Govt drafts next five-year socio-economic development plan

Members of the government’s steering committee in charge of drafting the 9th five-year National Socio Economic Development Plan (2021-2025) met on Wednesday to review the implementation of the 8th five-year National Socio-economic Development Plan (2016-2020).
Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Sonexay Siphandone, the meeting involved senior government officials, members of government organisations, and provincial authorities.

The meeting enabled officials from various ministries to share their views on the implementation of the current economic development plan. They also provided comments on the draft of the 9th five-year National Socio-economic Development Plan (2021-2025).
Participants discussed the draft of the next five-year plan with a focus on six priorities, aiming to make the content more specific and accurate prior to its final consideration.
The first goal is to achieve sustainable, balanced and quality growth of the nation’s economy. The second is to improve the standard of human resources, research capacity and the use of technology and science, in order to boost productivity and produce more value-added goods.
The third goal is to improve living standards and the fourth is to create more green spaces and pursue environmentally-friendly development.
The fifth goal is to promote strong and modern internal, regional and international cooperation, and the final goal is to increase the effectiveness of public administration through the rule of law and public unity.
Dr Sonexay called for officials in key sectors in charge of the draft to consider the most essential and strategic components for inclusion in the next development plan.
He referred to the importance of human resources development, vocational training for young people, and the need for special and specific economic development.
Officials representing various ministries reported on the progress made in drawing up their respective drafts, with all the documents to be finalised before submission to the government.
The writing of the draft development plan for 2021-2025 began in early 2019, following Prime Ministerial Order No. 5 issued in May and ministerial directions on the draft.
Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, several consultation meetings were held, attended by high level officials, staff from the National University of Laos, members of research institutes, the private sector and development partners, who provided input on different topics.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update February 14, 2020)