Mr Ram Pratap Thapa is the vice chairman of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Interntional Coordinating Council (ICC). He is also the Honorary Consul of Nepal for three states of Germany. Born in 1950 in Gorkha district, he grew up in Bhairahawa and Kathmandu. He did his schooling in Kathmandu and completed his University education in Kathmandu and Nuremberg, Germany. He holds an MBA degree with majors in Financing and Marketing.

He had opportunity to work in Nepal as researcher and as teacher for commerce in Kathmandu.

He arrived Germany in the year 1976.

After further study, he joined banking sector. He is now affiliated with one of the biggest Savings Bank Group of Germany in Cologne as an analyst.

Thapa, who is president of German Nepal Friendship Association, is also the editorial board member of the magazine "Nepal Information," published from Germany. He is also a member of the board of the German Asia Foundation in Essen.

He is also one of the organizers of the NGO conference of German NGOs interested in Nepal for the last 14 years.

He writes regularly on economic and development issues related to Nepal. An avid reader of Nepali literature, he has published several stories and poems in Nepali.

He also edited and published first Nepali pocket literature magazine of Nepal "Bankee."

He has travelled to many countries to meet Nepalis and attended most of the regional conferences and meetings organized by the NRNA since its inception.

One of the founding members of the NRNA, he served for first two years as an ICC member. He served for another two years as Vice President for European region and later elected as VP, NRN ICC.

He is also Coordinator of three separate task forces set up by the NRN ICC for Dual citizenship, Flood relief project, and NRN sustainability.

Thapa has recently announced his candidacy for the post of President of the NRN ICC for the period 2009-2011.