MOIC Organized a Two-Day Workshop for Licensing Authorities on Updating the Inventory of Business Licenses Portal

Vientiane, September 6, 2023 – In a concerted effort to bolster the ease of doing business and promote economic growth in PDR), a comprehensive two-day workshop was convened at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) on September 3 and 5, 2023. The workshop’s primary focus was the enhancement and updating of the Inventory of Business Licenses (IBL) portal, a critical step in aligning with the Prime Minister’s Order 03.

Prime Minister’s Order 03 lays out a comprehensive framework for improving services to facilitate investment and operating license procedures in Lao PDR. The Department of Enterprise Registration and Management, entrusted with spearheading this mission, is diligently working to coordinate with licensing authorities to streamline business operating licenses and facilitate better access to regulatory information.

The two-day workshop drew active participation from 60 representatives representing various ministries, creating an environment ripe for the exchange of insights and expertise. Deputy Director General of the Department of Enterprise Registration and Management, Ms. Vongpadith Vongsavath, who also spearheads the coordination committee secretariat for licensing reform under Prime Minister’s Order 03, presided over the two-day event.

The heart of the workshop was to empower representatives from various line ministries with the skills necessary to independently update the information on the IBL portal. This strategic approach is indispensable to ensure that data remains relevant, accurate, and in sync with the ever-evolving business landscape of Lao PDR.

During her remarks, Ms. Vongpadith emphasized the IBL portal’s pivotal role in improving the business climate for providing needed information to potential investors and urged all agencies to play an active role in ensuring the information on the IBL portal remains not only accurate but also up to date. “This collective effort is essential to realizing the goals set forth by Prime Minister’s Order 03.” Ms. Vongpadith added in her closing speech.

The Inventory of Business Licenses portal is a fundamental tool aimed at creating a comprehensive catalog of all the procedures required to initiate and manage a business in Lao PDR. Beyond its cataloging role, the web portal acts as a beacon for transparency and efficiency in the broader business ecosystem. By doing so, it seeks to alleviate the complexities and reduce the operational costs that businesses, especially SMEs, often grapple with due to convoluted and opaque procedures.

The Lao government’s dedication to simplifying business licensing procedures and enhancing the IBL portal reaffirms its commitment to making the country an attractive destination for both local and foreign investors. By doing so, it strives to pave the way for sustained economic development and prosperity, while also leveling the playing field for businesses of all sizes.

The IBL portal has been built with the support of the Lao Trade and Competitiveness Project which is a multi-donor trust fund by the World Bank, by AusAID (Australia), Irish Aid, and USAID (USA). This is part of a project implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and administered by the World Bank.

For more information please contact:
National Enterprise Database Office, Department of Enterprise Registration and Management, Ministry of Industry and Commerce
Email: ned.database@gmail.com
Tel: 021 412011
http: www.bned.moic.gov.la