Kathmandu, April 18: A three-day sub-regional workshop began here as Nepal’s preparations for its sustainable graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.The event named ”Structural Transformation Towards a Sustainable Graduation from the LDC Category” is coordinated by the National Planning Commission (NPC) and supported by UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific).
Representatives from the UN agencies, various regional organizations, bodies concerned, government offices, private sector and the civil societies are attending the workshop. The event will assess areas likely to experienced from possible implications of Nepal’s graduation from the LDC category and possible aspects for improvement, it is said.
NPC secretary Kewal Prasad Bhandari stressed the need of determining the area-wise of priorities to ensure a sustainable departure from over the half-century old status of LDC and while pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition to this, it is necessary to evaluate the flip side of our graduation from the LDC as we will be losing facilities for various sectors we are receiving as the LDC nation. The workshop is expected to give a picture of such side as well, according to Bhandari. Along with Nepal, Bangladesh and Laos also aim to formally graduate from the LDC category by 2026. Now Nepal takes the charge of Chair of the UN LDCs.
Nepal has already met three major requirements, the improvements in three major indicators: Gross national income (GNI) per capita, Human Assets Index (HAI) and Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI) as mandated by the UN for the graduation.
“But still this is not enough to make a stride towards a developing country in a true sense. Improvement in the Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) which is largely concerned with people’s health, education and living of standard is also needed,” Bhandari said, adding that Nepal’s graduation to a developing country by 2026 is expected to be characterized by our better position than of the moment.
Bhandari mentioned that Nepal is stressing on implementation of ‘Istanbul Programme of Action’ and ‘Doha Programme of Action’ issued for least developed countries, members of the United Nations. Similarly, he opined that it was necessary to move ahead connecting the issues of graduation from least developed countries with sustainable development goals. Nepal in its annual policy, programme and budget has been taking the issues of achieving sustainable development goals and upgrading from least developed countries ahead linking together.
It was necessary to connect this issue with budget, planning and formulation and its effectiveness, shared Bhandari. According to the Commission, this workshop was organised to get information of working style and positive practice of the countries graduated from the least developed countries and countries that are in the upgrading phase.
There is participation of concerned ministries, different government bodies and private sectors in the workshop.
Secretary Bhandari said, “We have invited finance secretary of all seven provinces in this programme. So we can able to identify the activities to be carried out and areas of priority through the budget of coming fiscal year. There is also participation of private sector, civil society as well as stakeholders.”
Nepal will not get different facilities it has been receiving in trade sector after its graduation from least developed countries. Nepal will take diplomatic initiative for the continuity of the facilities it has been receiving from South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) along with World Trade Organisation (WTO).
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