MEKONG PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT FACILITY Lao Business Forum

MEKONG PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT FACILITY Lao Business Forum Public-Private Dialogue Workshop Paris, 1 -2 February 2006

Overview – Lao Business Forum (LBF) • Established in March 2005 • Three-way partnership between Government of Lao PDR (CPI), IFC-MPDF, and Lao Business Community • Draws on lessons from IFC-managed Vietnam Business Forum and Cambodia Private Sector Forum • Formal Dialogue mechanism designed to • Improve the business enabling environment by providing platform for effective dialogue between the business community and the Government • Facilitate information-sharing with potential investors

Objectives • • Facilitate dialogue between the goverment of Lao PDR and the private sector, which incudes the broadest private sector participation possible Promote consistent enforcement and nondiscretionary interpretation of laws and regulations • Remove the barriers that businesses face with regard to entry and exit • Provide feedback on various Government policies affecting the private sector • Provide feedback on draft Government laws and regulations that could affect the private sector • Assist the Lao government in developing the private sector

Structure Donors Government LNCCI, BMOs, WGs Lao Business Forum Inter ministerial Committee WG Representatives Secretariat – IFC MPDF Manufacturing WG Service & Trading WG Tourism WG Energy & Mining WG

Process PSWG – PS meets and identifies issues PSWG – Leaders develop issues, recommend solutions, prepare position papers Formal WG – PS and IMT meet to discuss and work on high priority issues Govt agencies decide on solutions Formal bi-annual Forum Status updates on priority issues by PS and Govt

Tools – Issues Matrix

Tools – Research and Advocacy Private Sector Position Papers Business Issues Bulletins

Current Status • Three of four Private Sector Working Groups established (Manufacturing, Service & Trade, Tourism) • Each PSWG has met 2 -3 times to raise priority issues and develop Issues Matrix • First round of formal WG meetings between PS and IMT completed in January 2006 • Issues Matrix being updated, position papers being prepared • First Forum scheduled for late February 2006

Contact Information Lao Businss Forum Secretariat Mekong Private Sector Development Facility (MPDF) International Finance Corporation (IFC) P. O. Box 9690 Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856 21) 450 017 -9 Fax: (856 21) 450 020 Pascale Rouzies LBF Coordinator Email: prouzies@ifc. org Viengsam Soinxay Program Assistant Emaill: vsoinxay@ifc. org