A four-day consultation on World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation National Self Assessment of Needs and Priorities for the Lao PDR was held on 21 to 24 September at the Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane, under the co-chairpersons of the Vice-Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mrs. Khemmany Pholsena, and Mrs. Christina Rahlen, WTO country representative.
The objective of this meeting is to assist the Lao PDR in conducting a self-assessment in order to participate more effectively in the WTO trade facilitation negotiations.
Mrs. Khemmany Pholsena said that the Government of Laos always recognised trade facilitation as one of priorities in developing economy and potential for encouraging promoting trade, local and foreign investment. Furthermore, it would be improving competitiveness of export and trade in service of the Lao PDR, particularly SMEs.
She also said, in the past year, many ministries concerning with trade facilitation have improved laws, regulation regarding to facilitate import and export.
The Government of Laos has approved Decree on Import Licensing procedures and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is preparing to issue notification to implement this decree.
The MOIC is also closely working with government agencies concerned to prepare the decree on rules of origin and the decree on import and export management. These three decrees are expected to be important tool of facilitation. These indicate that the Lao government has taken a number of measures to address key biding constraints affecting the creation and operation of businesses These key measures were implemented to reduce the cost of business through improving physical infrastructure, facilitating movement of goods, streamlining business start-up procedure and promoting trade, local and foreign investment, she said.She said, I would like to encourage representatives of both the government and business community to actively participate in the dialogue process under the WTO Trade Facilitation National Self Assessment of Needs and Priorities for the Lao PDR to provide her with more effective and continued assistance in preparing the bilateral and regional negotiation of trade facilitation agreement.
To help the government agencies and private sector to have a better understanding of the role and status of the government and the private sector and the result of this meeting will be useful for asking for assistance from international organisations and the current reform project to ensure they are in line with the WTO negotiation.