(KPL) Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone led the delegation of the Lao PDR to participate in the World Governments Summit 2025, under the theme: "Shaping Future Governments", in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Feb 11, 2025.

The summit was chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.

The event saw high-level participation from over 140 countries, including more than 30 heads of state and government, and over 6,000 attendees.

The summit is an initiative of the UAE government, established in 2013 and held annually. It serves as a platform for high-level leaders, heads of government, international organizations, and the private sector to discuss and promote cooperation in various fields, including technological innovation, socio-economic development, public administration, finance, climate change, public health, human resource development, and other challenges in the context of a changing global landscape. 

It also explores future directions for collaboration. 

Prime Minister Sonexay led the Lao delegation in the Main Panel, which focused on the topic: "Financing the Future and the Global Economy".

He emphasized the Lao government's policies in leveraging its potential to promote and expand international cooperation, particularly in green and sustainable development, as outlined in the Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025).

He also highlighted the importance of human resource development to support technical and scientific advancements, new technologies, and innovation, as well as promoting digital transformation to enhance business efficiency.

Additionally, he underscored Laos' strategic focus on driving sustainable economic growth through investments in renewable energy, transforming Laos from a landlocked country into a land-linked hub to facilitate trade, environmental conservation, and attracting foreign investment.

This marked the first time Laos participated in the summit, elevating its role on the international stage, particularly in the Middle East, a region with growing global influence. 

The participation aimed to promote economic diplomacy, trade, and investment, particularly in sectors such as banking, renewable energy, and other priority areas. It also provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties with the host country, the UAE, and other participating nations.

During his visit to Dubai, Prime Minister Sonexay held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Kuwait and received courtesy calls from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, as well as the Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the UAE.

Furthermore, to expand economic diplomacy, the Prime Minister led a Lao business delegation to participate in a public-private sector dialogue forum between Laos and the UAE. The forum aimed to promote business cooperation, trade, and attract investment from Middle Eastern countries into priority sectors with potential in Laos.

The meeting included representatives from around 50 leading companies from Laos and the UAE, with over 80 participants in total.

KPL