On 23-24 September 2020, the Department of Import and Export (DIMEX), Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), on behalf of the Trade Facilitation Secretariat Committee the NTMs-WG organized the 5th Non-Tariff Measures Working Group which fund by the Lao Competitiveness and Trade – LCT, at Thavisouk Hotel, Vangvieng District, Vientiane Province. Mr. Mouavisay Palee, Deputy Director General of DIMEX was the Chair and 40 participants of relevant departments such as the Department of Customs, the Department of Forestry and the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Investment Promotion.
The purpose of this working group is to review the progress of the implementation of Decision 002/NTFC, dated 02 July 2020 in order to improve and implement the Annex 1 of the PM's order in facilitating import-export, temporary import, transit, and transfer goods in Lao PDR. No 12/PM, dated 16 October 2019. The agreement has created 51 Measures which will amendment and improve related legislations to the issuance of licenses, certification of import-export and movement of goods, including 51 measures.
Overall, the progress in implementing Annex 1 of the PM’s Order No.12/PM has been amended by relevant sectors. Currently, 07 Measures are made, 10 Measures are going to make, 31 Measures are going to amendment and 3 Measures are pending. Furthermore, the relevant sectors reported their progress at the meeting such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has completed 4 Measures, 4 Measures are going to make and 2 Measures are pending; The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has completed 1 Measure, is going to make 2 Measures and has been amended to 7 Measures; The Ministry of Health is going to make 1 Measure, amended 4 Measures and pending 1 Measure; The Ministry of Science and Technology is amended 3 Measures; The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has completed 2 Measures and is amended 1 Measure; The Ministry of Public Works and Transport is going to make 2 Measures; The Ministry of Energy and Mines is amended 2 Measures; The Ministry of Finance is going to make 1 Measure and amended 1 Measure; The Ministry of Planning and Investment is amended 1 Measure; The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is amended 1 Measure; and The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism is amended 1 Measure.
At the end of the workshop, DIMEX summarised the result of relevant NTMs’ progress and recommended future plans and next step to all participants for their consideration and implementation. Therefore, they agreed to improve and amendment better regulations related to NTMs in their sectors, and cut off cost barriers and difficulties in order to facilitate trade, import, export and moving goods for local business and international regions.
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