KATHMANDU: Commerce Minister Jayant Chand emphasised the need of predictable and reliable system for flow of finance, investment, technology and know-how, to bridge the gap between rich and poor nations.

Chand raised concerns about the widening gap between the rich and poor countries, gender inequalities and their consequences in various parts of the world, while participated in the 14th Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the Kenyata International Convention Centre in Nairobi on Wednesday.

Addressing the meeting, Minister Chand recalled on the landmark deals like Sendal Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Adis Ababa Action Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals and the COP 21 Paris Agreement.

Meanwhile, the Minister stressed the need of strengthening multilateralism in the socio-economic spheres, and representation of the developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, in the global economic governance and multilateral trading system.

Minister Chand called for the enhancement of foreign investment and called for the need of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the developing countries.

Earlier, Minister Chand had participated in trade ministers’ meeting of the landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and the least developed countries (LDCs) held separately in Nairobi on Saturday.