MR. PHOUVIENG PHONGSA

NIU DIRECTOR

NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION UNITFTPD, MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE

LAO PDR

Trade Mainstreaming in Lao PDR

Overview

I. Historical context

II. Progress in mainstreaming to date

III. Future aims and plans

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I. Historical Context

Economic reform in Lao PDR – new economic mechanism

Accession to WTO – next working group Sept 2010

Deepening membership of ASEANOther bilateral agreementsGradual progression in mainstreaming

Link Trade Development Agenda to National Development Agenda (NSEDP)

Trade and Private Sector Development Sub-Group (part of Round Table process)

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II: Progress in mainstreaming to date

How we got to where we are: IF process to date DTIS & Action Matrix (2006) - consolidated

analysis of various sectors & demonstrated reach of trade in other line ministries and the private sector

IF Window II project (2007-2010) - established our National Integrated Governance Structure (NIFGS)

Trade Development Facility (TDF, 2008-2012) – Multi-Donor Trust Funds providing resources to implement Action Matrix activities through the NIFGS

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t

National IF Governance Structure

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National Committee for Economic IntegrationGOL National Policy Formulation

National Committee for Economic IntegrationGOL National Policy Formulation

Lao IF SecretariatGOL Supervision and Coordination

Lao IF SecretariatGOL Supervision and Coordination

Trade Facilitation Task Force

SPS Task Force Export Competitiveness and Bus. Environment Task Force

Trade Capacity Building Task Force

Trade Executive Committee Joint GOL and Donor Coordination and supervision

Trade Executive Committee Joint GOL and Donor Coordination and supervision

National Implementation Unit (ODA Division)Administration and Coordination

National Implementation Unit (ODA Division)Administration and Coordination

Trade Facilitation GSEU - DIMEX

SPS GSEU - MAF Export Competitiveness GSEU – DPCD (DPTP)

Trade Capacity Building GSEU – ERIT & WTO

Implementing Agencies GSEUsImplementing Agencies GSEUs

SECO – UN Trade Cluster

Trade Development Facility

USAID BTA/WTO

EIF Tier 1

Task Force example: Trade Facilitation

Trade FacilitationLead Agency: Import Export Department, MOIC ‐Members: − Customs Department, MOF − Foreign Trade

Policy Department, MOIC − Department of Intellectual, Standard and Methodology, National Authority of Science − Consul Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs − Economics Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs − Planning Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry − Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security − Transport Department, Ministry of Public Work and Transport − Industry Department, MOIC

Example GSEU: DPCP8

IF Task ForceMr. Phengsanguan

ChoultamanyDG of DPCD

IF Task ForceMr. Phengsanguan

ChoultamanyDG of DPCD

GSEU Focal PointMr. Khampanh

SengthongkhamDDG of DPCD

GSEU Focal PointMr. Khampanh

SengthongkhamDDG of DPCD

Team LeaderMr. Sisangkhome

KhotyothaDirector

Team LeaderMr. Sisangkhome

KhotyothaDirector

AssistantMr. Kikeo Volavong

Officer

AssistantMr. Kikeo Volavong

Officer

AssistantMr. Somvixay Vongthilath

Officer

AssistantMr. Somvixay Vongthilath

Officer

CoordinatorMs. Pinphakone

XayavongProject Coordinator

CoordinatorMs. Pinphakone

XayavongProject Coordinator

The NIU

Part of the newly formed ODA Division in the Foreign Trade Policy Department

Led by Director level, reporting to the DG and Vice-Minister (IF FP)

Growth in team over the last two yearsComprised of a mix of Government officers /

officials and contracted Lao staffRoles: Primarily planning, coordination, finance

and procurementDecentralisation to line ministries / departments

is key for project implementation

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The NIU10

III: Future Aims and Plans

EIF Tier 1 – further strengthening of NIU, update of DTIS

Leveraging additional funds Japanese finance to scale up an existing project German co-funding

SECO UN Cluster programmeNew way of working with UN Agencies

DTIS Laos Trade Integration Strategy

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Key elements of the DTIS update

Move from study to strategy. Key in implementing the National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP 7, 2011-1015)

Nationally owned, led and independently financed (EIF)

High level of coordination with key Agencies & stakeholders

Integration of Trade and Private Sector issues

Towards a Trade SWAp

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Some Challenges

We are still learningConstraints in terms of number of senior

government officials available to monitor extra staff & projects

Inter-Ministerial coordination is never going to be easy

Aligning with DP programming objectives, reporting and implementation requirements.

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Key Success Factors

Political will and driveDriven by National Planning DocumentsFormal structures established to enable cross

departmental and inter-ministerial coordination to take place

Finance and activities within control of the Government which increases ownership and cooperation

Increased alignment of DP activities (esp. EIF, TDF, Multi-Donor Trust Fund & Trade Executive Committee.

Able to learn from the progress of others

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Thank you

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