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(...) Lao PDR's sustainable development strategy will at the same time address the longer-term issues related to its graduation. The success of this strategy is, therefore, vital. The Government of Lao PDR therefore intends to integrate its graduation strategy into its sustainable development strategy by emphasizing the measures which will need to be implemented in priority. (...)

Lao PDR has also introduced a ban on exports of unprocessed wood from natural forests with the aim to better control illegal logging and to promote the transformation of wood in Lao PDR.

Lao PDR's sustainable development including the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, largely depends on its capability to transform capital-intensive, resource-based system into a more diversified economy (…)

Electricity is a major source of foreign exchange as most of the production is exported to the neighboring countries (mostly Thailand). Abundant, relatively cheap and ecological energy sources are also a major comparative advantage of the Lao PDR economy that the Government intends to exploit further. (...)

To warrant that the measures needed to ensure a smooth transition and its sustainable development, in 2017, Lao PDR established the National Steering Committee for SDGs implementation under the Presidential Decree, (…) There is also a mechanism allowing to engage the civil society to implement the 2030 Agenda, which covers many of the issue which have to also be addressed within the graduation process. (...) This Committee consists of the representatives from relevant agencies and would be responsible for the implementation of the short-term and long-term measures of the graduation strategy and their embedment in the SDGs 2030 Agenda. The working group would require urgent technical assistance for the elaboration of the graduation strategy as well as to strengthen the negotiation capacity of the International Department. UNESCAP is expected to continue its technical assistance to the Agenda 2030.

During the period under review, Lao PDR's domestic and foreign trade policies focused on four key priorities: (…) (d) improvement of business environment and investment climate. In its progress, Lao PDR was largely guided by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and, later, by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

(…)Lao PDR is mindful that over-reliance on hydropower could lead to several problems: (…) (ii) need to install hydropower facilities along the watercourses and then transport the energy via inefficient power grid, often facing up to 20% losses in power supply, leading to the need to import electricity; (...) (iv) potential risk harm to environment and people. Recognizing the need to diversify energy generation, the Government of Lao PDR has (...) established the development of renewable energy other than hydropower as one of its main priorities, aiming to increase the share of non-hydro renewable energies to 30% of total consumption by 2025. Studies show that Lao PDR has potential to develop solar power. (...)

(...)The Law on Lawmaking ensures that new laws and regulations are drafted in a transparent way and that effects of laws and regulations on the environment and other public goods are accounted for (...)

Lao PDR's membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of its strategic priorities. (…) The AEC Blueprint 2025, relying on the 23 Sectoral Action Plans (SEPs) combined into the AEC Consolidated Strategic Action Plan 2025 (CSAP), aims to strengthen and reinforce the AEC five characteristics: (...) (e) A Global ASEAN. It also incorporates new focus areas, such as global value chains, good regulatory practices, sustainable development, global megatrends and emerging trade-related issues (...).

Since 2005, a Rural Electricity Fund (REF) promotes the use of renewable energy in rural areas on the basis of a revolving capital principle with funding support from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).