Trade Facilitation of Lao PDR has been initially implemented by Trade Facilitation Secretariat that located in Department of Import and Export, Ministry of Industry and Commerce in accordance with Trade Facilitation Roadmap for 2011-2015. It has members from line departments. Trade facilitation of Lao PDR is financed by Trade Development Facility Project or TDF 2.

Following the meeting on November 29th, 2017, It was agreed at the meeting to create a mechanism in implementing Trade Facilitation Roadmap for 2017-2022 by establishing implementation units at relevant central sectors and focal points at level sectors to assure a successful implementation of the roadmap. The meeting also reported its achievements, difficulties, and lessons learnt from the previous implementation of Trade Facilitation Roadmap for 2011-2015, and introduce Trade Facilitation Roadmap for 2017-2022 as well as the feasibility and importance to create focal points for a harmonized implementation of Trade Facilitation Roadmap form central to local level.

Mr. Souliyon Philavong, Director General of Department of Import and Export, Deputy Head of Trade Facilitation Secretariat on behalf of the chairman said."As part of regional and international economic integration, Government of Lao PDR has prioritized Trade Facilitation as a factor to attract both domestic and foreign investment." He also added that "The objective and goal of the roadmap aims at improving for a more concise and prompt procedure of public service to reduce 50% of the time and at least 30% of the import and export cost or similar level compared to our neighbors”.

To achieve above objectives and goals, the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Roadmap of Lao PDR for 2017-2022 all emphasize on two key tasks such as: the development of a coordination mechanism amongst relevant sectors and the establishment of a solid and harmonized coordination mechanism contributing to a prompt Trade Facilitation related problems solving between central and local sectors. In addition, the implementation of measures, cooperation between countries and international integration shall be taken into account as they will improve Lao PDR cross-border trade indicators ranked by The World Bank to two digit numbers.

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