Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The government has appointed Yangqi Ukyab, a woman of the endangered Walung ethnic group, as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN). A cabinet meeting held on Wednesday decided to give him this important responsibility.

Ukab is the first female CEO in the history of the Investment Board. A recommendation committee formed under the coordination of the Finance Minister selected Ukayab to the post.

She is a development economist with long experience in public policy, investment promotion and development economics. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Governance from the University of Oxford, UK. She holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Missouri, USA.

He has 6 years of project financing experience in Investment Board. In addition, she has worked internationally as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Pacific Regional Office (Fiji) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Development Economist and Policy Advisor in Cambodia and Nepal. His expertise is mainly in the areas of green economy, climate finance, public-private partnerships and digital transformation.

She is a woman from Walung, which is on the verge of extinction. She is the daughter of former Consul General of Nepal to Tibet and former Zonal Magistrate (Late) Jonden Ukyab.

The Walung people are an indigenous ethnic group inhabiting the northern Himalayan region of Taplejung district of Nepal, especially Olangchungola (locally known as Walung), Yangma and Lelep region.

According to the national census, the community has a total population of 481. The Government of Nepal has listed this species as endangered due to its numerical low.

Historically, the Walung community was the main intermediary of trade between Nepal and Tibet. The community speaks a Tibeto-Burman language and practices Tibetan Buddhism, trading in salt, wool, food grains and medicinal herbs through the Tiptala Bhanjyang.

The festival of ‘Losar’ is their main festival. The language and culture of this community is under threat due to its remote geographical location and rapid migration.