Foreign Minister highlights usefulness of suggestions from scholars in policy making

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has said the research-based suggestions and study report from the scholarly class are useful in policy formulation and removing the development impediments.

Inaugurating the 18th anniversary of the Nepal Development Research Institute in the federal capital today, he said the present government was committed to the sustainable development of the nation.

"The government is active to building an advanced society and to providing basic services including education, health and the like to the citizens as well as reaching the benefits of development to them. However, the development-related problems are not fully addressed," he said and called on the intellectuals to carry out research and study on the obstacles to development.

Recalling the call made by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to people from all walks of life to sincerely contribute towards fulfillment of the national aspiration, 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis', Minister Gyawali reiterated that the government has been carrying out all works possible keeping the nation's development at the centre.

It was a matter of pride that the United Nations Committee for Development Policy recommended for Nepal's graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC), the Foreign Minister said Nepal still needed to do many more for its transformation into the developing country.

As he said, there are more challenges to meet the UN sustainable goals (SDGs) before 2030. But any challenge can be overcome if we worked together with strong dedication and support, and cooperation from academic groups like Nepal Development Research Institute is required for the same.

Former chair of Council of Ministers Khilaraj Regmi spoke about social justice, good governance and development issues, stressing that Nepal should accord equal priority to the implementation of 17 SDGs aim to build a better, just and inclusive world with no poverty.

Stating that the promotion of constitution was possible though good constitutional practices and actions, he said the current political leadership was responsible for guiding the new generation to contribute for the defend and promotion of the constitution.

At the programme chaired by founding member Punya Prasad Regmi, Institute executive director Dr Jaya Kumar Gurung talked about activities of the Institute.

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