Minister Dahal stresses on regional collaboration for landlocked countries' access to sea

Kathmandu, June 29: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, emphasized the need for regional cooperation for the development of landlocked countries like Nepal.     

Addressing the 'Global Transport Connectivity Forum' held in Istanbul, Turkey, he emphasized that landlocked countries should also establish access to the sea.     

In his statement on the topic of 'Strategic Opportunities for Regional Development through Landlocked to Landlinked Initiatives' at the event, Minister Dahal expressed the view that if landlocked countries are successful in maintaining connectivity through transport infrastructure, they can also achieve access to the sea.     

"All landlocked countries, including Nepal, need to engage in infrastructure development in collaboration with the international community," Minister Dahal said and emphasized the need for regional cooperation to provide landlocked countries like Nepal with access to the sea through 'connectivity' (road networks and infrastructure).     

The Transport Minister said it is necessary to focus on investing not only in roads, railways, and ports but also in collaboration, trust, and a shared vision for the development of landlocked countries into land-linked ones, according to Minister Dahal's Secretariat.     

During his address, he stated that priority has been given to the construction of strategic corridor connecting neighboring countries.     

Referring to Nepal as a country vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes, Minister Dahal said that despite having varied geographical features such as mountains, hills, the Chure range, and the Terai, the risk remains high due to weak soil and mixed rock structures.     

Minister Dahal stated that due to the rapid flow of the snow-fed rivers in the Himalayan regions, their speed in the hilly areas and the retention of that velocity even upon reaching the plains, Nepal suffers significant damage from floods and landslides every year.     

Such geographical conditions and characteristics have posed challenges to the construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure in Nepal, the Minister added.(RSS)