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State, private sectors urged to boost cooperation
The links between the public and private sectors must be strengthened to successfully promote trade in the highly competitive era of globalisation and ensure that both sectors are able to address the issue effectively.
“The strengthening of the relationship among government organisations is essential,” said JICA Laos Office Chief Representative Mr Masato Togawa, speaking at the 2nd Joint Coordination Committee meeting for the Project in Support of Trade Promotion, held in Vientiane yesterday.
The Lao government aims to be removed from the UN's list of Least Development Countries by 2020, and is working hard to eliminate poverty and to improve the nation's socio-economic situation.
However, there are a number of urgent and challenging issues that need to be addressed.
“Trade promotion is one of them and is critical,” Mr Togawa said.
Trade volume has been increasing year after year and maintaining high economic growth is essential for the development of the country.
Because trade is linked to national finance, it has a direct effect on Laos' socio-economic status. This is especially true at a time when the country is addressing ASEAN integration and the WTO accession process, he said.
Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Ms Khemmani Pholsena said Laos is making progress on building the necessary structures for WTO membership and trade within the ASEAN community.
“Becoming a member of the Asean Trade Promotion Forum this year is under consideration,” she said.
“There are requirements in terms of capacity building for government agencies and the private sector to meet the levels that developed countries have attained and which societies demand,” she added.
Increasing staff capacity in ministries and the private sector is a goal of government policies to promote trade and export.
JICA will assist the project that supports the Trade Promotion and Product Development Department for the period 2009-2012.
Project Director Mr Phengsanguane Chounlamany, who is also the department's Director General, said the project aims to increase the skills of officials working with the department, to disseminate knowledge, and improve people's ability to implement government policies that promote trade.
The capacity of department staff has been developed, information gathering and dissemination systems have been improved, and business matching services have become more effective.
In addition to the assistance pro vided through JICA, the Project in Support of Trade Promotion emphasises the development of the private sector-based support network because of the importance of the project to the integration of Laos in the global economy.
The meeting was held to review the project's performance over the past year and to discuss ways to increase the effectiveness of implementation in the future.
vientiane times
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