Laos makes great strides in development: World Bank

Laos has made great strides in development, and extreme poverty has fallen below 24 percent, reads a press release of the World Bank (WB) on Monday.

During her recent visits to Laos' Vientiane and the Khammoune province on Nov. 9-12, World Bank Regional Vice President for East Asia and Pacific Victoria Kwakwa said she has seen how people's living conditions have improved, particularly among households with access to electricity. People are now enjoying better water supply and sanitation, and with more roads built, are more connected than ever.

On her visit to Laos, Kwakwa reaffirmed the WB's strong support for programs and policies to promote inclusive growth, invest in human development and protect the environment, as identified in the eighth National Socio-Economic Development Plan, also known as the NSEDP.

Laos has many opportunities to maintain strong growth and create more jobs while protecting its rich natural resources, Kwakwa said, commending Laos for its increased focus on green growth, which focuses on maintaining robust income growth and development while protecting the environment.

"The WB Group supports the Lao authorities' strategy to pursue diversified, green growth, with a view to advancing beyond Least Developed Country status and providing lasting and accessible opportunities for better health, nutrition and education services, as well as more jobs for the country's poor," she was quoted as saying on WB website.

The WB Group is committed to providing financing for critical programs and investments in Laos in both private and public sectors. Key investments expected to benefit from WB Group support include programs to improve the trade and business environment, improve the access to high quality education and health care, reduce the incidence of malnutrition, and support environmental protection and sustainable national resources management.

The WB press release said about 44 percent of children in Laos are stunted, one of the highest rates in the world. In southern Sekong and northern Phongsaly provinces, even more than 60 percent of children are stunted.

"The NSEDP correctly puts the development of human resources first, as strong education, skills, and health will allow people to participate in the growing Lao economy, said Kwakwa.

"Chronic malnutrition among young children is a major challenge, and the WB supports the government's Health Governance and Nutrition Development Program to help improve child nutrition by focusing on infant and child feeding practices through a national behavior change campaign." Endit