, Minister Pant informed that “because of Israel’s Earn and Learn Internship for Nepali students seems beneficial to Nepal, the MoEST has proposed to increase the quotas in the upcoming budget to meet the demand and the Ministry has already clarified that there is no objection to the students going to Israel for internship.”
“All relevant institutions have been urged to expedite the student data process, inform students about this and coordinate with universities.,” he said.
“Based on the information received from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and positive reports from the Embassy of Nepal in Israel on the security situation in Israel has become normal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already issued a notification to continue the process of going to Israeli internship,” Minister Pant said.
In the meeting, the Spokesperson at the MoEST, Joint Secretary Shiva Kumar Sapkota and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present, it said.
