The Special (virtual) Meeting of the Technical Committee (TC) was held on 21st December, 2023. The TC members and their representatives from 11 CIRDAP member countries (except Afghanistan, Lao PDR, Nepal, and Vietnam) attended the meeting. The Special TC meeting started with a recorded speech from the distinguished Chair of the Technical Committee (TC-38), Mr. Anosack Phengthimmavong, Deputy Director General, Department of Rural Development (DRD), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) of Lao PDR.

In his message, Mr. Anosack Phengthimmavong expressed that because of another urgent meeting, he would not be able to attend the TC meeting and he welcomed all the TC members/ representatives to the meeting. The Chair informed that the TC members had agreed in the 38th Technical Committee (TC – 38) meeting (held on 3-5 October 2023 in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR) to organize a special (virtual) meeting on 21st December 2023 for further discussions on Agenda 10 & Agenda 11 of TC 38. He added that the agenda (others) “Proposed Thematic Topics for Rural Development Report 2025” would be discussed at this special (virtual) TC meeting.