Partners will meet in Pakse on 22-23 November for the annual development cooperation forum

At a press conference at the Lao Journalist Association in Vientiane capital, the Government and the United Nations announced the annual Round Table Implementation Meeting to take place in Pakse, Champasack on 22-23 November.

The meeting will discuss how the national development aims are being met, examining interventions around four topical areas which are linked to the achievement of the 8^th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2016-2020) objectives: Lao PDR’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); realising quality private sector investment for development; investment in skills and labor force for human development; and South-South and triangular cooperation.

The meeting will bring together a large number of development partners to take stock of progress made in 2017 and, drawing from lessons learned, jointly set the priorities for 2018. The next calendar year will see the mid-term review of the 8^th National Socio-Economic Development Plan for the period 2016-2020, Lao PDR’s first submission of a Voluntary National Review on Sustainable Development Goals to the United Nations, as well as the start of the process of assessing Lao PDR’s graduation from LDC status by the 2020s.

Round Table Implementation Meetings are part of the national Round Table Process, a mechanism to ensure maximum impact of development efforts. Implementation Meetings ensure that jointly agreed development priorities are put into action. The Round Table Process, which is co-chaired by the Government and the UNDP-UN, also includes 10 Sector Working Groups to coordinate actions by theme. Preparations are currently underway for the meeting in Pakse, Champasak province on 22^th -23^rd November 2017.

At today’s press conference, H.E. Dr. Kikeo Chanthaboury, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, said: “The Round Table Process is an important mechanism that bring together the government officials and the development community including all stakeholders concerned at both central and provincial level in order to assess the recent implementation and share related issues. This aims at create mutual understanding and commitment toward the NSEDP achievement while promoting the national ownership.”

Ms. Kaarina Immonen, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator said “I welcome the continuing initiative of the Government to host this year’s meeting also outside the Vientiane capital, to show clearly what jointly agreed development actions mean in the province. The meeting will again include a wide range of delegations who are ensuring, through interventions both at the plenary, as well as in the four thematic sessions, that all important points of view are taken into account, for the benefit of all people of Lao PDR, leaving no one behind.”

Read this press release in Lao language: ກອງປະຊຸມຖະແຫຼງຂ່າວກ່ຽວກັບ ກອງປະຊຸມໂຕະມົນປະຈໍາປີ 2017 ເລັ່ງໃສ່ການພັດທະນາຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ

Contacts:
Mr. Morakot Vongxay, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment
Tel: +856 2244 8892 Email: k_vongxay@hotmail.com

Ms. Ildiko Hamos-Sohlo, Communications Specialist, UN in Lao PDR
Tel +856 021 267 778, Mobile: +856 020 7717 7913 Email: ildiko.hamos@one.un.org

Documents:

• Meet the Press Agenda
• Meet the Press Agenda [LAO]
• Briefing Note of Dr. Kikeo for the Meet the Press event [LAO]