Govt vows action to improve business environment, address economic hardships

The government cabinet has pledged to intensify efforts to fulfil the two national agendas on addressing economic and financial difficulties and curbing the drug trade.
Cabinet members unanimously agreed on stronger action at their monthly meeting in November, while also reviewing the progress made in fulfilling the agendas in 2022 and outlining the workplan for next year.
Ending on Tuesday, the meeting, led by Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh, instructed the relevant bodies to expedite improvement of the business environment to better facilitate business operations.

Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh addresses the government meeting. --Photo Prime Minister’s Office

The two-day meeting approved in principle draft amendments to the decree on the Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Fund. The amendments redefined the scope of micro, small and medium-sized businesses.
Authorities in charge were told to take action to plug loopholes to prevent revenue leaks and do more to fulfil the government’s national austerity policy in accordance with the relevant decrees.
The cabinet also resolved to escalate efforts to reform state enterprises in accordance with the plan.
Participants agreed on the need to address unemployment and to improve the skills of the Lao workforce in order to meet the demand for goods, both in-country and for export.
The cabinet told authorities in charge to make comprehensive preparations for the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Laos.
During the visit, the Vietnamese premier and Lao government officials will attend a ceremony to conclude Laos-Vietnam Friendship Year 2022. The two sides will also hold the 45th meeting of the Laos-Vietnam Inter-Governmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation.
The relevant sectors were told to prepare for the upcoming countrywide planning and finance meeting.
In addition, the relevant ministries were asked to fully prepare reports and draft laws to be presented and debated at the upcoming 4th ordinary session of the National Assembly.  
The cabinet also discussed a draft decree on dress codes and instructed the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to revise the draft in line with recommendations made by cabinet members.
The meeting approved in principle a draft strategy on civil servant management to 2030.
The 10th periodic national report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), of which Laos is a member party, was also approved in principle.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update November 23, 2022)