Vientiane, LAO PDR (28th October 2022) —The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and UNDP today, facilitated a technical-level consultation meeting with wider stakeholders from Line Ministries and Development Partners which is chaired by Mme Sisomboun Ounavong, Director General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment and Co-Chaired by Ms. Ricarda Rieger UNDP Resident Representative. It was organized in a hybrid format, both on Zoom and at the Muang Thanh Luxury Vientiane Hotel and to present at the 13th High-Level Round Table Meeting’s Prime Minister Instruction 2021 and the Concept Note for 2022 Round Table Implementation Meeting (RTIM) as well as the Tentative agenda..

The RTIM 2022 will be held on 29th November at the National Convention Centre which will bring together representatives from the Government, development partner agencies, the private sector, and civil society to reflect on progress on the implementation of key agreements reached at the 13th High-Level RoundTable Meeting in 2021 and corresponding Instructions of the Prime Minister’s Office, and reframe actions in light of results of work and initiatives undertaken by the Government together with development partners.

The participants have discussed key areas to be tabled at the 2022 RTIM as follows: (1) reporting on the implementation progress of the current National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) for 2022 and plan for 2023; (2) presenting the final Financing Strategy to solicit development partner support for its implementation; (3) presenting the final draft Resilience Framework setting out immediate priority actions for the current NSEDP implementation; (4) presenting the draft Least Developed Country Smooth Transition Strategy developed to broader stakeholders to solicit feedback; (5) presenting the outcome of the Sector Working Groups review and recommendations to strengthen the alignment of coordination structures with national priorities.

In addition, MPI highlighted that support from government participants would be much needed to implement the Vientiane Declaration Country Action Plan.

The event today demonstrated a shared commitment to enhancing dialogues, trust, and coordination. welcoming external stakeholders, including business chambers and civil society organizations, central government representatives, and development partners.