Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Amrit Bahadur Rai presided over the handover ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Rai commended Malawi for successfully leading the group amidst the vortex of multiple crises resulting from the pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical tensions to food, energy and financial woes that had harsh effects on the LDCs. He shared Nepal’s commitment to work in the spirit of solidarity with the LDC members, the UN System, and development partners to safeguard and promote the collective interests of the LDCs.

As the LDC Chair, Ambassador Rai said that theeffective implementation of the Doha Programme of Action would remain our top priority. He also underlined the importance of mainstreaming the Doha Programme of Action into all relevant UN processes and outcomes. In addition, Ambassador Rai expressed Nepal’s commitment to work for poverty reduction and sustainable development, securing enhanced international supports measures for graduating countries, building resilience to climate change and disasters, climate financing, enhancing trade and investment opportunities, and addressing gender and social inequalities.

Ambassador Rai emphasized unity and solidarity of the LDC group to secure robust international support including through official development assistance, debt relief, and technology transfer. He also stressed the need for democratic global governance system where LDCs will have voice and representation in global decision-making processes.

Addressing the event, Ms. Rabab Fatima, USG and High Representative, congratulated Nepal for assuming the very important role and assured the full support and assistance of her office to the LDC group and its coordination bureau.

The ceremony was attended by the outgoing Chair Agnes Chimbiri-Molande, Permanent Representative of Malawi, Ms. Rabab Fatima, Under-Secretary-General and UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States along with the Ambassadors and delegates from the Least Developed Countries.

Nepal assumed the Chairmanship of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) for three years in a ceremony organized at the UN Headquarters, New York, today.