KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is departing for Turkmenistan tonight to attend the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Oli will fly to Turkmenistan via Dubai at 11:55 PM on a FlyDubai flight. On Saturday, he met President Ram Chandra Poudel to brief him about the visit.

The conference will be held in Avaza from August 5 to 8.

As the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries, Oli will address the conference, co-chair a high-level roundtable, and participate in other sessions, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nepal currently chairs the LLDC group, which represents 32 landlocked developing countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, with a combined population of around 440 million.

The conference will focus on trade and connectivity challenges faced by these countries due to lack of sea access, long distances to markets, complex transit processes, and inadequate infrastructure, which increase trade costs.

During the visit, Oli will hold bilateral meetings with heads of delegations, UN officials, and representatives of international organizations.

The Nepali delegation includes Radhika Shakya, Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, MP Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, PM’s Private Secretary Rajesh Bajracharya, Personal Physician Prof. Dr. Divya Singh Shah, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, senior officials, media personnel, and security staff. Oli is scheduled to return on the night of August 8.

Landlocked developing countries face serious trade, connectivity, and development challenges due to their geographical disadvantages.

The conference aims to explore solutions, forge partnerships, and attract investments to address these issues.

The Second LLDC Conference was held in Vienna, Austria, from November 3 to 5, 2014, reviewing the Almaty Programme of Action and discussing policies on trade, transit transport systems, and emerging challenges.