Vientiane: The Lao government has set an ambitious target of lifting more than 100,000 households out of poverty over the next three years under its proposed National Agenda on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, a key national priority aimed at improving livelihoods and reducing regional disparities.
According to Lao News Agency, Kongphet Keobuapha, Vice President of the Luang Namtha Provincial People's Council and National Assembly member for Constituency No. 3, discussed the proposed national agenda during the First Extraordinary Session of the 10th National Assembly. The agenda focuses on addressing the root causes of rural poverty through coordinated national action.
The government reports that Laos currently has 189,792 poor households, more than 2,000 poor villages, and 66 poor districts, based on assessments conducted under Prime Minister's Decree No. 348.
The proposed agenda emphasizes two main priorities: creating sustainable livelihoods and income opportunities for rural communities, and improving rural infrastructure and public facilities. The government believes these measures will significantly reduce poverty and enhance living standards nationwide.
The agenda also specifies eight key targets and five guiding principles, including effective implementation, transparency, greater use of science and technology, and sustainable rural development. Priority actions include promoting modern agriculture and livestock production, strengthening local institutions, mobilizing investment for rural development, and improving coordination among ministries, local authorities, and relevant sectors.
If fully implemented, the programme aims to reduce the national poverty rate from 14.78 percent to below 10 percent, while substantially decreasing the number of poor villages and districts.
Kongphet emphasized that achieving these goals will require close cooperation among government agencies at all levels, along with active participation from local communities to ensure the agenda is effectively implemented.
Although the programme is designed as a three-year initiative, Kongphet noted that any unfinished work would continue beyond the initial implementation period through regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure sustainable rural development and lasting poverty reduction.