KATHMANDU: Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai has argued deep-rooted structural impediments, limited access to international markets, widening digital divides, resources constraints and increasing climate related impacts were some of the challenges facing the least developed countries (LDCs).

Foreign Secretary Rai made such observation in his remarks at the High-level Meeting on ‘Forging Ambitious Global Partnerships for Sustainable and Resilient Graduation of LDCs’ in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday. He was speaking as the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the group of LDCs.

Rai called for robust global solidarity and ambitious partnership for smooth, sustained, and irreversible graduation of the LDCs, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Moreover, he also addressed at the session entitled ‘High-level Ministerial Dialogue on strategic pathways for navigating sustainable graduation amid challenging global development landscape and unlocking new opportunities’.

On the occasion, Secretary Rai shed light the key areas – agriculture, hydropower, tourism, manufacturing, ICT and human capital – that hold immense potential for Nepal’s economic transformation despite the challenging global development landscape and expressed Nepal’s keen interest to working closely with development partners, the UN systems, and the international community for sustained graduation.

He also had an inspection visit to the Embassy of Nepal in Doha in the afternoon. The Embassy officials were instructed to protect and promote Nepal’s national interest as well as make every possible effort to deliver best services to Nepali migrant workers living in Qatar.

The Foreign Secretary is in his three-day visit to Doha for the participation in the High-level Meeting jointly organized by Qatar government and the UN- Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, and the Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island States (UN-OHRLLS).