The Laos government has issued a renewed call for greater international cooperation to enhance domestic resource mobilisation, positioning it as a critical pillar for achieving sustainable development and reducing dependency on foreign assistance.
At the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Seville, Spain from 30 June to 3 July, Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith outlined Laos’ ongoing reforms aimed at improving public financial management. Addressing a high-level roundtable on domestic resource mobilisation and allocation, he emphasised the importance of robust national revenue systems—particularly for least developed countries like Laos.
Saleumxay stated that Laos is undertaking comprehensive reforms of its public finance system. These include expanding the use of digital technologies to improve tax collection, investing in human capital, and tightening budget oversight. The government has set a strategic objective to raise tax revenue to 20 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.
Recent performance data, shared during the National Assembly’s ordinary session, shows early momentum: in the first half of the year, tax collection increased by 4.3 percent, accounting for 11.7 percent of GDP.
He also used the forum to urge development partners and international institutions to step up financial and technical assistance to countries like Laos. Specific appeals included enhanced support for capacity building, particularly in human resources, and stronger international cooperation on tax matters.
In the general debate session, Saleumxay addressed the conference on behalf of both Laos and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He reaffirmed ASEAN’s collective commitment to building resilient, future-ready economies grounded in inclusivity and sustainability. He further highlighted the bloc’s support for multilateral trade frameworks under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, as well as its focus on advancing industrial development and energy integration within the region.
The deputy prime minister underscored Laos’ national priority of graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. He said the government is aligning domestic development strategies with international frameworks, particularly the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and called for continued global support to sustain long-term progress.
The Seville meeting convened representatives from 179 countries. It marked the fourth edition of the conference, following earlier gatherings in Mexico (2002), Qatar (2008), and Ethiopia (2015). The opening ceremony on 30 June featured an address by His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain. Subsequent sessions were co-chaired by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
A key outcome of the conference was the adoption of the Seville Commitment, a forward-looking document that sets shared objectives to close financing gaps, combat inequality, and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This commitment will now guide future global cooperation on financing for development.
-ANN
