LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

NATIONAL ROUND TABLE PROCESS

The Technical Forum of the 2019 Round Table Implementation Meeting Discusses Key Topics for Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Towards Lao PDR Development

RTIM 2019 Technical Forum opening by H.E Mrs. Khamchan Vongseneboun, Vice-Minister of Planning and Investment, H.E Mr. Soukanh Bounnhong, Vice-Governor of Luangprabang province and Mrs. Ricarda Rieger, UNDP Resident Representative, November 2019.

Luangprabang, 25 November 2019 – The Round Table Implementation Meeting (RTIM) 2019 officially opened its curtains in Luangprabang under the theme “Enhanced partnership for Effective Development Cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and for the preparation of the 9th NSEDP”. The event is being held on the 25-26 November 2019 at the Provincial Governor’s Office of Luangprabang.

The first day of the RTIM this year is dedicated to the Technical Forum held today under the chairmanship of H.E. Ms. Khamchan Vongseneboun, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, H.E. Mr. Soukanh Bounnhong, Deputy Governor of Luangprabang Province, and Ms. Ricarda Rieger, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative. The RTIM is attended by more than 300 participants, comprising of Government officials from the central and provincial levels, development partners, representatives from non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations and the private sector. The Technical Forum included presentations on the follow-up to the recommendations of the Mid-Term Review of the 8th NSEDP (2016-2020), the preparation of the 9th NSEDP (2021-2025), implementation of the current and preparation for the next socio-economic development plan of Luangprabang Province, as well as parallel Panel Discussions focusing on following topics:

  1. Graduation from Least Developed Country status – Trade, Official Development Assistance and Financing Opportunities in the transition period;
  2. SDG Agenda 2030: Localization, Implementation, Monitoring and Reporting;
  3. Disaster Risk Reduction and recovery: Indicative support and next steps in integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into the 9th NSEDP;
  4. Integration of Climate Change including the Green Growth strategy in Lao PDR’s National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP).

In the afternoon delegates visited the UXO clearance site in Pak Ou District and the Khan Riverbank Protection Project in Luangprabang District for witnessing the implementation of the national priorities at the provincial level. Later on, Heads of Delegations paid a courtesy call to H.E. the Governor of Luangprabang Province. In the evening, a Baci ceremony and welcome dinner were held in honor of all attendees to the Round Table Implementation Meeting 2019 and H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sonexay Siphandone, Chair of the Round Table was also present on the occasion.

Following the initiative to make this annual event “greener”, which was launched last year, the use of plastic and paper is being minimized. Delegates received reusable cups made of local bamboo, and tote bags made by  the local communities of Luangprabang and Savannakhet.

Round Table Implementation Meetings are part of the national Round Table Process, a mechanism to ensure maximum impact of development efforts. The Round Table Process, which is led by the Government of Lao PDR, includes 10 Sector Working Groups (SWG) to coordinate actions by theme. This year’s RTIM is co-chaired by the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Lao PDR, Luangprabang Province and the United Nations, and supported by Luxembourg Aid & Development and UNDP.

Contacts:

Mrs. Bangthong Thipsomphanh, Director of Europe-America Division, Ministry of Planning and Investment,  Mobile: +856 20 2223 7997, Email: tbangthong@gmail.com

Ms. Anna Perkova, Communications & Partnership Support Officer, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Lao PDR, Mobile: +856 20 5802 0829, Email: anna.perkova@one.un.org