Poverty below 5 percent by 2030

Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that the government was aiming at reducing poverty below 5 per cent in coming one-and-a-half decades.

Speaking at a press meet organised at the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Dr. Khatiwada said that although the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2016-2030 envisioned eliminating the poverty by 2030, it was not possible for Nepal to have it completely eliminated.

“Nepal achieved very good results in Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The poverty was halved to 24 per cent while the maternal death rate was reduced by two-thirds. But, still we have a very high poverty and maternal death rate which needs to be improved further,” he said.

He stated that upcoming budget and periodic plan would include programmes to address SDGs.

Dr. Khatiwada underscored the need of foreign investment for the economic progress of the country.

“We will urge the developed countries to facilitate the foreign investment in and technology transfer to Nepal. We need investment more than the grants,” he said.

He said that the country should increase the investment in research and development.

He launched a book titled ‘Sustainable Development Goals 2016-2030: national (Preliminary) Report’ on the occasion.

CBS director general Suman Raj Aryal said that the book was an important document for the policy makers.