WT/MIN(22)/ST/27  
12 June 2022 
(22-4463) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H ON. MR DILENDRA PRASAD BADU  
MINISTER , MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY,  COMMERCE AND SUPPLIES  
NEPAL 
At the outset, on behalf of the Government of Nepal and on my own, I would like to express my 
sincere gratitude to the Government of Kazakhstan and the WTO secretariat for organizing this 
conference.  
 
Mr. Chair, Covid pandemic has made devastating effects  worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of people 
lost their lives, and millions became jobless and fell into at a risk of extreme poverty. LDCs and 
LLDCs are the hardest hit by the pandemic. Nepal is no exception in this regard. However, Covid 
vaccine has helpe d to reduce the infection and fatality rates significantly, leading to a new normal 
in the world economies.    
 
In line with world economies, Nepal' s economy has also regained the momentum. However, the 
economy still finds it hard to reposition itself to pr e-pandemic level, mainly due to the ongoing 
conflict between Russia and Ukraine and its impact on price hike of petroleum products. The key 
challenges of the economy remain, widening trade deficit, depleting foreign currency reserve, and 
deteriorating indu strial development.  
 
Mr. Chairperson, although the establishment of WTO avails a number of opportunities, many LDCs 
and LLDCs including Nepal have not been able to reap those opportunities in many fronts. The 
challenges of these economies, mainly supply -side constraints, weak productive capacity, insufficient 
trade infrastructures, and non -tariff barrier, have constrained in getting benefits from the 
multilateral trading system. It is, therefore, expected that this conference will give high priority in 
addressing those challenges.  
  
I am happy to note that Nepal is graduating from LDCs to developing countries category in 2026.  
For smooth and irreversible graduation, Nepal strongly emphasizes the urgent need of continuation 
of all international support meas ures, particularly, Duty Free Quota Free market access, special and 
differential treatments, preferential rules of origin, service waiver, aid for trade, and flexibilities in 
the implementation of multilateral trade rules and commitments. In addition, the bilateral and 
multilateral development partners including the WTO should allocate additional resources to meet 
SDG target and implement Doha Plan of Action as well as Vienna Programme of Action.  
 
It is well known that Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises ( MSMEs) are the backbone of the 
economies in providing jobs, reducing poverty, and contributing to inclusive development. However, 
they have been least benefited from the international trade regime. Development partners, 
therefore, need to give high priorit ies in capacity development and technology transfer to MSMEs of 
LDCs.  
 
Mr. Chairperson, most of the LDCs including Nepal are more vulnerable to the negative impacts of 
global warming and climate change. Developed economies, therefore, need to show their strong 
faith to comply with the international commitments on climate change, most significantly on reducing 
the emission of green -house gases and increasing their financial and technical support in promoting 
climate resilient economy.  
 
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  Mr. Chairpers on, in order to address the high transit and transportation cost of the LLDCs, strong 
commitments of international communities are essential so that they will be able to enjoy 
uninterrupted, unconditional and smooth transit rights.  
 
Technological advancem ent of the LDCs, such as rapid use of digital technology and e -commerce, 
can fasten their integrating process into the global value chain, easing the constraints of 
landlockedness. Nepal is in need of cooperation in transferring technologies, building ICT 
infrastructures, and developing human resources to reduce the digital divide.  
 
In recent years, the multilateral trading system has been undermined by growing protectionism, 
bilateralism, regionalism, and trade frictions between member states. Furthermore,  the system has 
been weakened by number of other constraints such as ineffective implementation of WTO 's 
decisions including Doha Development Agenda and delay in nomination of the members of dispute 
settlement body. Therefore, Nepal expresses its concerns on effectively adhering to the principles of 
fair, rule -based, equitable and transparent multilateral trading system.  
 
Last but not least, Nepal firmly reemphasizes that LDCs, LLDCs, and small economies can largely 
benefit from multilateral trading system only when WTO can effectively play its roles. Therefore, 
Nepal underlines the critical need for WTO reform to achieve shared prosperity and raise living 
standards of the people.  
 
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