A framework for development program and projects in Lao PDR is The National Socio-Economic Development plan and especially the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy.
 

National Socio-Economic Development Plan

      National socio-economic development plan includes one year and five year timeframe. The long-term five-year socio-economic development plan, 2000-2005, defines eight priority development programs: (1) food production, (2) commercial producion, (3) shifting cultivation stabilisation, (4) infrastructure, (5) rural development, (6) human resource development, (7) service development, and (8) foreign economic relations. These become basis for elaboration on of concerned ministries and government line agencies. All document relevant to the development plan are compiled by Planning and Statistic Section of each line ministries as well as with the Department of Planning and Cooperation of each province.
 

National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy

       The NGPES is a long term development objective to free Lao PDR from least developed country status by 2020. The NGPES was initiated during the 7 th Roundtable meeting in November 2000, and further defined in 2001 into National Poverty Eradication Program (NPEP). Until October 2003 the term National Growth and Poverty Eradicaion Strategy is used to avoid confusion with the eight priority development programs, and the National Assembly has mandated the Government to implement the plan and provide state budget with particular focus on improving poverty situation of the poor districts, 72 districts of total 142. The NGPES targeted to halve number of poor population by 2010 and graduate from LDC by 2020. The NGPES becomes a long term comprehensive growth and development framework for individual sectors across government lines ministries at all levels.

Other policies and strategies

      In line with the NGPES, line minsitries across the country have created development plans both short and long term. For the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft this reflected through its development strategy for 2005, 2010 and 2020.