SAARC youth meet begins in Nepal

The first-ever SAARC meet aimed at bringing together youth representatives from the eight member countries and promoting their participation to implement the Sustainable Development Goals in South Asia began here today.
The two-day 'SAARC Regional Dialogue on Promoting Youth Participation in the Implementation of SDGs' aims at exploring ways to promote effective youth engagement mechanisms at national and sub-national levels, that would serve as guiding framework for each country's development between now and 2030.
The meet has brought together young representatives from all eight-member SAARC states, an officials statement said.
The dialogue is hosted by the Nepal government in collaboration with SAARC Secretariat, and with technical and financial support of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

"We are delighted to host the SAARC Youth Dialogue in Nepal," said Nepalese Minister for Youth and Sports Satya Narayan Mandal while inaugurating the event in Kathmandu.
"Youth in the SAARC region have similar problems, opportunities and challenges. Poverty and youth unemployment in particular are noted as significant challenges," he said.

"These problems can be solved through the development of youth skills, entrepreneurship, leadership, and also by increasing youth participation."
A total of 19 youths and 13 government representatives from the SAARC member-states are participating in the event.
The meeting would to put forward recommendations and strategies that could be instrumental in strengthening youth participation within SAARC countries for achieving the SDGs.