Pakse, March 15, 2022. The Champasak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), in partnership with the Department of Industry and Commerce of Champasak (DICC) and the Provincial Trade Facilitation Committee, organized the first-ever Champasak Annual Business Forum (CABF).

The forum was chaired by the Champasak Vice Governor, Mr. Somboun Hueangvongsa. The event was supported by the US Agency for International Development through its Laos Business Environment Project. The principal objective of the CABF is to report the current achievements and progress of the local public-private dialogue mechanism, as well as unresolved issues, to high-ranking government officials at the provincial level. The main goal of the CABF is to support local private sector advocacy in order to improve the business environment for provincial SMEs.

Forum participants included 60 representatives from Champasak provincial government departments; chambers of commerce and industry from four southern provinces; individual businesses; foreign investors based in Champasak; and international organizations.

During his opening remarks, the Champasak Vice Governor, Mr. Somboun Hueangvongsa, said that “the CABF serves as a significant platform in strengthening the collaboration and dialogue between the public and private sector with a view to addressing the challenges faced by our local business sector. Most importantly, it is of significance to ensure that the CABF continues to be the important mechanism in supporting and creating the enabling environment for the private sector in Champasak in the conduct of their business. This could be done through, among others, enhanced coordination among all relevant provincial sectors including the DICC and CCCI.”

The CABF covered several important topics including: 1) the local business perspective on doing business in Champasak province; 2) the foreign investor perspective on the challenges and opportunities in doing business in Champasak province; 3) progress and achievements under the local public-private dialogue (LPPD) mechanism in the tourism and agriculture sectors; and 4) progress of trade facilitation activities.

During her report by the CCCI President, Ms. Bounhueng Calor Litdung, she stated that “the CABF will significantly contribute to the effort of improving the capacity of the private sector in their business operation under “new normal” era. She also expressed appreciations to the USAID-Laos Business Environment for the support in the establishment of the CABF and the LPPD mechanism in Champasak province”.

The Director General of the Department of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Bounyadeth Thongsavanh, reported that “through a number of technical meetings under the LPPD mechanism, the issues faced by the private sector have been reported and consolidated. In this regard, it is a great pleasure for the DICC to contribute to this effort through close collaboration with relevant government in Champasak province in order to ensure the realization of the convening of the CABF”.

The USAID Country Representative to Laos, Mr. Cullen Hughes, noted that “the Champasak Business Forum will play a significant role in improving the ease of doing business in Champasak province and creating a more enabling environment for local SMEs by addressing the private sector’s priority issues; monitoring the implementation of key laws and regulations; and facilitating regular dialogue between the public and private sectors.”

At the end of the forum, the Champasak Governor discussed the way forward and the additional steps needed to ensure a sustained focus on resolving the main business issues facing provincial SMEs.

USAID supports the first Champasak Annual Business Forum