On 3 – 4 September 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Vientiane Capital, the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with the Customs Department, Ministry of Finance, jointly organised a two-day training workshop on the Time Release Study (TRS) of the Lao PDR for 2026.

The workshop was chaired by Mrs. Kingsadone Phetdaoheuang, Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade and Officer-in-Charge of the Secretariat Office of the National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee, and co-chaired by Mr. Phoukhaokham Vannavongxay, Director General of the Customs Department, Ministry of Finance. The workshop brought together more than 40 participants, comprising Deputy Directors General, Directors and Deputy Directors of Divisions, Heads and Deputy Heads of Sections and technical officers representing relevant government agencies, together with officials stationed at the Friendship Bridge I International Checkpoint, the Thanaleng Dry-Port and the Wattay International Airport Checkpoint, as well as TRS experts.

                 

The training workshop was aimed at equipping the responsible task force, appointed under Agreement No. 008/NTTFC.S dated 4 August 2026, with in-depth and comprehensive knowledge and expertise on the principles, scope and methodology of the Time Release Study in accordance with the standards of the World Customs Organization (WCO), while ensuring the quality of the data to be analysed, so that the 2026 TRS can be conducted effectively.

 

Delivering the opening report, Mrs. Kingsadone Phetdaoheuang, Chairperson of the workshop, stated that the Trade and Transport Facilitation Action Plan 2025–2030 sets the target of reducing import and export time by at least 40–50%, and that the TRS constitutes a key measurement tool and indicator for assessing the implementation of this work.

On behalf of the co-chair, the Director General of the Customs Department underlined that, at a time when the Lao PDR is confronting economic and financial difficulties, expanding exports and attracting foreign investment require all relevant sectors to improve the procedures and mechanisms associated with the issuance of permits and the management of imports and exports at border checkpoints, so that they become convenient, expeditious and transparent, thereby building confidence among both domestic and foreign investors.

                    

The Secretariat Office of the National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee reported the results of the 2024 Time Release Study, which showed reductions compared with 2022, namely:

  • The average clearance time at checkpoints stood at 3 hours and 19 minutes, (a decrease of 32%); and
  • The average permit issuance time of line agencies stood at 20 hours and 32 minutes, (a decrease of 41%).

Viewed over the longer term, the average clearance time at border checkpoints has fallen from 17.8 hours in 2009 to 3.2 hours in 2024, a result of investment in the electronic customs declaration system, the application of risk management mechanisms and post-clearance audit.

                      

Over the two days, participants received presentations and engaged in discussions on a number of key topics, namely:

  1. The results of the 2024 TRS and progress in implementing the recommendations set out in that report;
  2. The tools and guidance of the World Customs Organization (WCO) on trade facilitation and the modernisation of the customs sector;
  3. The principles and methodology of the Time Release Study, based on the manual developed by the TRS experts;
  4. Practical exercises to refine process flowcharts and to develop actual questionnaires suited to the real operating conditions of line agencies and international checkpoints, which were completed successfully;
  5. Trials and hands-on practice in entering data obtained from the questionnaires, as well as data collection and data analysis;
  6. Open and frank discussions and the exchange of knowledge and experience between participants and experts, in order to build a correct and shared understanding of this TRS exercise.

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The workshop also featured breakout group discussions and hands-on practice, enabling participants to work directly on defining the scope of the study, developing process flowcharts of document flows for each agency and checkpoint, designing and testing questionnaires, determining sample sizes, and recording and analysing statistical data, as well as sharing the challenges and practical lessons learned from each checkpoint and each agency. The 2026 Time Release Study marks the eighth such study since 2009 and is expected to be completed in December 2026.

                    

                    

In closing, the Chairperson commended the successful outcome of the workshop and expressed confidence that, having completed the training together with practical exercises and the drawing of lessons learned, participants will roll out this work within their respective agencies and disseminate it to the relevant parties, thereby contributing high-quality data to the time-recording questionnaires and completing the work in line with the plan by the end of 2026. She further noted that participants may contact the experts and the responsible task force of the Department of Foreign Trade and the Customs Department should any questions arise during data collection or analysis, so as to ensure the highest possible accuracy of the data collected.

On this occasion, the Chairperson expressed her sincere appreciation to Mr. Somphasong Amphaipheng, Head of Customs at the Friendship Bridge I International Checkpoint, in his capacity as a TRS expert, for devoting his effort, expertise and valuable time to transferring knowledge to the participants. She also thanked all participants for dedicating their valuable time to attend the workshop from beginning to end, and commended the responsible teams of the Department of Foreign Trade and the Customs Department for sparing no effort in preparing the workshop, which achieved the objectives set.

 

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**Contact**

Trade Facilitation Division, Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Industry and Commerce

Tel: [+856-21 454224] / Email: [[email protected]]

 

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