Minister for Commerce and Supplies, Lekh Raj Bhatta, underlined the need of enhanced national, regional and international efforts in overcoming the vulnerabilities the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) face due to geographical remoteness and lack of access to the sea.

Addressed the Meeting of the Trade/Commerce Ministers from the Landlocked Developing Countries organized in Doha, Qatar, in the context of  the Thirteenth United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII) Monday, he stated that these efforts should  include developing efficient internal transportation infrastructure as well as transit systems; promoting effective  regional integration; and focusing on the trade and economic sectors where LLDCs can do better.

He also underscored that national efforts alone do not suffice given the years of lagging behind and constraints of resources  and hence, the LLDCs need effective international support in the form of ODA, preferential market access, FDI and trade related capacity building measures, among others.

Likewise, the Minister stressed on the importance of giving special attention to the issue of market access for agricultural and non-agricultural goods and products of special interest to landlocked developing countries. They should be granted special and differential treatment and supported with adequate trade facilitation measures on account of their disadvantaged geographical attributes, he stressed.

The  meeting concluded by adopting a Ministerial Declaration. nepalnews.com