Laos prepares to exit least developed country status in 2026

Vientiane (VNA) - The Lao government has called for all
sectors and stakeholders to prepare for a smooth transition in plans to
graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026, according to
the Vientiane Times newspaper.
Addressing a virtual meeting on November
11, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune stressed
the importance of developing a smooth transition strategy to prepare for Laos'
graduation from LDC status.
The meeting was
a follow-up to the triennial review by the Committee for Development Policy
earlier this year, which resulted in the recommendation that Laos be granted an
extended five-year preparatory period, setting the official anticipated
graduation for 2026.
The
deputy minister said all these efforts must be done in collaboration with
development partners to ensure that any impacts resulting from the loss of
international support for LDCs will not constrain the country's development
momentum.
Meanwhile, United Nations Resident
Coordinator to Laos Sara Sekkenes stressed the importance of the fifth Doha LDC
conference as an opportunity to prepare the conditions needed for a smooth
transition, as well as advocating for necessary graduation support among the
international community.
Sekkenes said
that becoming an upper middle-income country with a less vulnerable economy,
stronger human assets and a climbing GDP could provide the engine to propel
Laos into delivering sustainable development for all./.