Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone chairs a meeting of the National Steering Committee for SDG Implementation on Friday. --Photo Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PM urges progress on Sustainable Development Goals

The government is speeding up efforts to meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as Laos prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status in November.
Progress made towards these goals was reviewed at the annual meeting of the National Steering Committee for SDG Implementation and related work, held at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday, with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone calling for stronger action, particularly on SDGs where work is lagging or falling behind targets.
The meeting was attended by deputy prime ministers, ministers, department heads and representatives of ministries, ministry-equivalent agencies and other relevant bodies, who assessed key achievements and challenges, and set priorities for the coming months.
 Participants also reviewed preparations for Laos’ fourth Voluntary National Review, which will assess the country’s progress in implementing the SDGs and is scheduled to be presented at the UN High-Level Political Forum next year.
A key item of discussion was the proposed consolidation of the secretariats of three national steering committees — those overseeing the implementation of SDGs, the UN Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries, and matters related to Landlocked Developing Countries — into a single National Steering Committee for SDG Implementation.
This move is intended to align coordination mechanisms with the ongoing restructuring of government organisations and the principle of streamlining, under which one unit handles multiple responsibilities.
It is expected to reduce budget and personnel requirements, while making implementation more efficient and responsive.
Prime Minister Sonexay urged ministries and other government bodies to sharpen their focus on SDGs that are progressing slowly or are at risk of not being achieved as planned.
He called for clear responsibilities and targets to be set, as well as updated databases, and effective monitoring and evaluation systems to provide a sound basis for decision-making and policy formulation.
He stressed the importance of maintaining effective coordination and clearly defining responsibilities among sectoral secretariats to avoid duplication and overlapping duties.
The Prime Minister highlighted November 2026 as a major milestone for Laos, when the country is expected to be officially recognised by the United Nations as having graduated from Least Developed Country status.
This landmark event marks the transition to a new phase of quality and sustainable development, requiring continued efforts to maintain progress and ensure balanced development across all sectors.
 The meeting concluded with participants sharing views on ways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in their respective sectors and future directions and plans, including preparations for the fourth Voluntary National Review to be presented at the UN High-Level Political Forum in mid-2027.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update August 24, 2026)