State, private sectors advised to join forces to tackle economic challenges

State entities and government officials have been told to change their mindset and move away from the current perception of their role as being controllers and managers and to view themselves as service providers.
As a part of this process, they should regard the private sector as partners in helping Laos to address the challenges it currently faces.
The public and private sectors cannot act independently, Government spokesperson and Deputy Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mrs Thipphakone Chanthavongsa, told a press conference on Friday shortly after the close of an open government meeting.

The two-day meeting held on December 23-24 was chaired by Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and attended by Cabinet members, the Mayor of Vientiane, provincial governors, and representatives of state agencies.
Mrs Thipphakone said state bodies need to acknowledge the role played by the private sector, which is an important stakeholder in the government’s agenda to drive economic growth and tackle the fundamental issues facing Laos.
A change of mindset with regard to the private sector, along with the structural reform of state bodies, is essential in delivering an effective response to the growing demand for better service delivery to Lao citizens and businesses, she said.
Government officials were urged to be more responsible and engaged in this process, and to take more responsibility for the faster delivery of public services.
 During the meeting, the government heard reports concerning the progress made in implementing the two national agendas to address economic and financial difficulties and drug trafficking.
The relevant sectors were asked to introduce clearer measures towards great accomplishments in these areas in the near future, by bolstering productivity and creating new sources of income for the benefit of Laos.
Cabinet members, provincial governors and representatives of various state agencies were instructed to modernise revenue collection systems while also plugging financial leaks.         
As a part of this, the government recognises the need to resolve issues around unlawful vehicles, encourage the use of electric vehicles, and derive more income from mining and management of currency exchange rates.
The relevant sectors were instructed to reverse the trend of the large-scale import of goods and encourage the purchase of locally-made products, as a means to strengthen the economy.
Mrs Thipphakone said officials should also consider the ways in which Laos can capitalise on the potential and benefits offered by the Laos-China railway and expressway.
The government will reopen Laos to the nationals of 17 countries starting on January 1 in a bid to revitalise the tourism and service sectors, which have been hit hard by the Covid pandemic.

By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update December 27, 2021)