Opening Remarks at 2023 Roundtable Implementation Meeting

Good morning. 

 

It is a great pleasure to join Excellency Minister Vongphosy in welcoming you to this much-anticipated Roundtable Implementation Meeting. 

 

Since I assumed my assignment as UN Resident Coordinator to Lao PDR in October last year, the importance of not only this Roundtable Meeting, but of the ongoing Roundtable Process has been clearly emphasized in my interactions with many stakeholders. This is clearly not a once-a-year event, but an ongoing process. 

 

And that importance is underscored by the presence of all of you here today – from central and sub-national Government, NGOs and civil society to the diplomatic corps and development partners. 

 

The Roundtable is set apart by being the most inclusive platform that we have in place to discuss our efforts to address the most pressing development issues facing the country. 

 

It brings us all together under a shared commitment to Lao PDR’s progress and advancement towards the national priorities set out in the National Socio-Economic Development Plan, or NSEDP. 

 

As I am sure you are aware, we gather around the table this year at a milestone moment, with 2023 marking the halfway point through the implementation of the 9th NSEDP, and halfway to the 2030 deadline for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals globally. 

 

I am sure you are also well-aware that the past years have been challenging for development the world over, with the latest assessments showing that only 12% of the Global Goals are on track to be fulfilled by 2030. 

 

So, here in Lao PDR this is an important moment to take stock of where we are, and to deliberate on what can be done to overcome challenges and accelerate progress in the coming years. 

 

This includes both immediate priorities that can be implemented during the remaining years of the 9th Plan up to 2025, and reflections that can guide the ongoing development of the 10th NSEDP that will set development priorities through to 2030. 

 

Importantly, we have the near-final draft of the Mid-Term Review of the 9th NSEDP that was shared in advance of this meeting, which provides us with a foundation to build upon our engagement today. 

 

I would also emphasize the importance of taking key national policies that are in place, in many cases with substantive engagement from many of those here today, as the starting point for our discussions. 

 

This includes of course the NSEDP itself, but also its Financing Strategy and the national Resilience Framework, both of which were finalized last year under the leadership of MPI. 

 

This also includes the Smooth Transition Strategy for LDC Graduation that was led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sets out the key actions necessary for a successful graduation. 

 

The Mid-Term Review in particular has guided the focus and structure of the meeting, with substantial time carved out for discussion on the development fundamentals it identifies. 

 

Macroeconomic stability and adequate resourcing of national priorities are essential elements of a sustainable development trajectory.  

 

At the same time, to set firm foundations for success, it is likewise crucial that natural resources are protected and nurtured, and that we strengthen our resilience to the future shocks. 

 

As the situation became more challenging, the Government has afforded increasing emphasis on addressing economic and financial difficulties, most clearly seen in the National Agenda overseen at the highest levels, and recently extended through to 2025. 

 

The challenge of implementing these policies fully and addressing underlying vulnerabilities is formidable.  

 

And so, we hope that through the discussions that will take place under the panel on the ‘economic and financial situation and way forward for environmental sustainability and resilient economy’, we can identify how we can work together most effectively to address these issues. 

 

Very much related to this, the investment in – and development of –Laos’ human capital is equally essential for success. 

 

This is especially the case given the narrow window of opportunity that we have to make the investments necessary to be able to realise a demographic dividend as the country’s young population enters the labour force over the coming years. That is close to one in three people who are currently aged between 10 and 24 years old. 

 

The discussions in the panel session on ‘human capital for sustainable development’ should help identify practical actions that we can prioritise over the coming years to address this. 

 

And given the clear connections between these two key areas, when we re-convene for a plenary discussion following the individual panels, we hope to be able to move towards developing an integrated set of top-priority recommendations. 

 

We have also allocated time in the final session of the day to discussing how we can most effectively combine our efforts. 

 

Effective development cooperation requires clear and well-understood platforms and processes. 

 

To support this, much attention has been paid to updating and clarifying roles and responsibilities under the Roundtable Process, in particular with the Chairs and co-Chairs of the Sector Working Groups. Our goal is to continually improve the functioning of Sector Working Groups in the remainder of the 9th Plan cycle so that they contribute to the formulation – and support the implementation – of the 10th NSEDP. 

 

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic showed us what is possible – with Government of Lao PDR, with support from partners, moving rapidly and decisively to address challenges that had the potential to be overwhelming. 

 

We now turn to challenges that require no less creativity, determination, and collaboration to overcome. 

 

But we know it is possible, and we know that we are all committed to finding ways to do so together.

  

With that in mind, I look forward to an engaging and productive day ahead, with all of us putting our shoulders to the wheel to find ways forward toward our shared aspirations. 

 

I would like to thank the Ministry of Planning and Investment for its leadership of the Roundtable Process, and for the preparations for this meeting today. This was done differently than in prior years based on your feedback, and I hope the substantive preparations lead to a quality interaction. 

 

I also acknowledge the technical support provided to the process by UNDP on behalf of the UN Development System and the development partner community more broadly, with the support of USAID for organizing this meeting. 

 

Let us all make the most of this important opportunity, on the one day in the year when we are all gathered together, to take meaningful steps forward. 

 

Thank you.