Opening Remarks as the Special Guest by Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli, at the opening of Ministerial Meeting on South-South Cooperation (10:00 -10:20 on 6 August, 2025)

Excellencies,        

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I feel honored to address this Ministerial Meeting on South-South Cooperation.

Let me extend my sincere appreciation to the co-organizers for convening this meeting.

Geography should never limit human ambition—especially in today’s interconnected and technologically advanced world.

Yet for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), geographical constraints remain a significant structural barrier to progress.

These challenges are further intensified by a confluence of global crises—geopolitical tensions, food and energy insecurity, rising inflation, and shrinking fiscal space.

In the face of these compounding pressures, LLDCs are striving to mobilize domestic resources, attract foreign investment, and secure development assistance.

But progress is faltering: Official Development Assistance and Foreign Direct Investment flows to LLDCs are on a persistent decline.

Too often, development cooperation is misaligned with national priorities, limiting its long-term impact.

Meanwhile, the accelerating impacts of climate change continue to disproportionately erode the hard-won development gains of LLDCs.

Excellencies,

In this challenging context, the Awaza Programme of Action brings much-needed optimism and direction.
It presents a forward-looking and practical roadmap—anchored in structural transformation.

And in this endeavor, South-South Cooperation can be instrumental to support LLDCs.

The partnerships under the South-South Cooperation enable LLDCs to exchange knowledge and mobilize resources to deliver measurable and lasting results.

Rooted in solidarity, mutual respect, and shared ownership, South-South Cooperation promotes peer learning, capacity development, and technology transfer tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of LLDCs—helping to build a more equitable and inclusive growth.

Distinguished Delegates,

Allow me to highlight four strategic actions to deepen South-South cooperation for the successful implementation of the Awaza Programme of Action:

1. First, we must harness South-South and triangular cooperation to promote regional integration by investing in resilient physical and digital infrastructure.
2. Second, we must work collectively to develop trade and transit corridors, modernize infrastructure, and harmonize customs procedures to enhance cross border trade and investment.
3. Third, it is critical to establish the Infrastructure Investment Facility for LLDCs, enabling us to finance priority development projects.
4. Finally, we must embrace and accelerate digital transformation to participate meaningfully in the global digital economy.

Excellencies,

Let us seize this moment to reinvigorate South-South cooperation as a dynamic force for shared progress.

The potential is immense—and the need is urgent.

Nepal remains committed to working in close partnership with fellow LLDCs, transit countries, and development partners to unlock our collective potential.

Together, we can build bridges of opportunity, break barriers of exclusion, and deliver prosperity to our people.

Thank you.