UN to help Myanmar move out of least developed countries

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) vowed to provide technical assistance to Myanmar to help lift it out of the least developed countries (LDC) list, the president's office said Wednesday.

The Geneva-based UNCTAD made the pledge after Myanmar Vice President U. Nyan Tun met with visiting UNCTAD Secretary General Mukhisa Kituyi in Nay Pyi Taw capital city, Xinhua reported.

The two focused on technical assistance from UNCTAD for implementation of the procedures on gross national income, human assets index and economic vulnerability for graduation of Myanmar from LDC status.

In its efforts to meet with the three criteria, in line with the 2015 UN Millennium Development Goals, Myanmar set up a national-level committee in July.

The UN listed 25 countries as the LDC in 1971 and the LDC countries have since risen to 48. Myanmar has been part of the list since 1987, a year before the previous military government took over.

The UN Economic and Social Council is mandated to review the LDC classification every three years and report its findings to the UN General Assembly.