Note on Trade and Investment Policy Coordination in Lao PDR Prepared by Sirisamphanh Vorachith, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR ARTNeT Consultative Meeting on Trade and Investment Policy Coordination, 16-17 July 2007, Bangkok
1. International Trade in Lao People s s Democratic Republic 1.1 Evolution of import/export flows over the past 10 years; Million $ 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1988 1990 1995 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 years Exports,fob Imports,cif
1.2 Five major products traded; Copper, garment, electricity, wood products, coffee. 1.3 Share of total trade in relation to GDP; 60 50 40 percent 30 20 10 0 1988 1990 1995 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 years percent of total trade in GDP
1.4 General General international trade policy direction, including key measures/initiatives/reforms undertaken to liberalize and facilitate trade. Export-led Growth, trade and investment promotion and facilitation, trade liberalization and Regional Integration. Making trade easier: Negotiating Market Access Reducing and Rationalizing trade regulations Streamlining customs Improving trade logistics Leveraging WTO accession
2. Foreign Direct Investment in the Lao People s s Democratic Republic, 1996-2004 2.1 Evolution of FDI flows over the past 10 years; Foreign direct investment in 2001-2005 13% 29% 15% 20% 23% Thailand Viet Nam France Australia China
2. Foreign Direct Investment in the Lao People s s Democratic Republic, 1996-2004 (Con t) 2.2 Five major sectors Foreign direct investment (cumulative total) in 2001-2005 7% 6% 3% 3% 18% 63% Hydropower Mining Trading Agriculture Handicraft Industry Hotel & Restaurants
2. Foreign Direct Investment in the Lao People s s Democratic Republic, 1996-2004 (Con t) 2.3 Importance of FDI in relation to GDP Foreign direct investment in 2001-2005 25 20 pececnt 15 10 5 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 /e 2006 /e 2007 /p 2008 /p 2009 /p 2010 /p years
2. Foreign Direct Investment in the Lao People s s Democratic Republic, 1996-2004 (Con t) 2.4 An overview of Investment Policy Measures/initiatives/reforms undertaken to liberalize and facilitate investment. Single Stop Service Making it easier for business start-up Private sector development Decentralization Investment facilitation and promotion.
2. Foreign Direct Investment in the Lao People s s Democratic Republic, 1996-2004 (Con t) 2.4 An overview of Investment Policy Measures/initiatives/reforms undertaken to liberalize and facilitate investment. Single Stop Service Making it easier for business start-up Private sector development Decentralization Investment facilitation and promotion.
3. Trade and Investment Policy Coordination - National level Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers / Cabinet Monthly Meeting Committee for Planning and Investment (CPI) Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) Lao Business Forum The Department for Promotion and Management of Domestic and Foreign Investment (DDFI) Development Office SMEs Promotion and Economic Research Institute for Trade Department of Import and Export Departments of Planning and Cooperation of provinces, municipalities as secretariats of provincial CIC Department of Industry Department of Production and Trade Promotion Permanent Secretary Office of MOIC Department of Domestic Trade Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business groups and Associations
4. Trade and Investment Policy Coordination Bilateral, Regional and Multilateral Bilateral Regional Multilateral 5. Conclusion Enterprise Law Trade Facilitation Trade Promotion Trade Policy