On 10-11 September 2020 at Long Ngum View Resort, Tha Lat, Vientiane Province, the Department of Import and Export (DIMEX), Ministry of Industry and Commerce organized a meeting to review the 2020 study of licensing procedures and time-release (TRS) at checkpoints. Mr. Souliyon Philavong, Director General of DIMEX was the Chair with 40 representatives from the Lao Customs Department, Department of Agriculture, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Department of Food and Drug, Department of Standards and Measures, Department of Mining and Department of Transportation.

The representatives presented relevant regulations and explained licensing procedures for import, transit and export with some certain types of products that are necessary to monitor such as plants, plant products and controlled substances (animals, animal products, vehicles and vehicle parts, food and food products, medicine and pharmaceutical products, fuel and gas, various minerals.

Mr. Souliyon Philavong mention in the meeting that Lao PDR has an obligation to the ASEAN as well as the framework of the World Customs Organization (WCO). Therefore, this is a compulsory to have a time study of permission and release at checkpoints. As the Trade Facilitation Secretary, there are required to include relevant sectors into the study such as industry and commerce, agriculture and forestry, public works and transport, public health, science and technology, energy and mines. Thus, the study will be more conceded and concrete results in order to analyze and guideline the right procedures in reducing the time and cost of import and export of Lao PDR. Furthermore, the study can lead to measure the accurate ranking ease of doing business in Laos.

At the end of the meeting has an agreement to recognize the rules and procedures for the issuance of licenses, define the scope of study and formulate of each sector, Introduce potential products of Lao PDR into the 2020 Study and prepare for the implementing plan for the next phase.

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