Title: Lao Business Forum presentation
1MEKONG PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT FACILITY
Lao Business Forum Public-Private Dialogue
Workshop Paris, 1-2 February 2006
2Overview 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
3Objectives
- 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
4Structure
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
5Process
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
6Tools Issues Matrix
7Tools Research and Advocacy
Private Sector Position Papers
- Business Issues Bulletins
8Current 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
9Contact Information
- Lao Businss Forum Secretariat
- Mekong Private Sector Development Facility (MPDF)
- International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- P.O.Box 9690 Vientiane, Lao PDR
- Tel (856 21) 450 017-9 Fax (856 21) 450 020
- Pascale Rouzies
- LBF Coordinator
- Email prouzies_at_ifc.org
- Viengsam Soinxay
- Program Assistant
- Emaill vsoinxay_at_ifc.org