Speech by Commissioner Urpilainen at launch of the “Team Europe Partnership with Lao PDR to increase sustainable and inclusive trade, investment and connectivity in the agriculture and forestry sectors – TICAF”

TICAF programme for Laos

Your Excellency, Minister of Planning and Investment,

Your Excellency, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry,

Your Excellency, Minister of Public Works and Transport,

Your Excellencies, Ambassadors of France and Germany,

Distinguished guests,

It is an immense pleasure to be here with high level representatives of the Lao PDR and Team Europe colleagues, to participate in the official launch of the TICAF programme.

This programme symbolises the new kind of sustainable and quality partnerships that the EU wishes to offer to its partner countries.

We are living through profoundly changing geopolitics. There is a need for a positive offer to continue fostering multilateralism and long-lasting partnerships that benefit our planet and our people.

This is why the EU launched the Global Gateway investment strategy to connect the world through sustainable investments and reliable partnerships.

We want to help narrowing the global investment gap, support global economic recovery, and drive the twin green and digital transitions worldwide.

In order to bring sustainable and inclusive outcomes for the people and the planet, the EU has since advanced the Green Deal legislation. The objective of the Green Deal is to make the European Union climate neutral by 2050, while decoupling economic growth from excessive resource use.

The Green Deal has implications within the EU, but also in our relations with external partners.

The TICAF programme we are launching today is an excellent illustration of how we have translated our Global Gateway and Green Deal objectives in our partnership with the Lao PDR.

Through this programme, co-financed with France, Germany and the European Investment Bank, we are building a closer partnership on green, sustainable and inclusive development between the EU and the Lao PDR.

We are focusing on the coffee, tea and forest-based products which the Lao PDR is trading with the EU. And we are supporting better connectivity to regional and international markets through road rehabilitation.

The TICAF seeks to further our cooperation in reducing deforestation and enhance sustainable forest and land use. Together, we will help Lao PDR to preserve and use sustainably its rich natural resources, in line with your National Green Growth Strategy 2030.

The programme will also contribute to increase domestic production and exports of sustainable agricultural and forest-based products, which will create additional much-needed revenue for the country.

Above all, TICAF aims to improve the livelihoods of rural communities, through income diversification and the promotion of decent work conditions - notably through fair trade.

To facilitate access to national, regional and global markets, TICAF also supports improved connectivity with Lao PDR's neighbours and beyond, through the rehabilitation of national road 2 leading to Thailand and Vietnam.

To ensure a comprehensive and coherent approach, we complement the TICAF programme with other projects supporting trade and business facilitation, skills development, social protection for farmers, and rehabilitation of rural roads.

I should mention in particular the Team Europe partnership with Luxembourg and Switzerland to enhance Skills in Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry.

I believe we all understand how the TICAF marks a milestone in our evolving partnership.

It is this kind of quality partnership we want to think about when we drink a cup of Lao coffee or tea in Europe. A quality connection that binds us in protecting the people and the planet.

I am very much looking forward through this TICAF programme to deepening our long and fruitful partnership, and to contribute to an inclusive socio-economic development for Lao PDR.

Let me finish by wishing Your Excellencies and all distinguished participants good health, happiness and prosperity.