Opening Remarks by Rt. Hon. Mr. K P Sharma Oli, Prime Minister and Leader of the Nepali Delegation to the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3)

High-Level Thematic Roundtable 2: Seizing the Transformative Potential of Trade, Trade Facilitation, and Regional Integration for Landlocked Developing Countries

6 August 2025

Awaza, Turkmenistan

Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Namaste and warm greetings.

I am honored to co-chair this high-level thematic roundtable.

This discussion is timely and important.

Excellencies,

In this interconnected and interdependent world - trade is a powerful engine of economic growth.

It can significantly contribute to socio-economic development of LLDCs, like others.

But, despite their huge trade potential, LLDCs account for just over one percent of global trade in goods.

And this imbalance stems not from a lack of ambition or effort, but from structural barriers.

LLDCs face a complex web of challenges, including:  

• Lack of direct access to the seas
• High transit costs
• Poor infrastructure
• Long and uncertain transit routes
• Limited market access
• Over-reliance on a narrow range of primary commodities
• Vulnerability to global shocks
• Climate change-induced disasters

As a result, their economies remain underdeveloped and vulnerable.

Excellencies,

In this context, this Program of Action has come with concrete measures for turning landlocked countries into land-linked ones by:

• building infrastructures,
• investing in smart trade corridors
• developing transport and logistics industries
• digitalizing trade and customs processes
• promoting trade of ICT products and services,
• deepening regional integration and  
• fostering meaningful partnerships.

With sincere implementation of these measures, LLDCs can harness their trade potentials for inclusive and sustainable development.

For this, we need to strengthen cooperation and partnership at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.

We must deliver on the promise to double the share of LLDCs in global trade, expand their service exports, and foster more diversified and resilient economies.

We need to implement this Program of Action to bring prosperity to more than 570 million people living in LLDCs.

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Trade and transit rights of the LLDCs are a moral responsibility of all.

They need greater solidarity, enhanced financial and technological support, as well as fair and equitable trade opportunities.

Collective push for fairer trade terms and transit regimes is urgent.

LLDCs must not be left behind in the global trading system.

The Sevilla Commitment, which we adopted in June this year, also recognizes the LLDC program of action and expresses the strong commitment to its full and effective implementation.

In this context, this roundtable is instrumental to remind us all for urgent actions with renewed commitment and global solidarity.  

Thank you.