22 Development Partners sign the Vientiane Declaration at the Lao PDR's 9th Round Table meeting
29 November 2006: The 9th Round Table Meeting for Lao PDR concluded today in Vientiane . The RTM, with participation of 36 countries, the European Community (EC), 4 International Financial Institutions and 22 NGOs, held from the 28 – 29 November ended with a vote of confidence for the Lao PDR's progress. The RTM is the highest level of donor coordination between the Government of Lao PDR and its development partners.
The Government of Lao PDR led by the Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh made a series of presentations related to issues of common interests. These included good governance, measures to promote private sector and trade development, achieving Millennium Development Goals and the priorities of the 6 th Five-Year National Socio Economic Development Plan 2006-2010 (NSEDP). F inancing requirements of the NSEDP were also discussed .
Dr. Hafiz Pasha, the UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific concluded that “this past day and a half has been truly remarkable, and many of you may agree, beyond our expectations. The dialogue has been rich and development partners have consistently expressed clear recognition and strong appreciation for the impressive achievements of Lao PDR since the last round table Meeting in September 2003.”
During this high level meeting, the Vientiane Declaration confirming the implementation of the Paris Declaration in Lao PDR was signed by the Government and 22 development partners. During the meeting, both bilateral and multilateral partners emphasized the need for Lao PDR to develop and enhance private sector through creation of cottage and small enterprise development, effective use of Foreign Direct Investment, skills development and enhanced market orientation. The Lao PDR's 2006 National Human Development Report on “ International Trade and Human Development” is in line with this analysis that under the right conditions, increasing trade in goods and services can make a substantial contribution to improved human well being, help achieve the MDGs and lift the country from Least Developed Country Status.
This success of the RTM is critical as the majority of the resources – more than two-thirds of the total – required for implementation of the NSEDP were mobilized by the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the development partners as well as the domestic and foreign private sector.
For more information: please contact Ms. Yasmin Forbes or Ms. Soukphaphone Thongsavanh at the Public Information Office
+ (856 21) 213390-5 ext. 187 or 210, yasmin.forbes@undp.org , s oukphaphone.thongsavanh@undp.org
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