On October 22, 2025, the Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of the Lao PDR, together with the United Nations Country Team in the Lao PDR, organized a High-Level Pre-Consultation to discuss and ensure comprehensive preparedness for the 14^th High-Level Round Table Meeting (14^th HL-RTM 2025), which is scheduled to be held on 19 November 2025  Vientiane Capital.High-Level Pre-Consultation to the 14^th High-Level Round Table Meeting was honored to be opened by H.E. Mr. Soulivath SOUVANNACHOUMKHAM, Deputy Minister of Finance, and remarks by Mr. Bakhodir BURKHANOV, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Lao PDR. Representatives from various ministries and sectors, international organizations, bilateral and multilateral development partners, both domestic and foreign private sectors, including non-governmental organizations, participated in the event.

During this High-Level Pre-Consultation, delegates discussed key thematic areas such as:

1. Key steps for the future development of the Lao PDR.
2. Discussing crucial strategies to define the development direction of the Lao PDR post-LDC graduation.
3. Contribution to the process of drafting and implementing the 10^th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and the preparedness for LDC graduation in 2026, and the 3^rd Vientiane Declaration (VD III).

At the High-Level Pre-Consultation, H.E Mr. Soulivath SOUVANNACHOUMKHAM, Deputy Minister of Financeemphasized: “The 14^th High-Level Round Table Meeting is a crucial platform for discussing the mobilization of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to ensure the achievement of the objectives and goals set out in the 10^th National Socio-Economic Development Plan, focusing on strengthening and developing towards a quality and sustainable graduation from the Least Developed Country status.”

Furthermore, Mr. Bakhodir BURKHANOV, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Lao PDR, offered supplementary comments, stating: “The graduation of the Lao PDR from the LDC status is set for November 2026. Preliminary analysis indicates potential trade losses, particularly in the European Union market, which are estimated to decrease by up to $66.3 million USD. However, LDC graduation is not the end of development but the beginning of a new development context. This transition will lead to the gradual cessation of international support measures, including trade preferences and development financing. Therefore, to ensure a stable, sustainable LDC graduation and to prevent a return to LDC status, today’s consultation platform is crucial and essential for us to collaboratively define and drive concrete policies that serve the interests of the people, and to deepen development cooperation in the Lao PDR to protect the hard-won benefits, while simultaneously mitigating risks arising from external shocks.

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Documentation:
The full meeting report and related documents are available for download at:

1. [Press Release  Lao version

For more information:
Contact: Mr. Santi Songnavong
Director of International Organization Division
International Finance and Cooperation Department, Ministry of Finance
Tel: +856 20 2222 3989
Email: songnavong@gmail.com/rtpsecretariat@gmail.com