Project Assessment and Closure

Luang Namtha – 26 June 2023 – The Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), in collaboration with the LunagNamtha provincial Department of Industry and Commerce, convened an assessment and closure workshop for the ECL project implemented in the province.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Khamphet Vongdala, Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, and cochaired by Dr. Khamkeo Chanthavong, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Commerce, with the participation of representatives from relevant government agencies, the provincial CCI, rice millers, and farmers from two targeted districts (Luang Namtha and Sing), 80 representatives in total.

In his remarks, Dr. Khamphet Vongdala, Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, emphasized the contribution from the DoIC, CCI, rice millers, farmers, and relevant agencies that supported and facilitated all five seasonal demonstration projects to achieve notable results. He also requested that DoIC, CCI, and relevant stakeholders continue to facilitate, implement, and replicate in other areas. The lessons learned from these five pilots, with continuity and replication, will stimulate the sector’s growth and economy in the province.

The discussion went through a fruitful exchange on outcomes that all parties gained and challenges that require specific effort from rice millers and farmers and political support from the government, especially on the threat of competitive and substitutive products that caused a reduction in rice plantation areas.

The provincial DoIC committed to keep facilitating the private sector through collaboration with relevant agencies, in particular the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and CCI, to enhance the capability of rice production and improve governing policies.

The provincial CCI also stressed that the LPPD has solved many issues raised by the private sector during the two rounds of dialogues with the support of the ECL project. The president is willing to continue the dialogue, but the financial weakness of the organization and staff capacity are major challenges to overcome. The contribution of the private sector will play the ultimate role in continuing dialogue.

In the closing remark, the chair expressed his great gratitude to all representatives and requested further support from the local public and private sectors in extending and replicating these established structures and technical knowledge to a wider range of people. The chairs also thank the hard work and commitment of provincial agencies and NIU under the Department of Planning and Cooperation to the project.

ECL Project is funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF). EIF is an Aid for Trade partnership in action for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Operational since 2009, the EIF is a multi-donor program that supports the LDCs to become more active players in the global trading system by helping them tackle supply-side constraints to trade.