Kathmandu: Due to being a landlocked country, Nepal’s foreign trade is challenging, said Foreign Minister NP Saud.

He expressed this during a dialogue program on the future direction of BIMSTEC organized by the Policy Research Institute on Thursday.

He mentioned that being a landlocked country makes foreign trade challenging, and despite facing these challenges, regional organizations’ economic integration can provide significant support.

“Being a landlocked country poses specific challenges for Nepal in relation to foreign trade. Due to being a least developed country, we are facing numerous challenges related to economic development,” he said. “Facing these challenges, regional organizational economic integration can be beneficial for us.”

Saud emphasized that BIMSTEC, having formed the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG), aims to strengthen and institutionalize cooperation in this area to make it more effective.

“In the process of further strengthening and institutionalizing BIMSTEC in a systematic manner, suggestions have been made to form the BIMSTEC EPG (Eminent Persons’ Group),” he said.

He highlighted the importance of determining BIMSTEC’s future direction and priorities, stating that it presents a significant opportunity for Nepal. Saud also discussed the need for discussions on how to make the organization more effective and how to maximize benefits for Nepal.