A.D.:
Nepal Samvat: 1145 GULATHWA CHATURDASHI - 14
A.D.:
Nepal Samvat: 1145 GULATHWA CHATURDASHI - 14
His Excellency the President of the Republic of Armenia,
Excellencies, Dear Friends.
I am delighted to share my thoughts on today’s topic that is timely and important.
Land Locked Developing Countries are born into constraints not of their choosing.
The hopes and aspirations of over 570 million people from 32 LLDCs have long been constrained by the boundaries of our geography.
The lack of direct sea access is more than a geographic limitation.
It is a persistent barrier that, compounded by high transit costs, fragile infrastructure, and reliance on others, has long kept our dreams of full participation in global trade just out of reach.
In this context, connectivity is not merely infrastructure, it is the architecture of opportunity.
Connectivity is not just about roads, rails, or borders; it is about bringing people closer, nurturing peace, and building enduring partnerships rooted in shared hope and prosperity.
And yet, Landlocked Developing Countries continue to face significant connectivity gaps across transport and digital infrastructure.
Climate change has been adding to our woes.
Droughts, floods, and extreme weather disrupt transport and transit infrastructure.
Being landlocked must never mean being opportunity locked.
Excellencies,
Considering the challenges, we must redouble our effort to enhance smooth and resilient connectivity.
In Nepal’s case: we have increased investment in sustainable infrastructure, which has paved the way for inclusive prosperity.
With both our neighbors, we have been increasing trade and transport corridors to integrate ourselves with their growing and robust economies.
We have also focused on harmonizing regulations and standards.
When nations are bound by strong economic ties, their dividends multiply. Then peace becomes not just desirable but indispensable.
Deeper connectivity opens various windows of opportunities and creates a sense of shared destiny.
In the South Asian context, enhanced trade and transport connectivity is undeniably a catalyst for lasting cooperation, inclusive prosperity, and stronger regional integration.
Initiatives like the South Asian Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program and the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) framework are making progress in enhancing regional integration through connectivity.
Regional corridors will certainly unlock the new pathways for trade, investment, tourism and subsequently bring common prosperity.
Excellencies,
The Awaza Program of Action rightly underscores connectivity as the cornerstone of development and growth in the LLDCs.
Its focus on resilient multimodal infrastructure, transforming transit routes into economic corridors, expanding infrastructure financing, enhancing air connectivity, and advancing digital and energy links directly addresses the structural challenges faced by LLDCs.
As we strive to implement the Awaza Program of Action, alongside the Sevilla Commitment, the Pact for the Future, and other multilateral commitments we have jointly undertaken, we must ensure these pledges are not mere declarations.
They must be backed by enhanced development assistance, substantial investments and technology transfers, and strengthened partnership with LLDCs.
We also urge for enhancing the mobilization of adaptation funds to LLDCs to support the resilient infrastructure.
To conclude, I wish to emphasize that landlocked nations are not isolated by choice but by circumstance:
To connect is to correct the structural imbalance.
Coastal states hold the keys to global integration for LLDCs—unlocking them is a duty, not a favor.
Let us turn structural disadvantages into a catalyst for innovation to make LLDCs as hubs of creativity and growth.
Let us enhance regional connectivity for enduring peace, and shared prosperity for all.
Thank you.
