STATEMENT

by His Exellency Dr. Thoungloun Sisoulith

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

at the High-level Meeting on the Mid-term Comprehensive Global Review of the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010

(New York, 18^th September 2006)

Madam Chairman,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

            Let me extend my warmest congratulations to you on your election as Chairman of this important session. We trust your skills in multilateral diplomacy will lead this High-level event to a successful conclusion.

Madam Chairman,                                           

            Our Delegation thanks the Secretary-General for his annual progress report on the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries. The report contains useful conclusions and recommendations. We support the Statement to be made by the representative of South Africa, Chairman of the Group of 77 and that made by the representative of Benin, Chairman of the LDCs Coordinating Bureau, which highlight major progress made and constraints faced by LDCs in the implementation of BPoA, and suggest holistic approaches for its more effective follow-up.

Madam Chairman,

            We also share the concern of the developing countries over the lack of progress made in the implementation of the seven commitments of BPoA, despite some accomplishments achieved by both LDCs and their development partners in implementing the actions assigned to them in the programme of action. The Report indicates that the improvement in economic growth and human development in LDCs have been modest. The LDCs find it very difficult to live up to their commitments.  In order to reverse these trends, therefore, the international community must take the necessary steps to provide the LDCs with the overdue pledged resources to allow for the fulfilment by them of the commitments set out in the Brussels Programme of Action and in the Millennium Development Goals.  The continuing support of the developed countries, the United Nations system, and the international financial and trade is of critical importance. This necessity was underlined in the 2005 World Summit Outcome as well as the GA resolution to implement it. The Declaration we are going to endorse at the end of this session also reaffirms the validity of the BPoA commitments and calls for greater efforts to be undertaken by all stakeholders to implement them in a full, timely and effective manner.

Madam Chairman,

            As landlocked least developed country, the Lao PDR has spared no effort to translate her commitments into action. The BPoA was integrated into the Ten-Year Socio-Economic Strategy (2001-2010) with emphasis on the promotion of rapid and sustained economic growth, poverty reduction and environmental protection. The fifth Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2001-2005) and associated annual plans all were considered to be the primary tools for implementing the Strategy.

            Various measures have been taken to put those plans into practice. As a result, GDP has attained a steady increase averaging 6.3 percent for the past five years. The overall investment rose steadily from 19.7 percent in 2000 to around 26.6 in 2005. The GDP per capita improved almost by US$ 500 for the same period and poverty downed to 28.7 % percent in 2005 from 39% in 1997. The population living under the poverty line accounts for 28 percent in 2006 and life expectancy increased by 61 years against 50 in 1980.

            To further her efforts to fight poverty and pursue sustainable development, the Lao PDR Government launched in 2003 the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES) known as a localized poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP). The objective of NGPES is to sustain economic growth and alleviate poverty.

            Furthermore, the recently adopted Sixth Five-Year Socio-economic Development Plan 2006-2010 constitutes a framework aimed, first and foremost, at fully and effectively implementing all the goals and targets of the NGPES in pursuit of the Vision of the country graduating from LDCs by 2020.

Madam Chairman,

            Despite the positive developments, there remains a lot more to be done by the Lao PDR towards the fulfilment of its international commitments. For the country to achieve further progress in the implementation of the foregoing strategies, greater coordinated financial and technical support is needed from the international community. We trust these felt needs of the Lao PDR would continue to be met generously in the form of untied Official Development Assistance.

I thank you.