Dissemination Workshop of Doing Business Reforms in Laos’ Action Plan 2020 – 2022
Vientiane, 05 August 2020, the Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment, supported by the Regional Economic Integration of Laos into ASEAN, Trade and Entrepreneurship Development Project (RELATED) of German Development Cooperation (GIZ), held the dissemination workshop of Doing Business Reforms in Laos’ Action Plan 2020 – 2022, at Lao Plaza Hotel.
The event was co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment, H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, and the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Lao PDR H.E. Jens Peter Lütkenherm. The workshop was attended by the Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Ms. Khamchan Vongsenboun, the Deputy Ministers of Energy and Mines, Deputy Minister of Finance, Deputy of Public Securities, Deputy Minister of Information, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and Deputy Ministry of Labour and Social Welfares.
In the recent years, the Lao Government has taken important steps to ease the doing business, including the Prime Minister’s Order 002/2018 on the improvement of regulations and coordinating mechanisms for the Ease of Doing Business in Lao PDR and the Prime Minister’s Order 003/2020 on the improvement of administrative services for investments and business operating licenses. Therefore, the objective of today’s meeting is to disseminate the booklet of Doing Business Reforms in Laos Action Plan 2020-2022 to help relevant authorities to prioritize their efforts and to focus on those reform measures that have a direct and substantial impact on the Ease of Doing Business. It also represents a benchmark, against which the Ministry of Planning and Investment can coordinate and monitor the progress of doing business reforms. Last but not least, it helps development partners to coordinate their support and to identify reform areas to improve the Business and Investment Climate that are not yet assisted.
H.E. Sonexay Siphandon, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment stated at the workshop that: “Based on the Doing Business Report 2020 published by the World Bank Group which measures the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in 190 economies worldwide, Lao PDR was ranked 154th in the world and 9th in ASEAN. This has encouraged the countries to compete in order to reform regulations and coordinating mechanisms in Doing Business effectively. Lao PDR has issued three important orders to improve the business environment in the country: Order No. 002/PM, Order No. 012/PM and Order No. 003/PM. These orders have clearly assigned the relevant authorities to proactively improve the indicators within their scope of rights and responsibilities with the aim to enhance the business climate, attract quality investments and promote local products and industries, and enhance the competitiveness of domestic businesses”.
The event was very successful and fruitful. Many representatives from public and private sector congratulated this initiative, which shows that Lao government has seriously taken the business reforms in order to reduce the ranking and score of doing business.
The project Regional Economic Integration of Laos in ASEAN, Trade and Entrepreneurship Development (RELATED) is supported by the government of Germany. The project is established in 2014 and implemented by GIZ. The project aims to supports the Lao Government to successfully develop the AEC-related policy framework conditions in the areas of trade in goods and investment, support LNCCI to develop and provide AEC-related services for the private sector and support competitiveness of AEC-oriented private sector companies.
