United Nations Welcome to the United Nations. It's your world.
  • العربية
  • 简体中文
  • English
  • Français
  • Русский
  • Español

Intervention by Ambassador Anouparb VONGNORKEO, Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR to the United Nations at the ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment

Thursday, 19 May 2022

Intervention by

Ambassador Anouparb VONGNORKEO, Permanent Representative of

the Lao PDR to the United Nations

at the ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment,

Session 8: Just Transitions: “Support for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Islands Developing States”

19 May 2022, 15:00-16:30

----------------------

 

Madame President,

Madame Moderator,

  1. I wish to thank all distinguished panelists for your valuable insights.  

 

  1. The negative consequences caused by COVID-19 pandemic and emerging challenges which have further increased our country’s vulnerability and undermined our ability to sustain development progress made.

 

  1. At this critical juncture, UN system support is more crucial than ever. Let me, therefore, highlight some key issues as follows:
  • First: the newly adopted Doha Programme of Action marks an important milestone for the international community that would guide and reinforce our capacity to cope with post covid19 recovery combined with financial, economic, food, energy and climate crisis. Importantly, development of national Smooth Transition Strategy, in which quality and smooth graduation must be ensured so that graduating country will not slip back to LDC category after graduation. The Lao PDR is currently in the process of developing its National STS
  • Second: to ensure smooth and sustainable graduation, necessary support measures must be put in place to graduating country during and after the preparatory period to ensure that resources are made available in-line with country’s specific development situation, priorities and needs. Closer attention must be given to the affected sectors so that they can adjust to new circumstances. In this regard, the implementation of STS requires increased support from development and trading partners, the UN development system, both financially and technically.  

 

  • Third: UN System should focus on providing tailored-made technical support to formulate and implement the Smooth Transition Strategy as well as to key economic and social sectors to familiarize with possible graduation implications, particularly the private and trade sectors should be ready to cope with potential impacts after graduation and identify necessary actions needed to implement a smooth transition strategy in an effective and timely manners.

 

  • Finally: enhancing partnership and cooperation with all UN agencies, development partners including regional and international financial institutions remains critical to provide all necessary assistance and leverage all available resources to finance development activities.  

 

  1. Let me conclude by reaffirming Lao PDR’s firm commitment to continue working closely with all partners and we count on the continued support from UN development system.

 

I Thank You.