2026 National Steering Committee Meeting for the Round Table Process

National Steering Committee Reviews Comprehensive Readiness Ahead of the 2026 Round Table Implementation Meeting and Lao PDR’s Historic LDC Graduation

VIENTIANE CAPITAL, 6 November 2026 — The 2026 National Steering Committee Meeting for the Round Table Process (NSC-RTP) convened this morning at the Ministry of Finance (1st Floor Main Conference Hall, Tax Department) under the chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Soulivath Souvannachoumkham, Vice Minister of Finance. The high-level meeting brought together Vice Ministers, the Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Organization and Personnel Committee, Heads of ministry-equivalent agencies, Directors General, Deputy Directors General from line ministries, and the Secretariats of the 10 Sector Working Groups (SWGs).In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr. Soulivath Souvannachoumkham underscored the strategic significance of the meeting, which takes place during the inaugural year of the 10th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (10th NSEDP, 2026–2030) and just days prior to the official proclamation of Lao PDR’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. The meeting centered on three core objectives: (1) reviewing comprehensive substantive, protocol, and administrative preparations for the 2026 Round Table Implementation Meeting (RTIM 2026); (2) assessing the 2026 operational achievements and work plans of the 10 Sector Working Groups (SWGs); and (3) reviewing the concrete implementation of resolutions and directives stemming from the 14th High-Level Round Table Meeting in 2025—anchored in the Vientiane Declaration III (2026–2035) to mobilize domestic and international financing, enhance Official Development Assistance (ODA) effectiveness, scale up blended finance, and attract quality private investment.

Presenting the comprehensive readiness report, Dr. Vongkhamheng Vongthachack, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation and National Finance, Ministry of Finance, and Head of the National Steering Committee Secretariat, informed the Committee that the Prime Minister’s Office has officially endorsed RTIM 2026 to convene on 19 November 2026 at the Holiday Inn & Suites Vientiane under the theme: “Prioritizing Strategic Budget Allocation for the Implementation of the 2027 National Socio-Economic Development Plan to Ensure a Smooth, Quality, and Sustainable Graduation from Least Developed Country Status,” followed by a high-level courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Lao PDR on 20 November 2026 to report the outcomes of the meeting. To date, all key preparations—including 14 core background documents and presentations, official invitations for over 300 delegates from central ministries, provincial administrations, and development partners, five preparatory consultations, 16 exhibition booths, as well as venue, protocol, security, and medical arrangements—have been fully completed.

Concluding the meeting, H.E. Mr. Soulivath Souvannachoumkham commended the constructive contributions of the participants and outlined five key strategic directives to ensure the resounding success of RTIM 2026:

1. Substantive Alignment: The Secretariat, in close coordination with line ministries and development partners, must ensure all RTIM 2026 presentations promote eco-friendly and sustainable green growth, strengthen government revenue mobilization, advance human capital development, and foster good governance in alignment with the 10th NSEDP priorities;
2. Sector Working Group Reporting: SWG Chairs must continue guiding and submitting their consolidated annual progress reports to the Secretariat to inform RTIM 2026 deliberations and for publication on the official Round Table Process website;
3. Inclusive Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue: Ministries and SWGs must foster inclusive policy dialogue by prioritizing an enabling business environment and expanding the active participation of the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs), and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs);
4. Prudent Financing and Debt Sustainability: Deliberations must establish robust financing strategies and prudent, sustainable debt management frameworks capable of supporting inclusive budget allocations across all priority sectors;
5. Human Assets and Irreversible LDC Graduation: Greater emphasis must be placed on investing in human capital, institutional strengthening, rule of law, and effective public governance to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensure a resilient, irreversible graduation from LDC status.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact: National Steering Committee Secretariat for the Round Table Process (NSCS), Department of International Cooperation and National Finance, Ministry of Finance Website: www.rtp.gov.la

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