ARISE Plus Project Concludes with Remarkable Achievements, Bolstering Economic Growth in Lao PDR
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, EU Delegation to Lao PDR and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have successfully concluded the ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the European Union (ARISE) Plus – Lao PDR project in Vientiane Capital. The project promoted inclusive economic growth, increased climate change resilience, and job creation in Lao PDR. The project is funded by European Union.
The ARISE Plus project has 3 main objectives including (1) Enhancing regional economic integration, (2) Increasing awareness on trade preferences, and (3) Strengthening support services for smallholders and micro businesses.
Despite challenges posed by COVID-19 and macroeconomic instability, in its five years of implementation, the project has achieved remarkable results. Some of the notable achievements include conducting various trainings for public and private sector stakeholders on a wide range of subjects, including organic coffee farming, quality and sustainable sourcing in the wood-processing sector. In addition, ten quality champions have graduated from the project and were trained to assess, coach and guide companies in improving their quality using the most up-to-date tools and techniques.
Furthermore, the project conducted an in-depth gap analysis on the ATIGA and published a handbook on the ATIGA notification process. The project also published six Everything But Arms (EBA) business guides and trained public and private sector professionals on the EBA scheme. The Quality Platform was launched in Lao PDR as a one-stop quality shop which allows users to discover quality requirements, connect to needed institutional and individual expertise and services, and learn from best practice cases.
Moreover, the project published a study on the implications of the LDC graduation, which found that Lao PDR should harness the power of trade promotion to avoid losing a potential 7.3% in exports at LDC graduation. The project also published two Export Roadmaps for the wood and coffee sectors, giving detailed insights into the global and national contexts of the sectors, analyzing challenges, and laying out a detailed plan of action for the future. Lastly, the project published four guides on the topic of e-commerce and a handbook explaining the WTO ePing notification system.
Quotes:
“The partnership that the MOIC has had with the EU and ITC spans over the last 15 years. These efforts are highly relevant to our national strategy of diversifying the economy, rebuilding from COVID-19, and graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026, through accelerating trade integration, eliminating poverty and increasing shared prosperity.” Said H.E. Dr. Manothong Vongsay, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR.
“The EU is the 4th trade partner of the Lao PDR. Our trade is still relatively modest at around 500 million US$ per year. The recent studies show that there is good potential to increase our trade, especially in promising sectors such as specialty agriculture (like coffee and tea) and wood processing under the ARISE Plus project.” Said H.E. Ms. Ina Marčiulionytė, Ambassador of the European Union to Lao PDR.
“As we close this project, our commitment to Laos endures. We pledge to continue our dialogue and forge stronger partnerships with stakeholders. Exploring potential future avenues, in line with the Resilience Framework and the 9th National Socioeconomic Development Plan 2021-2025 of the Government of the Lao PDR focusing on Green and inclusive economy, Human capital and Good governance.” Says Ms. Sylvie Betemps Cochin, Chief, Office for Asia and the Pacific, International Trade Center.
The ARISE Plus project has been instrumental in promoting inclusive economic growth, trade intelligence, and participation in global value chains in Lao PDR. Through its collaboration with key government agencies, trade support institutions, and the private sector, the project has facilitated market access, built capacity, and created opportunities for Lao exporters. As the project officially concludes, it leaves behind a legacy of enhanced competitiveness, improved resilience, and sustainable economic growth for Lao PDR.
