What happened?
On August 5, 2025, Nepal’s Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli addressed the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC) in Awaza, Turkmenistan, highlighting the potential to transform challenges of being landlocked into opportunities. According to a statement from his office, Oli emphasized Nepal’s collaboration with neighbours India and China to improve connectivity and infrastructure links. He affirmed Nepal’s commitment to regional solidarity and global cooperation as essential for addressing development gaps.
Why it matters to India
Nepal’s efforts to improve connectivity with its neighbours align with India’s objective of fostering regional integration and economic linkages in South Asia. Strengthened transport and trade networks between India and Nepal can enhance cross-border commerce, energy cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. As Nepal relies heavily on Indian transit routes for goods and services, these initiatives also contribute to India’s broader goal of promoting inclusive growth and stability in the region.