Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli departed for Turkmenistan at midnight on Sunday to participate in the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). His visit comes at the joint invitation of the President of Turkmenistan and the UN Secretary-General.

The high-level conference, taking place in the city of Awaza from Shrawan 20 to 23 (August 5–8), brings together representatives from 32 landlocked nations across Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. As Nepal currently chairs the LLDC group, Prime Minister Oli will address the conference in his capacity as Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries.

The conference will focus on shared challenges faced by landlocked nations, such as limited sea access, transit obstacles in international trade, and exclusion from global market benefits. Participants aim to develop cooperative strategies and practical solutions to these persistent issues.

In addition to delivering a keynote address, Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with heads of state and government representatives, as well as senior officials from the United Nations.

The Prime Minister's delegation includes First Lady Radhika Shakya, Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Member of Parliament Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, and several high-ranking government officials. The delegation is expected to return to Nepal on Friday, August 23.