LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

NATIONAL ROUND TABLE PROCESS

Meeting of Chairs and Co-Chairs of Sector Working Groups at Don Chan Palace Hotel 11th November 2016, Vientiane, Lao PDR

 

Vientiane 11 November 2016A Meeting of Chairs and Co-Chairs of Sector Working Groups was held at Don Chan Palace Hotel in Vientiane with the participation of 80 representatives from government agencies and development partners including Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors, Heads of International Organisations, Director Generals, Deputy Director Generals and relevant officers.

The objective of the meeting was to update and discuss the progress of preparing the 2016 Round Table Implementation Meeting (RTIM) which will take place on 24-25 November 2016 in Vientiane province. Discussions include those on the Prime Minister’s Decree No. 75/PM on management and utilization of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) as well as the formulation and endorsement of the Country Action Plan of the Vientiane Declaration on Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (VDCAP II).

The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Dr. Kikeo Chanthaboury, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment and co-chaired by Madam Kaarina Immonen, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative.

At the opening session, the Deputy Minister highlighted key progress made towards the 2016 RTIM. In the National Round Table Process Steering Committee Meeting in October 2016, the Government has agreed with the proposed theme and agenda of the 2016 RTIM, including pre-consultations on various issues, parallel panel discussions, field visits to the selected development projects and a development cooperation exhibition that are relevant to the means of the implementation of the 8th NSEDP 2016-2020 for graduation from Least Developed Country status by 2020 and SDG achievement.

In addition, he also reiterated that “All pre-consultations and associated SWG meetings are important to capture key policy recommendations which will inform policy dialogues and follow-up at the 2016 RTIM”. Therefore, concrete actions and commitments from SWGs and other relevant stakeholders are strongly required to ensure high quality of various national policy dialogues and consultations.

In addition to the Deputy Minister’s opening remark, Madam Kaarina Immonen, UN RC and UNDP RR as a meeting co-chair delivered her remarks by emphasizing ‘The Sector Working Groups are essential multi-stakeholder fora, where the progress on the round table process takes place. Collaborating across sectors will be similarly important to improving people’s lives on the ground.’

The meeting successfully proceeded with discussions with Development Partners on the 2016 RTIM preparation progress including key leading up activities, as well as the improvement ODA mapping for ODA information sharing and final draft of VDCAP II (2016-2025). The Meeting outcomes are expected to contribute to the preparation of the 2016 RTIM both substantively and logistically.

 

More information

Contacts

  • Morakot Vongxay, Director of UN Division at Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment: Tel: 021-222214, Email: k_vongxay@hotmail.com