Nepal asks WHO to prioritise LDC agendas

KATHMANDU: Nepal has asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to accord a high priority to interests and concerns of least development countries (LDCs).

Calling on WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo at his office in Geneva of Switzerland on Monday, Nepal's Commerce and Supplies Secretary Naindra Prasad Upadhyaya said it is significant to incorporate all agendas of LDCs in the post-Bali work programmes.

The Commerce Secretary is currently in Geneva leading a Nepali delegation to participate in the 5th Global Review of Aid for Trade being held at the WTO from Tuesday to Thursday, Geneva-based Nepal's Permanent MissionĀ of Nepal to the UN said in a statement.

In response, Azevedo assured that he would do within his capacity to mainstream LDCs agenda in the ongoing post-work programme in the run-up to the 10th Ministerial Conference to be held in Nairobi in December this year.

During the meeting, the Secretary also discussed with the top WTO official Nepal's need to restore and revive economy and trade, in the aftermath of the earthquake, among other issues, the statement added.

"Upadhaya also underlined the need for full implementation of the past decisions, including Bali Ministerial decisions, pertaining to the LDCs trade issues, namely duty free quota free market access for LDCs' products, preferential market access to services and services suppliers from LDCs, simplified, transparent and predictable rules of origin, among others," the statement read.