Opening Speech Issue 1

Good morning honorable chairs and fellow delegates,

Laos has experienced a dramatic transformation over the past decade. The
economy has grown, the poverty declined, and infrastructure is expanding.
Numerous reforms resulted in an improved investment, trade, and private sector
development such as doubled FDI. The global recession did not affect Laos
dramatically. Gross domestic product growth stayed strong in 2010. The
poverty incidence decreased to 27% from 46%.

The delegate of Laos believes that the issue of urban poverty in Laos caused
from economic growth and rising inequality, low human development,
unemployment, Asian development bank and poverty reduction.

This delegate hopes for a fruitful and constructive debate in order to make this
conference leading to solving the urban poverty issues at hand today.

Thank you