Round Table Meeting 2019: Press Conference Remarks by Sara Sekkenes

Your Excellency, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Planning and Investment,

Your Excellency, Governor of Luangprabang Province,

Colleagues, Esteemed members of the press,

Ladies & Gentlemen,

This year’s Round Table Implementation Meeting has brought together more than 300 delegates including Government representatives, resident and non-resident development partners, civil society and private sector, for constructive discussions on a number of subjects influencing the development path of Lao PDR.

The discussions will be useful to further inform the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan, which will guide the development over the next 5 years.

Discussions included recommendations on how to ensure a people-centered development plan, focusing on vulnerable groups in order to reach poverty alleviation and SDG targets; how to ensure, equality and sustainable and inclusive development, in Lao PDR under the commitment made by world leaders in 2015 on leaving no one behind.

The multi-faceted impact of the graduation from the Least Developed Country status was also extensively discussed at this year’s Round Table Meeting, including cross-sector dimensions that can determine a smooth transition and sustainability in the graduation.

It was also emphasized that graduation is not an end in itself - it is a catalyst to mobilize resources and actions to achieve continuous, inclusive and sustainable growth with substantial poverty reduction on the road towards achieving the SDGs.

This provides a good opportunity to accelerate the pace of fiscal consolidation, for the much-needed strengthening of social sectors investing in human assets; development of infrastructure to facilitate entrepreneurship; and solid risk management approach to secure development dividends against multidimensional threats, including climate change.

As a forum for the exchange of views on the critical development priorities and challenges ahead, the annual Round Table Meeting is an important venue that can help navigate the development choices needed to be made.

A focus on areas of interest across sectors that can bring together, integrate and coordinate line ministries and sectors is warranted, and many good suggestions have been made that can serve as the outline for a common transition plan.

Such a focus would also create a networked co-ownership across sectors to contribute towards the achievement of all SDGs, and effectively address inherent tradeoffs and necessary priorities to ensure no one is left behind.

One of the suggestions made in this regard during the meeting was to have closer coordination and contribution to the oversight of the national SDG targets by the Sector Working Groups under the leadership of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

All partners have expressed anticipation and commitment to support an evolution of the Round Table Process into an even more result-oriented and SDG-driven effective platform for inclusive development dialogue.

Sustainable development in Lao PDR, as in any other country, requires multilateral cooperation, to tackle challenges that have impact beyond borders and generations. As the UN is approaching its 75th Anniversary in 2020, the Member States are reconfirming their collective commitment to multilateralism. The 74th UNGA session proposed a global conversation throughout year 2020, looking into the question of the future we want and the UN we need, and engaging people in all countries – including Lao PDR – in finding ways to ensure that we are on track for achieving Agenda 2030.

In the context of the UN reform, the UN Country Team is committed to provide better and more integrated policy advice and operational support, to help address disparities, persisting vulnerabilities and widening inequalities and help attain the sustainable and inclusive development for all women and men, boys and girls in Lao PDR, leaving no one behind.

In closing, on behalf of the UN development system and the UN Country Team in Lao PDR, I would like to thank the Government for the invitation to this inclusive dialogue, an opportunity for us, as development partners to share our views on the plans ahead and offer our contributions based on promising practice and the comparative advantages offered by each development partner so that the sum of all our parts can ensure a continuous, diverse and sustainable development for all.

Thank you for your attention. We look forward to your questions.