VIENTIANE CAPITAL, 6 November 2026.The National Steering Committee for the Round Table Process today convened an official “Meet the Press” conference at the Ministry of Finance (Tax Department Main Conference Hall) to announce full readiness for the 2026 Round Table Implementation Meeting (RTIM 2026). The briefing was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Soulivath Souvannachoumkham, Vice Minister of Finance, Deputy Chair and Standing Member of the National Steering Committee for the Round Table Process, and Ms. Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labe, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lao PDR, with the participation of members of the diplomatic corps, Directors General and senior officials from line ministries, development partners, and domestic and international media.
Scheduled to take place on 19 November 2026 in Vientiane Capital, RTIM 2026 will be held under the overarching 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.” The high-level forum will bring together over 300 delegates representing the National Assembly, central ministries, Vientiane Capital and all 17 provinces, friendly nations, bilateral and multilateral development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
Addressing the media, H.E. Mr. Soulivath Souvannachoumkham underscored that RTIM 2026 carries historic significance, convening just days before Lao PDR officially graduates from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and marking the first year of implementing the 10th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (10th NSEDP, 2026–2030). He highlighted that despite global economic volatility and natural disaster impacts in 2026, the Government successfully stabilized the Lao Kip and curbed inflation through prudent monetary policy measures while closely aligning national development plans with strategic budget allocations.
Speaking at the briefing, Ms. Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labe commended Lao PDR’s socio-economic progress and poverty reduction achievements over recent decades, culminating in its forthcoming LDC graduation at the end of November. Reaffirming the Round Table Process as the central national mechanism for policy dialogue, coordination, and partnership, she stressed the importance of utilizing domestic resources, attracting private investment, and aligning international support behind national priorities to bridge financing gaps, safeguard development gains during the transition period, and drive the implementation of the 10th NSEDP and the Vientiane Declaration III—while recognizing the media as essential partners in communicating how development cooperation tangibly improves people’s lives.
RTIM 2026 deliberations will center on four key agenda items:
- Implementation Progress of the 10th NSEDP (2026–2030) in 2026, Key Directions for the 2027 Plan, and Priority Budgetary Needs;
- Lao PDR’s Graduation from Least Developed Country Status and Key Priorities for the Transition Period;
- A Special Keynote Lecture and Technical Panel Discussions on: “Accelerating Towards an Upper-Middle-Income Country: Human Capital Development and Leveraging Innovation for Green Growth,” focusing on economic structural transformation and domestic and international resource mobilization to close the financing gap, alongside an exhibition showcasing tangible achievements and products from development cooperation across Lao PDR;
- The Vientiane Declaration Action Plan III (VDAP III) on Effective Development Cooperation (2026–2035) and Strategic Directions for Resource Mobilization;
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 Mr. Kettisack Khanthavong, Deputy Head of Division, Tel/WhatsApp: +856 20 59 899 987 | Website: www.rtp.gov.la
