In 2021, the Committee for Development Policy for the United Nations (CDP) recommended Bangladesh, Lao PDR, and Nepal for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
Vientiane, 11 October 2021: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in partnership with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO), jointly organized the virtual 13th High-Level Roundtable Meeting Side Event: Least Developed Country Graduation: Toward a Smooth Transition Strategy (STS). The meeting was co-chaired by H.E Mr. Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Sara SEKKENES, United Nations Resident Coordinator to the Lao PDR.
18 October 2021. Ahead of the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference, Chad, on behalf of the LDC Group, submitted a communication to the WTO General Council on “A Smooth Transition Package in Favour of Members Graduating from the LDC Category“.
On 4 December, Vanuatu became the sixth country to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) category. As noted by the United Nations Secretary-General, this is “testimony to years of effort resulting in hard-won sustainable development gains”. The government of Vanuatu has prepared a smooth transition strategy which will help navigate the next steps in its development path.
