National Workshop on Public-Private Dialogue in Laos

Champasak, October 26, 2022. Government, private sector, and development partners convened the National Workshop on Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) in Laos on October 26, 2022 at Champasak Grand Hotel, Champasak province, aiming at enhancing effectiveness of the PPD mechanism in improving business operating environment in Laos.

The one-day Workshop was a first-ever activity which was jointly supported by ongoing Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) projects that support operations of PPD to strengthen legal and regulatory environment for private sector in Laos. The initiative was co-financed by the Promotion of Export Competitiveness and Sustainability Support to Public-Private Dialogue in Northern Laos (ECL), USAID Laos Business Environment (LBE), and Laos Competiveness and Trade (LCT) projects.

The Workshop was joined by high level policy makers and business leaders who have been promoting PPD process in the country, including H.E. Dr. Vilayvong Boudakham, Governor of Champasak province, H.E. Dr. Manothong Vongsay, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), and Ms. Dr. Valy Vetsaphong, LNCCI (Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Vice President. This Workshop provided a platform for 60 representatives from the central government, provincial authorities and private sector including LNCCI and provincial CCI of Champasak, Luangnamtha, Oudomxay, and Phongsaly provinces to discuss current developments and future directions of PPD in Laos. The workshop also adopted concrete actions to further enhance effectiveness of PPDs.

At the event, H.E. Dr. Vilayvong Boudakham, Governor of Champasak highlighted that “the PPD mechanism constitute one of the significant tools or means that contributes to improving trade and investment environment through addressing issues in relation to policies, regulations or the implementation of regulations on establishment, operation and expansion of business”.

During his remarks, H.E. Dr. Manothong Vongsay, Deputy Minister of MOIC stated that “today’s meeting is a meaningful opportunity as it is the first-time ever that we could gather relevant practitioners of the PPD mechanism in Laos including Champasak, Luangnamtha, Oudomxay and Phongsaly provinces to discuss challenges and future direction of the PPD process in their provinces along with the Secretariat and Steering Committee of the Lao Business Forum (LBF)”.

Ms. Dr. Valy Vetsaphong, LNCCI Vice President said that “the PPD remains one of the key Government-private sector collaborative initiative to promote private sector growth and development. The LBF and LPPD have become the main platforms for the private sector to discuss and seek solutions to legal regulatory obstacles constraining business startup and expansion in a constructive manner”.

The collaboration between ECL, USAID LBE, and LCT projects in organizing this event demonstrated commitments of TRTA to further enhance program-based approach and aid effectiveness in trade and private sector development in Laos.