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Hanns Seidel Foundation Vietnam organizes its first semi-virtual workshop on
Integrating Circular Economy into the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025) in Lao, PDR

Strategically situated in the heart of Southeast Asia, Lao PDR has the ambition to become an agro-industrial country with boosting eco-tourism while preserving its unique culture. Strong economic growth in the past decades enabled the country to become a lower-middle income country in 2010. However, the economic growth has been largely driven by natural resource extraction. Therefore, sustainable development, circular economy (CE) and sustainable consumption and production (SCP) play a more and more important role in Lao`s politics and economy.

International experts and participants were joining the workshop via zoom

International experts and participants were joining the workshop via zoom

HSF

Together with the Ministry of Planning and Investment Lao, the Hanns Seidel Foundation Vietnam organized a workshop on CE as part of the regional project promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in ASEAN. CE can be characterized as an economic system that promotes designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use for long time, and regenerating natural systems in order to ensure that society uses natural resources and materials in more rational ways and for greater benefit.

The workshop took place in the context of finalizing the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) 2021-2025 in Lao. As the government of Lao PDR is planning to dedicate a special chapter on the concept of Circular Economy, this conference aimed to present international best practices and provided a platform for relevant stakeholders in Laos to discuss opportunities to integrate those experiences in national economic planning. The Socio-Economic Development Plan is to be approved by the National Assembly of Laos in October 2020. Incorporating a circular economy approach into the 9th NSEDP will help set Lao PDR on a more robust development trajectory where the country is less vulnerable to external shocks and uses its natural bounty for lasting prosperity.

Participants get practical insights on CE and SCP

Participants get practical insights on CE and SCP

HSF

The conference combined elements of a “traditional” workshop while also utilizing virtual elements to address the challenges posed by Covid-19. While representatives of various line ministries of the Lao PDR came together in Luang Prabang, international experts and practitioners from 5 different countries were taking part via Zoom.

To sum up the event and to get practical insights on how CE can successfully be applied in various business models, the participants visited some companies that apply CE practices and focus on sustainable production and service delivery.

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