"LDCs are worst victims of climate crisis"

MARCH 3: Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, addressed the Summit of Least Developed Countries organized by the LDC Chair Malawi in Doha yesterday.

 In his address, he underscored the need for increased investment in infrastructures, services like health and education, technological, scientific, and innovative capacities as well as other sectors of the economy including agriculture. He emphasized enhancing productivity, creating stronger industries, and a diversified export base for the structural economic transformation of LDCs, without which they could not meet their development goals.

 ‘Our economies are facing the onslaught of mega global crises, such as the pandemic, conflicts, and climate disasters’, he said, while urging the development partners to scale up ODA, investment, and technology transfer to the LDCs.

 Adding that the LDCs are the worst victims of the climate crisis, he called for urgently mobilizing adequate resources through climate finance mechanisms in the areas of adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage with simplified access to LDCs.

 He shared that Nepal has internalized global policy frameworks like the 20230 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Paris Agreement, and UN programs for LDCs and LLDCs for their effective implementation. He reiterated Nepal’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2045.

 He also highlighted that Nepal is implementing a transition strategy for smooth and irreversible graduation from the LDC status and expressed commitment to making all-out efforts for the effective implementation of the Doha Programme of Action.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Deputy Prime Minister had a meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations  Antonio Guterres. The discussion was focused on strengthening cooperation between Nepal and the United Nations including in the areas of UN peace operations. Highlighting Nepal and UN partnership- driven by trust, cooperation, and mutual respect, the Deputy Prime Minister thanked the UN Secretary-General for his continued support in Nepal’s development endeavors.

Later in the afternoon, the Deputy Prime Minister also attended the interaction program with the Nepali diaspora organized by Non-Resident Nepali Association and Nepali community organizations. He underscored the role of NRNs in Nepal's socio-economic development largely in the sectors of investment, culture, and tourism promotion, and urged them to contribute to Nepal’s development efforts.

In the evening, the Ambassador of Nepal to the State of Qatar  Dr. Naresh Bikram Dhakal, at his official residence, hosted a dinner in honor of the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and visiting delegation.

 Jeetendra Narayan Dev, a Member of Parliament, attended the Sessions of the Parliamentary Forum. Speaking at the Sessions, he highlighted the untapped potential of LDCs in terms of their human and natural resource to meet their development needs. He said that the LDCs are marginalized due to a biased global economic system and emphasized the need to overhaul the global financial architecture to increase the voice and participation of developing countries including LDCs. He also called for reinvigorated partnership and renewed commitment between LDCs and their development partners to translate LDCs’ potential into prosperity