KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that science and technology were essential for the economic development of the country.

He made the statemen while inaugurating the Seventh National Conference on Science and Technology organised by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) on Tuesday.

Stating that many of the countries in the world have made rapid progress in science and technology, Prime Minister Oli said that the developing countries should take their steps in the sector of science and technology, otherwise they would lag behind in development.

He said that the government was ready to give priority to the development of science and technology sector and expressed the belief that the conclusion of the three-day conference would be effective.

The Prime Minister also expressed hope that the government would also receive some suggestions regarding the works to be carried out after the earthquake.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Oli honoured Prof Dr CNR Rao of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, India and Prof Dr Bai Chunli, President of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Some 1,000 scientists and technologists across the country as well as from 17 countries are participating in the conference.

It has been learned that some 600 working papers would be discussed in course of the conference.