2012 Annual Work Plan for the Laos-US International and ASEAN Integration (LUNA) Project

The project's objectives are to support the effective implementation of the BTA, facilitate Laos' accession to the WTO, and promote the country's integration into regional and global markets. The LUNA Project provides demand-driven support to eight counterparts, including six line ministries and two national institutions. The project's technical assistance consists of legal and economic policy analysis, comments on draft laws and regulations, training, and support for workshops and seminars. LUNA's activities are designed to strengthen the legal and policy framework, enhance institutional and human resource capacities, and contribute to long-term development in the Lao PDR. In 2011, the Lao PDR made significant progress in its efforts to accede to the WTO, including closing bilateral market access negotiations with all Working Party members except for the Ukraine and gaining consensus support for drafting the Working Party Report. The country also participated actively in ASEAN Economic Community activities and made progress in implementing the BTA. LUNA provided strategic technical assistance to its counterparts in 2011 to support key reforms and advance implementation of the three trade agreements. The project administration has undergone changes, with USAID awarding an extension of LUNA to September 30, 2013, with an additional budget ceiling of $3.2 million. The project team has been expanded to include a Senior Legal Advisor, Franck Boulin, and a new Project Coordinator, Ms. Chaikeo Kedsadasak. The project office has also continued to be highly productive and responsive to its counterparts. The LUNA Project's 2012 Annual Work Plan reports on activities completed over the last six months of 2011 and provides technical assistance activities requested by its counterparts for 2012. The plan builds upon ongoing activities from 2011 and introduces new activities as currently requested by the counterparts. It serves as both the 2012 Annual Work Plan and the 4th Quarter Report. Additional technical assistance will be added on a demand-driven basis as appropriate over the course of 2012. The project's technical assistance activities in 2012 will focus on supporting the implementation of the BTA, WTO accession, and AEC obligations. The activities will include analytical frameworks and general trade-capacity building, transparency and dispute settlement, SPS and TBT, trade in goods and trade facilitation, customs and single windows, intellectual property protection, trade in services, and public-private dialogue on trade policy. The LUNA Project's activities are expected to contribute to the development of a policy, legal, and business environment that can provide a solid foundation for the Lao PDR to take advantage of the opportunities and meet the challenges introduced by the trade agreements. The project's success will depend on the effective implementation of its activities and the continued support of its counterparts.