The ERIA Capacity Building seminar "Utilizing Efficient Infrastructure Development Framework" was organized by Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and the co-organized by Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), Lao PDR. This Seminar also supported by Bangkok Research Center, JETRO Bangkok, Thailand on July 1, 2013 in Vientiane, Lao PDR

It was officially opened by H.E. Khmmani Pholsena, Vice Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR and Mr. Satoshi Kuwahara, Special Senior Advisor, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia. The key speakers were Mr. Daniel J. Graham, Director, NSW (New South Wales) Treasury, Australia, Dr. Fauziah Zen, Researcher, ERIA, Indonesia, Prof. Michael Regan, Profesor of Infrastructure, Institute of Sustainable Development and Architecture, Bond University, Australia, Dr. Saykham Voladeth, National Economic Research Institute (NERI), Lao PDR, Mr. Eleazar E. Ricote, Director IV, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Mr. Oliver Tan, Megawide Corporation, Philippines.

The main objectives of this seminar was aiming at achieving to disseminate the lessons on the PPP assessment study, provide examples from best practices in Australia, as a leading country in PPP experience and implementation, sharing basic ideas on the PPP scheme, to show its effectiveness to the key players in Lao PDR for her future infrastructure development and to present recommendations for reform, facilitate exchange of views among stakeholders in the country (contractors, government, financiers, academia) as well as with international experts from both public and private sector on the necessary steps towards implementing the PPP model, and encourage stakeholders in Lao PDR to take further steps to increase private sector participation in infrastructure development as well as to prepare for adoption of PPP policy through strong cooperation between public and private sector.

Mr. Daniel J. Graham shared the concept of PPP and Australia's experience on PPP framework and the necessity of having PPP in place as well as the PPP institutional and legal framework.

Dr. Fauziah Zen, Researcher, ERIA, Indonesia, explained the ASEAN countries' different stages of infrastructure policy, financing method, and financial capacity and introduced lessons from other countries.

Prof. Michael E. Regan made some important suggestion for Lao PDR on developing the PPP framework, for instance, to establish good foundations and adopt a staged approach to introduction of PPP policy (3 or 5 years) and to build on the BOT experience within government.

Dr. Saykham Voladeth, informed that PPP in Lao PDR is not new, but unsystematic. There is no specific PPP law; however, there are some elements of PPP in many laws such as Enterprise Law, Investment Law, Public Investment Law, Regulation on Bidding, Anti-corruption law, Decree on Completion, etc.

Co-organiser

Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), Lao PDR

Supported by

Bangkok Research Center (BRC), JETRO Bangkok, Thailand

Press Release - Lao PDR Increases Interests in Efficient Infrastructure Development Framework