Nepal assumed the Chairmanship of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) for three years amid a ceremony organised at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA on Wednesday.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Amrit Bahadur Rai presided over the handover ceremony, reads a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN.

Before Nepal, the African nation Malawi was leading the group.

Ambassador Rai, during the ceremony, 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.

Speaking on the occasion, Rai 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.

According to the statement, Rai said that as the LDC Chair, the effective implementation of the Doha Programme of Action would remain Nepal’s top priority.

“He also underlined the importance of mainstreaming the Doha Programme of Action into all relevant UN processes and outcomes,” reads the statement.

Likewise, Rai also 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 emphasised unity and solidarity of the LDC group to secure robust international support including through official development assistance, debt relief, and technology transfer,” reads the statement, adding that he also stressed the need for democratic global governance system where LDCs will have voice and representation in global decision-making processes.