KATHMANDU: Nepal has formally requested the United Nations to postpone its graduation from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a middle-income developing nation by three years, shifting the target from 2026 to November 24, 2029.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal informed the National Assembly that the official request was sent on May 13, 2026, citing domestic economic fluctuations, the global impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, climate change risks, and low productivity as key reasons for the delay.

As graduation will cut off various international trade concessions and foreign aid facilities, the government plans to use this additional three-year window to strengthen the country’s economic foundation, improve its export base, remove structural bottlenecks, and ensure the transition is sustainable for the long term.