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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
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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 non-discretionary 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 WG Representatives Inter ministerial Committee Secretariat – IFC MPDF Service & Trading WG Tourism WG Energy & Mining WG Manufacturing WG
Process PSWG – Leaders develop issues, recommend solutions, prepare position papers Formal WG – PS and IMT meet to discuss and work on high priority issues Formal bi-annual Forum - Status updates on priority issues by PS and Govt PSWG –PS meets and identifies issues Govt agencies decide on solutions
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