Vientiane, 19-20 March 2024: ERIA and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) conducted a Validation Workshop on Regulatory Impact Statement: Electric Vehicles and Batteries Industry, as a continuation of Piloting of Good Regulatory Practice in Selected Strategic Sectors in ASEAN: Electric Vehicles and Batteries Industry.

The workshop aimed to: introduce and create awareness for ASEAN Member States (AMS) on good regulatory practices (GRP), as well as the initiatives under ASEAN for the promotion and implementation of GRP, including the ASEAN Good Regulatory Practice Core Principles and the ASEAN Handbook on Good Regulatory Practice; socialise and develop buy-in on the pilot project to regulators in the AMS; and develop the preliminary framework for the EV and Batteries Regulatory Impact Statement.

There were 18 participants from the following ministries:

1. Ministry of Industry and Commerce
2. Ministry of Energy and Mines
3. Ministry of Public Works and Transport
4. Ministry of Justice
5. Ministry of Planning and Investment
6. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
7. Ministry of Transportation.

The workshop series commenced with an opening speech delivered by Itthilith Ngangnouvong, Deputy Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiation and Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Jeremy Gross, Director of Capacity Building at ERIA, then extended welcoming remarks. Both speakers underscored the significance of considering environmental factors in economic decision-making, and emphasised how good regulatory practices can enhance trade and investment while reducing emissions in Lao PDR.

Following the guidelines outlined in the ASEAN Handbook of Good Regulatory Practice, the workshop proceeded to equip new participants with GRP methodologies, and the preparation of a regulatory impact analysis (RIA). In-depth discussions were also held on the seven elements of RIA, encompassing the problem statement: objectives, options, impact analysis, consultations, conclusions, recommendations, and implementation strategy.

During the workshop, participants from Lao PDR selected Fiscal Incentives to Develop EV Ecosystem as the focus point. They actively engaged in deliberations concerning cost-benefit analyses, the stakeholders affected, and potential fiscal mechanisms which could be implemented.

The workshop concluded with closing remarks delivered by Arief Rizky Bakhtiar, Senior Officer of Analysis and Monitoring on Trade, Industry, and Emerging Issues at the ASEAN Secretariat. He emphasised that the active participation of the workshop would be noted under the ASEAN Chairmanship, and hoped the insights of the workshop would greatly benefit the electric vehicle and battery industry in Lao PDR.