Lao Business Forum presentation

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MEKONG PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT FACILITY
Lao Business Forum Public-Private Dialogue
Workshop Paris, 1-2 February 2006
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Overview Lao Business Forum (LBF)

• Established in March 2005
• Three-way partnership between Government of Lao
  PDR (CPI), IFC-MPDF, and Lao Business Community
• Draws on lessons from IFC-managed Vietnam
  Business Forum and Cambodia Private Sector Forum
• Formal Dialogue mechanism designed to

• Improve the business enabling environment by
  providing platform for effective dialogue
  between the business community and the Government
• Facilitate information-sharing with potential
  investors

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Objectives

• Facilitate dialogue between the goverment of Lao
  PDR and the private sector, which incudes the
  broadest private sector participation possible
• Promote consistent enforcement and
  non-discretionary interpretation of laws and
  regulations
• Remove the barriers that businesses face with
  regard to entry and exit
• Provide feedback on various Government policies
  affecting the private sector
• Provide feedback on draft Government laws and
  regulations that could affect the private sector
• Assist the Lao government in developing the
  private sector

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Structure
Donors
Government
LNCCI, BMOs, WGs
Lao Business Forum
Inter ministerial Committee
WG Representatives
Secretariat IFC MPDF
Service Trading WG
Tourism WG
Energy Mining WG
Manufacturing WG
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Process



PSWG Leaders develop issues, recommend
solutions, prepare position papers
Formal bi-annual Forum - Status updates on
priority issues by PS and Govt
Formal WG PS and IMT meet to discuss and work
on high priority issues
PSWG PS meets and identifies issues
Govt agencies decide on solutions
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Tools Issues Matrix

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Tools Research and Advocacy
Private Sector Position Papers

• Business Issues Bulletins

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Current Status

• Three of four Private Sector Working Groups
  established (Manufacturing, Service Trade,
  Tourism)
• Each PSWG has met 2-3 times to raise priority
  issues and develop Issues Matrix
• First round of formal WG meetings between PS and
  IMT completed in January 2006
• Issues Matrix being updated, position papers
  being prepared
• First Forum scheduled for late February 2006

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Contact Information

• Lao Businss Forum Secretariat
• Mekong Private Sector Development Facility (MPDF)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• P.O.Box 9690 Vientiane, Lao PDR
• Tel [phone] Fax [phone]
• Pascale Rouzies
• LBF Coordinator
• Email prouzies_at_ifc.org
• Viengsam Soinxay
• Program Assistant
• Emaill vsoinxay_at_ifc.org