Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The government of Nepal is preparing to appoint ambassadors to 21 different countries and diplomatic missions in the country.

The process for appointing ambassadors has been forwarded within two weeks in 21 embassies including Egypt, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Myanmar and the UN Mission Vienna.

Currently, there are ambassadors in only 15 countries and diplomatic missions while ambassadors are vacant in 16 countries and diplomatic missions. Currently, there are 28 Nepali embassies in various countries. There are 39 missions including permanent missions to the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Vienna, eight consulates and eight consulates in the United Nations.

Currently serving as ambassadors to New York, Geneva, Vienna, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, France, Kuwait, Myanmar, Pakistan, Portugal, Thailand and UAE. Ambassadors to Australia, China, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, the US and Spain are vacant.

The government has decided to close three embassies in South Africa, Brazil and Denmark from this fiscal year. According to the ministry, the applications received through the open application for ambassador are currently being studied. The government is preparing to appoint ambassadors from among them. This is the first time that ambassadors are being recommended through open application.