Reference: By 2020 Laos to gain developed country status, Bangkok Post, April 12, 2009

Laos is currently described as an LDC - one of the world's least developed countries. It would take more than a miracle for Laos to transform itself from extreme poverty into one of the world's developed countries at par with places like Germany in eleven years (By 2020 Laos to gain developed country status, Bangkok Post, April 12, 2009). One would first have to target the country's progress from LDC to developing country or newly industrialized country at par with countries like Thailand and Malaysia. If and when that occurs it would then be rational to formulate strategies and time frames for the country to gain developed country status. Such lofty goals are unrealistic in its current state.

Cha-am Jamal

Thailand