Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli returned home at midnight after attending the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC) held in Turkmenistan. He was welcomed at Tribhuvan International Airport’s VIP lounge by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey.

The Chief Secretary, the Chief of Army Staff, heads of security agencies, and other high-ranking officials were also present. The Nepali Army presented a guard of honour to the Prime Minister upon his arrival.

Participation in the Turkmenistan Conference
Prime Minister Oli attended the conference at the invitation of Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedow and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The event took place in Avaza, Turkmenistan, from August 5 to 8.

As the Chairman of the Global Coordination Bureau for Least Developed Countries, Oli addressed the main conference, co-chaired a high-level roundtable, and spoke at several other programs.

Issues Discussed
The conference brought together representatives from 32 landlocked developing countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. Discussions centered on the challenges of lacking direct access to the sea, such as dependence on transit routes through other nations, multiple border crossings, long distances from major markets, and inadequate infrastructure — all factors that increase transportation and trade costs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the event aimed to enhance the competitiveness of these nations and explore ways to overcome logistical and trade barriers.

Expected Outcomes
The conference is expected to help landlocked countries boost investment, build strategic partnerships, and unlock their economic potential. Leaders emphasized the need for cooperation to create equitable opportunities and foster sustainable development.

It is hoped that the discussions will aid member states in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the context of global market integration and infrastructure development.

Previous Conference and Delegation Details
The previous UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries was held in Vienna, Austria, in November 2014, focusing on trade, transit cooperation, and the Almaty Action Plan.

Prime Minister Oli’s delegation included Foreign Affairs Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, First Lady Radhika Shakya, Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, MP Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, Principal Private Secretary Rajesh Bajracharya, personal physician Prof. Dr. Divya Singh Shah, senior government officials, media representatives, and security personnel.