MOIC and USAID convened the 8th Project Review Committee Meeting of the USAID Laos Business Environment Project
Vientiane Capital, June 6, 2024 — The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) convened the 8th Project Review Committee Meeting of the USAID Laos Business Environment Project (LBE) at Don Chan Palace Hotel, Vientiane Capital.
Dr. Buavanh Vilavong, Permanent Secretary, MOIC, and Mr. Cullen Hughes, Director, Office of Economic Growth, Education and Energy, USAID, co-chaired the meeting. Participants included the Project’s key technical government and private sector focal points, project counterparts, and development partners.
The principal objectives of the meeting were to review the results of project implementation during January – June 2024 and discuss priorities for the project work plan for July – December 2024.
Since its inception, USAID’s LBE project has achieved several results, such as launching the National Handicraft Branding guidelines, thus establishing a standardized framework for promoting Lao handicrafts. Key achievements also include organizing the Second Champasak Annual Business Forum to showcase Local Public-Private Dialogue achievements and outline an action plan to tackle business concerns and finalizing Lao PDR’s Smooth LDC Transition Roadmap for Priority Actions in Trade and Trade-Related Areas 2024 to 2030.
During his opening remarks, Dr. Vilavong stated that “the project has been making important contributions to the implementation of our national post-pandemic SME/Private Sector development priorities. I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the U.S. Government and USAID for its commitments to trade and private sector development in Laos, particularly for providing resources to the LBE”.
Mr. Hughes highlighted the notable results of the LBE project and thanked the partnership between MOIC and USAID. “The Project has come a long way with achievements resulting from the collaboration and support of the Ministry, and key public and private sector partners,” said Mr. Hughes. “2024 is a crucial year for the project to generate tangible and impactful results and ensure the sustainability of the successes”.
The MSME Promotion Agency, the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Department of Trade Negotiation and Economic Cooperation presented the LBE project’s six-month progress report. In addition, the priorities for July – December 2024 were presented during the meeting.
The USAID Laos Business Environment Project is a six-year program that aims to assist the Lao government in improving the climate for investment and trade and enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises.
