Thailand
Laos: Govt orders action to improve investment climate
The government has told ministries to speed up improvements to the investment climate and remove barriers to goods transport, the government spokesman said yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr Chaleun Yiapaoher said that the cabinet, in its monthly meeting for October, entrusted the Ministry of Planning and Investment to work with the relevant ministries to improve the ease-of-doing business climate.
Chaired by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, the two-day meeting which ended on Wednesday told ministries to accelerate the drawing up of measures to streamline and accelerate bureaucratic procedures and cut unnecessary expenditure.
This would “centralise business operation services via the one-stop service system in order to provide quick and effective services,” Dr Chaleun said.
The relevant ministries were required to finish their work and submit the defined measures to a meeting between the Prime Minister and his deputies scheduled to take place early next month. This would seek approval for promulgation of the measures to take effect, the spokesman said. Dr Chaleun said the cabinet told the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to work with relevant ministries and provinces to define the standards employed at international, traditional and local border crossings. This would help to remove some of the barriers to goods transport.
The relevant sectors were also told to continue amending a draft Prime Ministerial Decree on the organisation and mandates of international checkpoints as well as amending a Prime Ministerial Decree on the National Committee in Charge of Road Transport.
The move by the cabinet came just days after Mr Thongloun told the National Assembly (NA) that his government would take serious action to improve the investment and business operation climate as well as facilitate goods transport.
Addressing the ongoing 4th ordinary session of the NA’s 8th Legislature, the premier said his administration had been aware of the barriers hindering investment promotion and business operation. The cabinet meeting also endorsed the government assuming debt amounting to 3,250 billion kip, which private companies owed to banks after taking out loans so they could carry out state investment projects.
Under this initiative, also known as three-angle-diversion debt disbursement, the approved 3,250 billion kip will be paid only to approved projects that have been fully completed. In this regard, 300 billion kip of the debt will be paid off each year starting in 2018, the spokesman said.
The cabinet agreed to work towards developing the town of Luang Prabang into a city in line with a request by the provincial governor and provincial People’s Council.
In addition, the cabinet agreed in principle to develop Pakxe – the capital of Champassak province – and Kaysone Phomvihane – the capital of Savannakhet province – into cities.
The cabinet endorsed a plan to formulate and amend 26 laws in 2018, comprising 13 newly-drafted laws with another 13 existing laws to be amended.
Also endorsed at the meeting was a draft National Plan on Land Allocation, draft Prime Ministerial Decree on Commercial Tree Plantation Promotion, and a draft Prime Ministerial Decree on Legal Assistance.
Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Govt_251.html