17 October 2011

From poverty to sustainability: People at the center of inclusive development

This year's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

focuses on people and their right to live with health, dignity and

hope for the future. Lao PDR's recent record in improving

living standards is impressive, with poverty rates falling

from 46 percent of the population in 1992 to 27.6 percent

in 2008.

The current economic boom, averaging 7.9 percent growth

annually over the last five years, provides an opportunity

to further eradicate poverty. But to realize this, the

investments fueling this growth must be sustainable and

benefit the people.

Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, highlights the importance of

this in today's message where she says, “Truly sustainable

development for present and future generations must safeguard

ecosystems while also enabling economic and social progress.”

The fast-growing economy of Lao PDR is driven by Foreign

Direct Investment (FDI) primarily in the natural resource

sectors. This growth places pressure on natural

ecosystems and can lead to dramatic changes in land use. With the large majority of rural

Lao people depending on natural resources for their food and incomes, these changes can

have a significant impact on their livelihoods.

In Lao PDR the joint UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI) works to improve the ability of the government to include

environmental and social concerns in investment planning and to effectively manage investments

through the use of practical tools. The overall goal is to ensure that private investments generate

maximum benefits for local economies and that social and environmental safeguards are in place to

minimize potentially negative impacts on local communities.

According to Dechen Tsering, the Deputy Regional Director of Asia and the Pacific for the UN

Environment Programme (UNEP), it's critical that there is an open dialogue about the development of

the country. “I think what's really important for the people of Lao PDR is for them to determine the

kind of growth they want, the kind of quality and the livelihoods that they want for themselves. I am

increasingly encouraged that the government is working closely with the people so that they are a

meaningful partner in this process.”

In May 2011, the Investment Promotion Department of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI)

presented their new national investment strategy and a 2011-15 action plan. The strategy provides a

framework to promote quality investments for Lao PDR and to strengthen coordination between all

ministries for effective management of domestic and foreign investments.

The plan emphasizes the need to mobilize investments that will generate sufficient government

revenue to help finance social and human development, create sustainable jobs and incomes, transfer

skills and technology, create linkages with the domestic business sector, and safeguard the

environment.

Speaking at the launch of the strategy, Minh Pham, UNDP Resident Representative, reiterated the

importance of assessing and monitoring FDI, “Foreign direct investment clearly has a valuable role to

play in the future development of Lao PDR. But ensuring that FDI contributes to and at least does not

harm the country's development is of course not automatic. This will very much depend upon the

quality of FDI selected and approved by the government.”

For Manothong Vongsay, the Deputy Director General of the Investment Promotion Department, MPI,

looking at the experience of other nations is vital. “To ensure the sustainability of growth we have to

be very careful and try to learn from the mistakes that other countries have made and try to avoid

Thriving market in Luang

Prabang Photo:Silvia Jundt

these, especially as Laos is heavily dependent on natural resources.” He added that quality

investments will generate job opportunities, transfer skills to local workers and have minimal impact

on the environment.

Ultimately quality investments will play a crucial role in ensuring Lao PDR makes the jump from

poverty to sustainability through contributing to the implementation of the government's 7th National

Socio-Economic Development Plan. The 7th development plan underscores the importance of,

„achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), protecting the environment, maintaining

political stability and peace, having an open economy integrated into the regional (ASEAN community)

and world economy, and focusing on the quality of growth.'

Assignment #1:

My name is Mr.Somphoun Paoxaichar and I’m a activist for FACEBOOK with the power of social

Technology. The reason “ why I used this social media?” As very one knew that there are many social

medias in the internet we can use which you want, it is very important for everyone if you know how

to use it and very useful it has many important activities with your friends but if you couldn’t

manage yourself with social media you will lose everything on the way you are going on. So that

since FACEBOOK had established on February 2004 it is very famous through the world and there are

many people use more than other social media, it’s going up higher than other although every social

media uses almost similar way, but why face book are more than, because it’s very easy to using,

interface’s impressive, close up with your friend and more activities…

Assignment#2:

Event on 17 Oct 2011 In Laos (From poverty to sustainability)

As we also know that on 17 Oct every year is International Day for Eradication of Poverty, so

maybe every countries always does something important on that day. So in Laos, Helen Clark, UNDP

Administrator, highlights the importance of this where she says, “Truly sustainable development for

present and future generations must safeguard ecosystems while also enabling economic and social

progress.”

The fast-growing economy of Lao PDR is driven by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) primarily

in the natural resource sectors. This growth places pressure on natural ecosystems and can lead to

dramatic changes in land use. With the large majority of rural Lao people depending on natural

resources for their food and incomes, these changes can have a significant impact on their

livelihoods.

This year's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty focuses on people and their right to live with health, dignity and hope for the future. Lao PDR's recent record in improving living

standards is impressive, with poverty rates falling from 46 percent of the population in 1992 to 27.6 percent in 2008.

The current economic boom, averaging 7.9 percent growth annually over the last five years, provides an opportunity to further eradicate poverty.