Laos: SME development plan promoted in Khammuan

KHAMMUAN,Laos (Vientiane Times/ANN) - SMEs in Khammuan will receive more promotion after delegates from the public and private sectors shared their experiences and ideas last week at an SME Development Plan 2016-2020 workshop held in the province.

The key objectives of the SME Development Plan are to improve the enabling environment for small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance their competitiveness and sustainable growth and enable their integration into the region (especially the Asean Economic Community) and international markets which will contribute to national socio-economic development.

The workshop was chaired by Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ms Khammani Pholsena, and attended by departments, Chambers of Commerce and industry and business associations from the capital and the provinces of Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Xaysomboun, Khammuan and Savannakhet, as well as relevant ministries and the Bank of the Lao PDR.

Participants heard about priority policies for SMEs targeting productivity, technology and innovation, access to finance, to business development services, enhancement of market access and expansion, strengthening of entrepreneurial development, creating a favourable environment for businesses, and policies on customs and taxation.

During the workshop, key components of the SME Law from 2011 and the SME Development Plan for 2016-2020 were presented and explained by Deputy Director Generals of the Department of SME Promotion (DOSMEP), Mr Sa Siriphong and Mr Bountheung Doungsavanh.

Delegates appreciated that selected sector-specific aspects of the SME Development Plan were further elaborated by representatives of the Department of Finance of Khammuan province, Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Bank of the Lao PDR.

Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Daovone Phachanthavong, shared the private sector perspective with participants, highlighting the recently established SME Service Centre, operated by LNCCI and DOSMEP, which will play a key role in turning projects and activities of the SME Development Plan into action.

Currently, steps are underway to establish pilot SME Service Centres in selected provinces, such as Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champassak.

Borikhamxay province Department of Industry and Commerce gave a presentation on how the national SME Development Plan had already been translated into a provincial SME Development Action Plan.

Workshop chairperson Ms Khemmani Pholsena encouraged delegates from different provinces to share their open perspectives and to take action to turn the SME Development Plan 2016-2020 into reality.

Ms Khemmani said provincial level measures should be prioritised according to local contexts and in line with budgets, with relevant departments developing an annual SME Development Action Plan for effective implementation.

Representatives from the departments of Industry and Commerce of Vientiane, as well as from Xaysomboun, Khammuan and Savannakhet provinces, stressed the need to translate the national plan into provincial plans to enhance the competitiveness and sustainable development of local SMEs.

Source(s)

  • Vientiane Times

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