17 July 2008
On 17 July the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Kathmandu participated in the launch of the Least Developed Countries Report 2008, which was entitled "Growth, Poverty and the Terms of Development Partnership."
At the launch the UN Resident Coordinator for Nepal and Director of the UN Information Centre emphasized the importance on the part of Nepal's Government in making the right policy choices in order to place Nepal on a track to faster and more equitable growth. He also underlined the vital role Nepal’s donors must play in supporting Nepal in these efforts.
“This is one club Nepal really doesn’t want to be a member of” said the Resident Coordinator. “We need a much greater sense of urgency amongst all those responsible to get Nepal out of it. Only effective economic policies that create employment, increase agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on commodities can ensure that growth – when it comes - will translate into poverty reduction. One third of Nepal’s population continue to live in some of the worst conditions to be found on the planet.”
The report was published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).