Som Nath Sapkota Announces Candidacy for Vice President of NRNA ICC

Kathmandu – Long-time Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) leader Som Nath Sapkota has officially announced his candidacy for the position of Vice President of the NRNA International Coordination Council (ICC) for the NRNA Election 2082 (Tenure 2025–2027) to be held during the upcoming International General Assembly and Global Convention.

Sapkota has been actively involved with NRNA since its establishment in 2003 and is widely recognized for his consistent contribution to strengthening the global Nepali diaspora network.

He began his formal leadership journey in 2006 as an Executive Member of NRNA NCC Portugal and later became the Founding President of NRNA NCC Denmark in 2009, where he played a significant role in organizing and strengthening the Nepali community.

Over the years, Sapkota has served the NRNA International Coordination Council in several key leadership roles, including ICC Member (2011–2013), Deputy Regional Coordinator for Europe (2013–2015), Advisor (2015–2017), ICC Member (2017–2019), Joint Treasurer (2019–2021), Spokesperson (2021–2023), and Deputy General Secretary (2023–2025).

During his tenure, he has also led and contributed to several NRNA task forces and committees such as Social Welfare, Tourism Promotion, the Nepal Library Project, and Foreign Employment, helping to deliver a number of practical and results-oriented initiatives.

Known for his approachable leadership style and strong global network, Sapkota is regarded as a well-connected and accessible figure among NRNs worldwide. He has consistently emphasized the importance of building a transparent, credible, and results-oriented NRNA, including strengthening institutional systems and promoting the development of a reliable NRN data bank to improve organizational effectiveness.

Beyond his involvement with NRNA, Sapkota has also been actively engaged in promoting Nepal internationally. He has served as a representative of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) for Denmark and Malta, and in 2022 he was appointed Tourism Goodwill Ambassador for Wales. He is currently serving as a Tourism Promoter appointed by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal.

He has also been appointed International Tourism Promoter by several municipalities in Nepal, including Bharatpur Metropolitan City (2025), Lumbini Municipality (2024), Ramgram Municipality in Nawalparasi West (2024), Devdaha Municipality (2024), and Lumbini Cultural Municipality (2024).

Announcing his candidacy, Sapkota said his vision is to help build a united, transparent, credible, and professionally managed global Nepali institution. His key priorities include strengthening institutional governance, improving coordination between ICC and NCCs, promoting digital transformation, expanding global NRNA networks, encouraging youth participation, supporting migrant worker welfare, and mobilizing diaspora investment for Nepal’s socio-economic development.

He has also highlighted the importance of organizational unity, transparency, and cost-effective, results-oriented management within NRNA. According to Sapkota, strengthening trust among members and encouraging inclusive participation from Nepali communities around the world will make the organization more effective and impactful.

“With unity, trust, and professional leadership, NRNA can become an even stronger global platform for the Nepali diaspora,” Sapkota said.

With more than two decades of involvement in diaspora leadership and international community engagement, Sapkota’s candidacy for Vice President in the NRNA Election 2082 (Tenure 2025–2027) is expected to attract significant attention from NRN communities across various regions of the world.