The mission was led by Dr. Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director of the ES, Mrs. Hang Tran, Senior Coordinator at the ES. During the mission the EIF Secretariat had productive meetings with key program partners in the country, including meeting with H.E Dr. Manothong Vongsay, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, H.E Ms. Ina MARCIULIONYTE, Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union to Lao PDR as EIF Donor Facilitator, meeting with the Secretary General of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), the Ock Pop Tok – Textile social enterprise in Luang Prabang, the National Implementation Unit under the Department of Planning and Cooperation of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and other stakeholders.

During the Courtesy Meeting with the Deputy Minister of MOIC, H.E Dr. Manothong Vongsay expressed his warm welcome to the delegations and thank EIF for their support to Trade and Private Sector Development in Laos, he also emphasized that Laos and MOIC highly value EIF’s contributions to the development policies and strategies and development to the overall trade capacity in Laos. H.E also expressed the special thanks for support to the Project on Promotion of Export Competitiveness and Sustainability Support to Public-Private Dialogue in Northern Lao PDR (ECL) and the support for the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study Update 2022 (DTISU 2022).

Going forward, H.E Deputy Minister also requested EIF to consider supporting Laos in three priority areas, including further strengthen of trade and investment regulatory environment, including reducing trade costs, establishing supportive business environment; improve competitiveness of key non-resource sectors, including agribusiness, light manufacturing, and the tourism; and enhance overall competitiveness of SMEs in Lao PDR.

During the mission, a workshop on Key Results from DTIS Update 2022 (DTISU 2022) and EIF Program Implementation in Laos was organized to discuss the country’s priorities in trade and private sector development as well as lessons learned from implementing the EIF program over the past few years.

The Enhanced Integrated Framework (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.

The post Enhanced Integrated Framework Monitoring Mission for EIF Projects in Lao PDR first appeared on Trade for Development - T4D.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Sengphanomchone Inthasane, Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, with more than 70 participants from the project implementation stakeholders and the activity’s partners, including representatives from three provincial Departments of Industry and Commerce, National and provincial Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the lead firm- OCK POP TOK the weaving craft center.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Sengphanomchone Inthasane reiterated that the overview of the Project on Promotion of Export Competitiveness and Sustainability Support to Public-Private Dialogue in Northern Lao PDR or ECL in brief, and the objective of ECL project which aims at promoting export of potential agricultural products in three northern provinces namely: rice in Luangnumtha, wheat in Oudomxay and tea in Phongsaly and some handicraft production in rural districts of those provinces.

Mr. Chair also added that since the project started its implementation in February 2019, and numbers of challenges faced during the pandemic of COVID-19, which delayed some key project activities implementation and led to project extension twice in 2021 with no cost added; and the second one in 2022 in order to expand the project closure to September 2023 with a small amount of funds added to the project, aiming to extend its impact to a broader beneficiary. As ECL project has now been arriving at the completion, recently, the Validation Workshop was also organized to review the outcomes of the project’s final assessment and provide input for validation.

From the impact assessment validation workshop, the ECL Project Completion Meeting is therefore organized to summarize key results, lesson learnt from project implementation and ways forward for the sustainability after project closure. In this meeting the Deputy Director of National Implementation Unit (NIU) under the Department of Planning and Cooperation of MOIC presented the overall achievements as the project coordinating body and the representatives from each provincial Departments Industry and Commerce also highlighted the key results of each product promotion and export.

The meeting also discussed how the project has been facilitating the public-private dialogue through collaboration with relevant agencies to enhance the capability of rice production and improve governing policies.

The provincial CCIs 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. As representatives of the private sector, the provincial CCIs are 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 after project closure.

In the closing remark, the chair expressed his sincere thanks to the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)- the donors to this project and 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 shared notable achievements of this small project that generated extreme impact for the public sector and the poor in far-reaching areas. Thanks to the hard work and commitment of provincial agencies and NIU, the project earned the earmark as a pro-poor effort from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to the three northern provinces.

The 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.

The post ECL Project Completion Meeting first appeared on Trade for Development - T4D.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Khamphet Vongdala, Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, with 35 participants in total from relevant stakeholders and the activity’s partners, namely: representatives from three provincial Departments of Industry and Commerce and Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LNCCI, and the lead firm- OCK POP TOK the weaving craft center.

In his remarks, Dr. Khamphet Vongdala, Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, reiterated that the project has been extended twice: once in 2021 with no cost added to the project; the purpose was to mitigate risks that caused the delay in delivering the project’s activities during the persistent COVID-19 pandemic in2020–2021, and another one in 2022 with a small amount of funds added to the project, aiming to extend its impact to a broader beneficiary. The purpose of the workshop is to review the outcomes of the project’s final assessment and provide input for validation. The chair encourages stakeholders to carefully consider the assessment results for each criteria. The inputs provided will be reflected in the FER and submitted to the donor for final approval.

The workshop began with the introduction of key points discovered from assessment under standard criteria required from the donor, followed by the main achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations from the evaluator. The relevant stakeholders and the activity’s partners have provided their views on the draft report, in particular on its impact and sustainability.

The provincial DoICs initially 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 CCIs 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. As representatives of the private sector, the provincial CCIs are 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 shared notable achievements of this small project that generated extreme impact for the public sector and the poor in far-reaching areas. Thanks to the hard work and commitment of provincial agencies and NIU under the Department of Planning and Cooperation, the project earned the earmark as a pro-poor effort from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to the three northern provinces.

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.

The post Validation Workshop for the Draft Final Evaluation Report first appeared on Trade for Development - T4D.

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.

The post Project Assessment and Closure first appeared on Trade for Development - T4D.

On behalf of NIU/DPC, Mr. Sengphanomchone Inthasane, Deputy Director General of Department of Planning and Cooperation, assigned by H.E. Dr. Manothong Vongsay, Deputy Minister, EIF focal point, signed the MOU with Mrs. Veomanee Douangdala, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Ock Pop Tok. Representatives from 03 provincial DoICs who are implementing agencies station on the ground witness the understanding to implement the endorsed workplan to six target villages.

During the 32 months of collaboration the two parties have supported more than 120 households – textile producer in 06 target villages. The 80% women led villagers actively participated in number of technical trainings and trade fairs which led to increasing in income by 19% as of June 2022.
With satisfied outcomes and potentials remain to widen the impact, the project was considered to support in textile sector as one of its priorities during 09 months extension period to September 2023, with expected increase in target villagers by 20% and at least 15 producers participating in trade fair. To achieve these targets, coordination and support from provincial DoIC will be main contribution factor.

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.

The post MOU signing ceremony to implement project support on textile works in northern Laos first appeared on Trade for Development - T4D.

The virtual launch was organized and chaired by Dr. Khamphet Vongdala, Director General of Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, with total participants of 44 representatives (Female 12) from all departments under MoIC, provincial DoIC and Provincial CCI.

In the remarks, Dr. Khamphet Vongdala, Director General of Department of Planning and Cooperation, emphasized the importance of communication that drawn attention from trade development donors and development partners where achievement of the contribution can be shown in tangible way. The website could be one stage of dissemination outcome of the technical assistance in parallel with creating press release, brochures, video, etc. platform for exchange of information and trade data center.

The meeting deepened on how the website was created and discussed the shortcoming that still need to be improved in the future. The Provincial DoIC foresee the need of build capacity a persons to take specific responsibility and planning to ensure the sustainability after project ends, however, there are some technical issues on the structure of the website itself and producing handbook could be a solution for the new kids in the block.
Through the active exchange of experiences of participants, recommendations, lesson learnt and priorities have been raised for consultation as inputs for further support.

In the closing remark, the chair expressed his great gratitude to all representatives and request for further support from the project and cooperation from the provinces together improve their website to be best practice to other provinces in the country. The chairs also thank for 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.

The post Provincial DoIC-Website launching first appeared on Trade for Development - T4D.