Opening Remarks at the Third Lao National Urban Forum

Honorable Minister of Public Works and Transport,

Distinguished representatives, esteemed colleagues and participants – 

It is a privilege to address you today at the Third Lao National Urban Forum, a vital gathering and platform to advance sustainable urban development in Lao PDR.

Reflecting on last year’s Forum, I recall how I had just arrived in Lao PDR. While settling into my new role, I made it a priority to visit the Second Lao National Urban Forum venue. This was the first event I stepped into – and I was so glad I did!

Witnessing the passion, collaboration and commitment displayed by stakeholders during that event left a lasting impression on me, and reaffirmed the importance of urbanization in our collective pursuit of sustainable development.

This year, I am heartened to see the Forum build on that momentum with a sharper focus on urban challenges and opportunities. 

The current Lao PDR – UN Cooperation Framework recognizes urbanization as a transformative force, emphasizing its centrality to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. 

Under the People’s Prosperity Pillar of the Cooperation Framework, urbanization is highlighted as a distinct output, reflecting its potential to drive prosperity while promoting equity, resilience and environmental stewardship.

This recognition also aligns closely with the objectives of the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) initiative. 

In June this year, I had the privilege of participating in the VLR Sensitization Workshop in Kaysone Phomvihane. The workshop showcased the importance of integrating local actions and insights into the national and global development agendas, echoing the very purpose of this Forum – to strengthen localization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The conversations and collaboration fostered here today are crucial for addressing rapid urbanization and its associated challenges, from infrastructure demands to social inclusion and environmental sustainability. These efforts require multi-stakeholder partnerships and innovative solutions, both of which are integral to UN’s support for the National Socio-Economic Development Plan and are closely tied to this Forum’s mission.

I am particularly inspired by this Forum’s emphasis on youth engagement, as young people are indispensable to shaping inclusive and forward-looking urban futures. It is through their participation, ideas and energy that we can ensure cities become engines of innovation and opportunity for all.

Let me take this moment to commend the leadership of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the UN-Habitat, and the National University of Laos for convening this Forum. Your commitment to sustainable urbanization and to working together serves as a model for addressing development challenges across Lao PDR and beyond.

As we move forward, let us build on the discussions and lessons from today to ensure that urbanization becomes a transformative force for people’s prosperity. 

Together, we can strengthen our partnerships, scale impactful solutions, and turn our shared vision for inclusive, safe and sustainable cities into reality.

Thank you, and I wish this Forum meaningful discussions and actionable outcomes!