The 2nd Project Review Committee (PRC) Meeting for the USAID Laos Business Environment Project

Vientiane, August 03rd, 2021. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce convened the 2nd Project Review Committee (PRC) meeting for the USAID Laos Business Environment Project at the Landmark Hotel. The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Somchith Inthamith, Deputy Minister of the MoIC, and Mr. Michael Ronning, the USAID Country Representative to Laos. The meeting participants included project counterparts from various departments of the MoIC, Ministry of Information Tourism and Culture, Ministry of Technology and Communications, Ministry of Justice, Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, concerned authorities from Champasak province, and other development partners.

The objective of this meeting was to review and evaluate the progress of project activities during the six-month implementation period from January through June 2021, and discuss key activities and workplan for the next six months until December 2021.

H.E. Somchith Inthamith, Deputy Minister of the MoIC, during his opening remarks, congratulated the project team for the achievements and progress made to date despite the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and related containment measures. He encouraged the project team to ensure that all component activities are complementary and to seek collaboration with other donor-funded projects such as the Lao Competitiveness and Trade (LCT) project; the MSME Access to Finance Emergency and Recovery Project; ARISE Plus Laos; and other projects that focus on improving Lao PDR’s business environment and private sector competitiveness.

Mr. Michael Ronning, the USAID Country Representative to Laos, expressed his gratitude to the MoIC for its strong partnership with USAID and continuous support for the Laos Business Environment Project. He also congratulated the project team for their notable achievements and expressed his appreciation for their flexibility in making the necessary adjustments to keep the project well on track.

The half-day meeting highlighted the project’s achievements, including the results of an assessment of the specific products that will be the focus of interventions in the project’s third priority sector – handicraft. An overview of the key activities planned for July to December 2021 was also presented. Following the project team’s presentations, participants were given the opportunity to provide feedback on project activities and workplan for the next six months. The proposed workplan was endorsed in principle by the end of the meeting.

The USAID Laos Business Environment Project assists the Government of Laos to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises while strengthening the country’s business environment.