MOIC organized the 6th BAF Task Force Meeting and BAF Information Session

Vientiane Capital, 20 August 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) organized the 6th BAF II (Business Assistance Facility, phase II) Task Force Meeting and BAF Information Session. The objective of the first session of the meeting was to review the current progress, challenges and priorities of the BAF II implementation, while the second session of the meeting was to open opportunities for participants to learn more about BAF II through the experience of the BAF II recipients and Business Development Service (BDS) providers.

The meeting was honorably shared by Ms. Lattanaphone Vongsouthi, the Director of National Implementation Unit (NIU), the Department of Planning and Cooperation. Almost 50 representatives from the Departments in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Divisions in the Department of Planning and Cooperation, Division of Industry and Commerce in Vientiane Capital, BAF II team and 5 BAF II recipients and BDS providers attended the meeting.

Ms. Lattanaphone Vongsouthi, the Director of NIU on behalf of Department of Planning and Cooperation stated in her opening remark that this meeting is a very significant stage for the BAF II task force member, the representatives of departments and divisions in MOIC, BAF II clients and BDS providers for BAF clients to discuss about the previous implementation progress, challenges and priorities to meet the next milestone of the project. This will support the BAF II implementation since it will expand its size, due to the Additional Financing in LCT project, from 300 matching grants ending in 2022 to 500 matching grants ending in 2024

During the meeting, the participants listened to the presentation by BAF II representatives, and discussed about the progress (192 of approved matching grants, with 106 of grants fully disbursed), challenges and priorities, together with other additional actions that the project should implement to meet the new project milestones. In addition, the five invited companies have opportunities to share their experience on working with BAF II team.

Ms. Lattanaphone Vongsouthi, the Director of NIU, closed the meeting by acknowledging all participant’s contribution.

This meeting was supported by Lao Competitiveness and Trade Project (LCT), which is funded by The World Bank Group, Australian Aid, Irish Aid, and USAID. The purpose of the project is to reduce and eradicate constraints of business growth by the technical and budget assistance to improve business environment as well as to improve the regulatory environment, lowering trade costs and raising firm-level competitiveness.