Kingston, Jamaica (1 July 2026) – The new Permanent Representative of Nepal to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) presented his credentials on Wednesday, 1 July 2026.
Madam Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho welcomed H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa to Kingston, Jamaica. During the engagement she commended Nepal for carrying “particular importance for the Authority as both a Least Developed Country and a Landlocked Developing State.”
She noted that for these countries, including Nepal, “ISA´s work is directly relevant to ensuring access to knowledge, capacity-development opportunities, and benefit-sharing mechanisms that are inclusive, fair and meaningful.”
Ambassador Thapa brings to the role more than three decades of diplomatic and public service, including senior responsibilities in Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, service as Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Head of Mission to the European Union, and Permanent Representative to several international organizations.
The Nepalese Ambassador currently also serves as Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations in New York, as Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries, and as President of the Economic and Social Council for the 2025–2026 session, giving him a strong understanding of the development priorities that are central to ISA’s mandate.
After presenting his credentials to Madam Secretary-General, the Permanent Representative of Nepal reaffirmed his country´s strong commitment to the mandate of the ISA.
Ambassador Thapa also emphasized “the importance of the effective implementation of UNCLOS and the BBNJ Agreement”, while stressing that knowledge-sharing, marine technology transfer and capacity-building initiatives are essential to ensuring that Landlocked Developing States“ are able to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable governance of the Area.”
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority is an autonomous intergovernmental organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to organize, regulate and control activities in the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the benefit of humankind as a whole. ISA is committed to ensuring that all activities in the deep seabed are carried out responsibly, using the best available scientific evidence and in accordance with the principle of the common heritage of humankind.
For media inquiries, please contact:
ISA Communications Unit, news@isa.org.jm
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For more information, visit our website, www.isa.org.jm