Press Release on participation at 8th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development led by Hon. Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission

Press Release

Honourable Prof. Dr. Puspa Raj Kadel, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) led the 6-member Nepali delegation to the 8th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) being held on 23-26 March 2021 in a hybrid modality in Bangkok. Other members of the delegation include Secretary at the National Planning Commission, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UNESCAP and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Planning Commission. The theme of the 8th APFSD is Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia and the Pacific”.

While delivering statement through a video link today, Hon. Vice Chairman highlighted Nepal’s effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. He said the SDGs are at the center of Nepal’s development vision and priorities and they complement the national vision of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali”. The Vice Chairman also underlined the achievements made by Nepal in key areas including poverty reduction, access to education, energy and health facility, gender equality and food security.

Stating the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socio-economic sectors, Hon. Vice-Chairman said the Government has concentrated on minimizing the negative effects of the pandemic through appropriate recovery, plans, policies, and programs. The Vice Chairman underscored the need to ensure easy access of all to anti-COVID-19 vaccines, which are global public goods.

In light of the unprecedented global crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vice-Chairman underscored the need of collective efforts to emphasize on the socio-economic sectors to make people’s lives better by building their capacities through income generation activities to absorb adverse shocks.

The APFSD is an annual and inclusive intergovernmental forum and a regional platform for supporting countries, in particular those with special needs, in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 

Embassy of Nepal
Bangkok
23 March 2021