Press Release: Day Two Engagements of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister in Awaza and Other Events During LLDC3

Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. K P Sharma Oli co-chaired the ‘High-level Thematic Round Table 2: Seizing the Transformative Potential of Trade, Trade Facilitation, and Regional Integration for Landlocked Developing Countries’ along with the Vice President of The Gambia at the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan this morning.

In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister stated that LLDCs are excluded from opportunities and promises of prosperity due to structural barriers and persistent inequalities. He called for strong support to help LLDCs overcome structural disadvantages through financing, policy support, and partnerships.

In the afternoon, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister addressed the ‘High-level Thematic Round Table 3: Enhancing Adaptive Capacity, Strengthening Resilience and Addressing Vulnerability to Climate Change and Disasters in Landlocked Developing Countries’.  In his address, the Prime Minister emphasized the critical need for enhanced international support to complement national initiatives to fight climate crises and climate change-induced disasters. He further expressed confidence that the Awaza Programme of Action could serve as a blueprint to guide these collective efforts.

On the sidelines of the Conference, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan. In the meeting, matters related to enhancing economic cooperation and strengthening the bilateral relations were discussed.

The Prime Minister also had a meeting with Ms. Rabab Fatima, Secretary General of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) and Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS (UN-OHRLLS). In the meeting, matters related to promoting the interests of the LLDCs were discussed. 

Besides, the Prime Minister met Mr. Ismail Ersahin, CEO and Executive Director of World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA). Matters related to promoting Nepal as an attractive investment destination were discussed during the meeting.

The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Mr. K P Sharma Oli also addressed the Ministerial Meeting on South-South Cooperation on the margins of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan this morning. In his address, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister stressed the need for regional integration through physical and digital infrastructure as well as trade and transit corridors.

During the Conference, Foreign Secretary Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai delivered a keynote speech at the High-Level Special Event on Establishing Regional Agriculture Research Hubs (RARH) to Support LLDCs’ Agricultural Transformation. In his speech, Foreign Secretary Mr. Rai stated that the establishment of the hubs will help transform agriculture in LLDCs through focused research, strengthened regional cooperation, and the sharing of innovation.

On the sidelines, Foreign Secretary Mr. Rai held bilateral meetings with H.E. Mr. Josef Schellhorn, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria and Mr. Par Liljert, Director, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office at the United Nations separately. Matters of mutual interests were discussed during the meetings.

Awaza, Turkmenistan

6 August 2025