The Government and Development Partners Agree to Intensify Their Efforts for an Effective Development Cooperation and to Implement the Results of the Midterm Review of the 8th NSEDP

The morning session was opened and co-chaired by H.E. Dr. Kikeo Chanthaboury, Vice-Minister of Planning and Investment and Ms. Kaarina Immonen, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative. More than 200 participants were present, government officials from the central and provincial levels, development partners, representatives from non-government organizations, non-profit organizations as well as the private

The meeting was organized under the theme: “Mid-Term Review of the Implementation of the 8th NSEDP – Progress in Sustainable Development and Effective Development Cooperation”. The Technical Forum included presentations on the results of the Midterm Review of the 8th NSEDP and parallel Panel Discussions focusing on following topics:

1. 8th NSEDP – Outcome 1: Sustained inclusive Economic Growth;

2. 8th NSEDP – Outcome 2: Social and Human Development;

3. 8th NSEDP – Outcome 3: Environment and Disaster Preparedness;

4. 8th NSEDP – Cross-cutting issues, such as rule of law and law enforcement.

In the afternoon of the same day, delegates visited the organic farm in Taxang Village, Pak Ngeum District and the Lao-Chinese Railway Construction Project in Naxaythong District. In the evening, a Baci ceremony and welcoming dinner was held in honor of the chairs as well as the participants of the Roundtable Meeting 2018.

The policy-level meeting, which is also the official Roundtable Meeting will be organized on the Second day, during which the outcome of the Panel Discussions of the first day will be shared and a keynote on the Midterm Review of the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan as well as SDG localization and preparation and transition for LDC graduation will be delivered. The high-level meeting will be opened by H.E Mr. Somdy Douangdy, Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR and Minister of Finance, and H.E. Mrs. Valerie Cliff, Director & Head of UNDP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok & Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

In an effort to make the Round Table meeting ‘green’, the use of plastic and paper is being minimized beginning with this year’s meeting. Delegates will receive reusable cups and water bottles, and paper printouts will be reduced to a minimum.