The public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been successfully implemented worldwide, and the Government of Lao PDR has been promoting efficient PPPs to address challenges related to development and operation of public infrastructure and provision of public services with the private sector’s fund. Moreover, new technologies and high expertise, in line with the National Socio-Economic Development Goals and the National Green Growth Strategy have been acquired as an additional benefit of this initiative.

After the endorsement of the Decree on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in 2020, the Government has been actively developing necessary legal frameworks and tools to effectively regulate PPPs which are currently growing in number. As such, the Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA) organized a two-day training on PPP Model Contract between 22 to 23 September 2022 in Vientiane Capital.

The training addressed 55 government officials (10 female) from different line ministries. In the training, participants learned about the key principles in drafting a comprehensive PPP contract that addresses conditions, risk allocation, Feasibility Study, Environmental Impact Assessment, and other crucial provisions based on international good practices.

In the training, Ms. Thavichanh Thiengthepvongsa, Deputy Director General of Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) highlighted that “Along with developing good policies to promote and manage PPP efficiently and effectively, it is important to strengthen technical capacity of government officials in developing and negotiating efficient and comprehensive contracts that determine the standards, conditions, investment form and other provisions throughout the project cycle to ensure quality of investment. ”

Mr. Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov, Team Leader, Natural Resources, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, UNDP Lao PDR stressed that “During the time of economic challenges around the world, promoting investment through public-private partnerships becomes even more important  to support economic recovery. In addition, green and quality investments will also help the country to achieve targets under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as 9^th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP).”

Since 2018, the Investment Promotion Department and the Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA) has been developing tools and capacity to enhance quality investment promotion and management in Laos. Besides developing the PPP Model Contract, the project has supported the development of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the Guideline on Solicited Proposals and Financing Model for PPPs. The project is funded by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Government of Austria, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and the European Union.

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Investment Promotion Department (One Stop Service)
Tel: +856 21 217012 Fax: +856 21 215491
Email: ipd-mpilaos@investlaos.gov.la
Poverty Environment Actions for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA)

Chindaphone Saignaleuth, Project Coordinator

Email: chindaphone_s@hotmail.com