The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

LDC Watch President Dr Arjun Karki, now on a visit here, on Tuesday said the world's poorer nations must exploit a 'strategy of pressure and partnership' with the developed world to achieve cooperation for development.

He made the comment while addressing as the chief guest a seminar on 'LDCs and Brussels Programme of Action (BPoA)' at VIP Lounge of Jatiya Press Club.

Dr Karki, a national of Nepal and also president of South Asian Association of Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), further said "political conflicts and poor political culture in our part of the world are responsible for creating and prolonging poverty".

"It is deep-rooted in the social structure," he said, adding, "Political will of the leadership and public pressure for change can only bring the desired transformation to overcome poverty and become developing nations."

"LDCs must go for their own development strategy to achieve sustainable development," he said, adding, "The current global economic order is only increasing the level of poverty and the number of poor nations."

In 1971, only 24 countries were LDCs, but it is now 49, he said, suggesting the world's poorer nations should reject such global economic order and work to develop their own financial and political institutions.

The LDC Watch is a civil society forum with strong national chapters in member states with headquarters in Geneva and regional offices in Asia and Africa.