KATHMANDU: The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously passed a proposal to extend the preparatory period for the process of upgrading Nepal and Bangladesh from the list of least developed countries (LDCs) till November 24, 2029.

The decision was taken at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The General Assembly unanimously passed resolution 81/L8 and decided to extend the preparatory period for the upgrading of Nepal and Bangladesh, according to the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in New York.

With this decision, Nepal has additional time to carry out the necessary structural and institutional reforms before it is upgraded from the list of least developed countries (LDCs).

Nepal will use this period to enhance production capacity, strengthen institutions, and drive economic and social transformation. It will also focus on the effective implementation of the Smooth Transition Strategy, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Doha Action Plan, designed to ensure a smooth transition after the upgrade.

The additional time is expected to help achieve the goal of graduating Nepal from the list of least developed countries in a smooth, sustainable and irreversible manner.

Nepal thanked all UN Member States for their continued support, solidarity and support.