Press Release
Hon. Prof. Dr. Puspa Raj Kadel, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission and the leader of Nepali delegation to the 77th Commission Session of the UNESCAP addressed through online platform the Special Body on Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Pacific Island Developing States today.
In his address, Hon. Vice Chairman stated that in view of its graduation from a least developed country with a preparatory period of five years, Nepal has now started preparing a strategy for a smooth, irreversible, and sustainable graduation with diversified options for financing as well as utilizing trade measures to bolster the readiness of the business sector for competitive trade.
The Vice Chairman further stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sectors in the country including health, trade, tourism, transport, education, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors, among others. He said that the Government has concentrated its effort towards controlling and mitigating the pandemic through appropriate policy measures and program interventions including relief packages and social protection measures. The ongoing budget has given high priority to save people’s lives with a robust focus on reviving the resilient economy and enhancing social welfare programs, the Vice-Chairman further said.
Hon. Vice Chairman opined that the integrated approach of LDCs, LLDCs, and PIDS could play a pivotal role in promoting economic growth, diversifying trade as well as transforming structural barriers and addressing multidimensional poverty. He also expressed views that a strategy for increasing the competitiveness and economic diversification along with capital investment and promotion of advanced technology is crucial in enhancing the capacities of LDCs, LLDCs and PIDS.
Underlining the critical role of development partners at the current crisis of pandemic, the Vice Chairman expressed that international cooperation including availability and accessibility of COVID-19 vaccines, financial support and debt relief measures are crucial for LDCs, LLDCs, and PIDS. The support measures should focus on increasing the social and economic resilience of the vulnerable economies, he said.
Hon. Vice Chairman had also addressed the theme topic of the Commission Session, “Building back better from crises through regional cooperation in Asia and the Pacific” yesterday.
The 77th Commission Session is being held until 29 April 2021 in a hybrid modality in Bangkok.
Embassy of Nepal
Bangkok
28 April 2021