On September 10, 2021, Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), the Secretariat of the Lao Business Forum, held a review meeting on the effectiveness of Lao Business Forum (LBF),under the chairmanship of Ms. Valy Wetsaphong, Vice President of the LNCCI, together with Mr. Phouvieng Phongsa, Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and opening remarks (via teleconferencing) by Mr. Oudet Suvannavong, President of the LNCCI. There were participants from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, led by Mr. Sengphanomchone Inthasane, Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, and from LNCCI, led by Mr. Vanthong Sitthikoun, Vice President of the LNCCI, with a total of 15 participants.

The purpose of the meeting was to review the strengths and weaknesses of the structure and the consultation process of the Lao Business Forum, and to brainstorm ideas on how to improve this mechanism, so as to increase its effectiveness.

Mr. Phouxay Thepphavong, Secretary General of LNCCI reported the current structure of the Lao Business Forum, which has been implemented since 2005. The goal of the LBF process is to facilitate dialogue between the government and the business sector, on solving the problems that hinders doing business in Lao

PDR, whether it is to comment on various legislation, to eliminate or reduce costs, as well as to create conditions and environment that are conducive to doing business within the country. In addition, he also reported on past performance appraisals, which address several challenges, such as the weaknesses of the business consultative body and the lack of government’s commitment to resolving issues, leaving many issues unresolved.

The meeting also discussed various topics for improvement of the structure and the consultation process, especially on the formalization of the forum structure, improvement of the reporting, the roles between secretariat and government focal points, and the sustainability of the overall Lao Business Forum mechanism in the future.

The results of this consultative meeting will be reported to the Board of Directors of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for consideration.