NEFtalk on the Nepal–Europe Migration Corridor
June 19, 2026
KATHMANDU, NEPAL, July 8 – Nepal Economic Forum (NEF) convened a NEFtalk on the topic "Nepal-Europe Migration Corridor" bringing together senior policymakers, diplomats, migration experts, and development practitioners to discuss the fast-growing Nepal–Europe migration corridor and the policy framework needed to govern it. NEF presented its research findings from an EU-commissioned study on the migration corridor, exploring key trends in destination, labor markets, remittances, and reintegration. The discussion between H.E Veronique Lorenzo and NEF Chair Sujeev Shakya then covered how the EU views Nepal's growing migrant workforce, the safety and opportunity factors driving migration, gaps between migrants' skills and the jobs available to them, and the case for stronger bilateral agreements and reintegration frameworks as the corridor continues to grow
As highlighted in the policy brief for the event, the corridor has expanded twenty-one-fold in under a decade, with an estimated 450,000–500,000 Nepali nationals across Europe and labor permits up from 4,585 in FY 2016/17 to 77,181 in FY 2024/25 However, outcomes remain uneven While remittances are delivering strong welfare gains, weak skills recognition, high migration costs, and fragmented governance leave most migrants dependent on informal brokers, locked out of higher-value opportunities These conversations have so far stayed confined to small, closed-off cohorts, and NEF convened this event to widen the ground for closing these gaps
In his opening remarks, NEF Chair Sujeev Shakya welcomed the participants and recalled that he began writing about remittances when they stood at around USD 350 million, noting that migration is not something to be stopped but leveraged, and pointing to NEF's Global Nepali Network, spanning 150 countries This was followed by a short video introducing NEF's work
NEF Executive Board Member Rojesh Bhakta Shrestha then delivered the first presentation, on 'Migration & Remittance: The Big Picture,' based on NEF's policy brief A Corridor at Scale: Governing Nepal–Europe Migration for Shared Gain, outlining the scale, dual-track structure, and strategic significance of the Nepal–Europe corridor for Nepal's economy He traced 15 years of Nepal's foreign labor migration, noting a recent rebound and diversification beyond the Gulf, and highlighted twenty-one-fold growth in European permits, with women now close to a quarter of migrant workers there and remittances from Europe rising even as the Gulf remains dominant. He noted, "What struck me is how much Europe has quietly become a diversification story for Nepal Its growth means Nepali households now have another, more resilient source of income "
NEF Research Fellow Manju von Rospatt then presented on 'Europe Migration Trends,' drawing on fieldwork across eight European countries and surveys of migrants and diaspora households She outlined why Nepalis are choosing Europe, highlighting reasons such as higher wages, stronger social security and rule of law, and rising aspirations for education and settlement, while flagging steep costs, heavy loan reliance, and a persistent skills mismatch. She remarked, "This corridor is growing rapidly and deserves significant attention What we mostly need is improved governance, sustained accountability, and more bilateral labor agreements " July 2026
The third presentation, titled ‘The Demand Side Perspective,’ by NEF Advisory Board Member and Founder of Migration Protocol, Giuseppe Savino, outlined how Europe's shrinking workforce, not population decline alone, is reshaping labor demand. For every 100 retiring workers, only around 75 young people enter the labor force, a 25% replacement deficit across management, logistics, and healthcare He noted that labor migration is not a silver bullet, but without it the EU population would decline by more than 10% by 2050. He highlighted, "Demographic trends point to a clear conclusion: without substantial labor migration, Europe will struggle to maintain the workforce needed to sustain its economic and public services."
Finally, Rojika Maharjan, PhD Researcher at the University of Amsterdam, presented on 'Reintegration: Why It Matters,' noting that Nepal's institutionalized returnee framework exists but implementation and accessibility remain limited, particularly for the overlooked NepalEurope cohort. She highlighted that 92% of respondents were satisfied with their jobs in Europe, meaning return is driven by family obligations rather than dissatisfaction, with over half intending to start a business on return She observed, "These returnees are coming back with skills, ambitions, and money to invest, and Nepal doesn't yet have a system built for that. With a new government in place, the timing couldn't be better "
NEF Chair Sujeev Shakya then held a conversation with H E Veronique Lorenzo, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal, opening with a question on how the European side views the Nepali labor force. Ambassador Lorenzo called this a blind spot for Brussels, which focuses on origin countries with larger, better-documented migrant populations The conversation also touched on skills mismatches, bilateral agreements, and reintegration, with Ambassador Lorenzo cautioning that the window to engage returning first-generation migrants is narrow She remarked, "One thing that stood out to me is how many women are migrating to Europe, and I don't think that's a coincidence. Europe offers a more secure path for women, and that security is bound to be a real factor drawing them to make that move "
The floor was then opened for questions from the audience
In conclusion, Rojina Tamrakar, Executive Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA), delivered the closing remarks, thanking NEF for the research and platform and noting that migration is increasingly a matter of foreign policy and economic diplomacy. She introduced IFA as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' research arm and outlined Nepal's legal framework for labor migration, including the Foreign Employment Act and National Labor Migration Policy She said the corridor, managed well, creates a triple-win for migrants, Nepal, and Europe, but that implementation is what determines success She remarked, "Our greatest opportunity lies not only in the remittance they send us, but their knowledge, skills, and global network. Nepal must move beyond brain drain towards brain gain, or even brain circulation "
NEF Chair Sujeev Shakya delivered closing remarks, thanking the speakers and participants for their contributions and reaffirming NEF's commitment to advancing evidence-based dialogue on Nepal's migration and development priorities.
2026