Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is set to lead the Nepali delegation on an official visit to Turkmenistan tonight at 11:55 PM via Fly Dubai, transiting through Dubai.

According to the official online news portal of Nepal Television, Prime Minister Oli is visiting Turkmenistan from July 20 to 23 (August 5 to 8) at the formal invitation of Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The visit is to attend a conference being held in Avaza city.

As the current Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to address the conference. He will also co-chair a high-level roundtable meeting and speak at various other events, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nepal currently chairs the group of LLDCs (Landlocked Developing Countries).

The conference will be attended by 32 landlocked developing countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, representing a total population of about 440 million. Discussions will focus on issues related to the lack of direct access to the sea and the isolation of these countries from global markets. Due to their dependence on transit through other countries for international trade, long distances from major markets, cumbersome transit procedures, and inadequate infrastructure, LLDCs face high transportation and transaction costs. The conference aims to enhance their competitiveness by addressing these challenges.

During the visit, Prime Minister Oli will also hold bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from various countries, as well as senior officials from the United Nations and other international organizations.

The Prime Minister’s delegation includes his wife Radhika Shakya, Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Member of Parliament Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri, Chief Personal Secretary Rajesh Bajracharya, personal physician Prof. Dr. Divya Singh Shah, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai, senior government officials, official media personnel, and security staff.

Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to return home on July 23 (August 8).

Landlocked developing countries struggle with international trade, connectivity, and economic development due to the lack of direct regional access to the sea. Without sufficient transportation and food infrastructure, they face serious challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This upcoming event will be the third such conference aimed at addressing these issues.

The conference is expected to explore innovative solutions, strategic partnerships, and increased investment to help LLDCs overcome challenges and realize their full potential. It is also seen as a platform to foster mutual cooperation for building a shared and prosperous future.

The second United Nations Conference on LLDCs was held from November 3–5, 2014, in Vienna, Austria. That conference reviewed the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action and discussed international, regional, sub-regional, and national trade and transit transport cooperation policies to address new and emerging challenges.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that all preparations for the visit have been completed. Yesterday, Prime Minister Oli briefed President Ram Chandra Paudel regarding his upcoming visit to Turkmenistan.