Quarterly Report for January to March 2011: Laos-US International and ASEAN Integration (LUNA) Project

These objectives include supporting the effective implementation of the U.S.-Laos Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), supporting the timely accession of Laos to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and supporting Laos in fulfilling its commitments to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The three trade agreements form the pillars for establishing priorities for LUNA activities, which have far-reaching impact on commercial activity in Laos, governance, and the rule of law. Implementation of the trade agreements requires the modernization and deepening of the Lao legal system and the integration of its economy into regional and global markets. LUNA provides demand-driven support to six line agencies, the National Assembly, and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Technical assistance consists of legal and economic policy analysis, comments on draft laws and regulations, training, and support for workshops and seminars, publications, study missions, translation, research, and equipment purchases. During the first quarter of 2011, LUNA activities focused on supporting counterpart efforts to develop effective legislation that complies with the trade agreements and national socio-economic development objectives. The project office and team operations were maintained, with the hiring of a full-time translator to provide dedicated verbal and written translation services. Enterprise and Development Consultants (EDC), the main local sub-contractor, continued to support the project effectively. The Project Steering Committee (PSC) was established by MOIC to supervise LUNA's demand-driven activities. LUNA provided a draft Work Plan for 2011 to the FTPD and core members of the PSC, which was discussed and approved in principle by Lao and USAID supervisors at a meeting in Bangkok on February 14, 2011. USAID sent a Request for Proposal to Nathan Associates to extend the project to September 2013 and expand it by $3.2 million. LUNA's analytical frameworks and general trade-capacity building activities focused on developing a Roadmap of Legal and Institutional Reforms for BTA Implementation and WTO Accession. Recommendations were provided on which laws need to be revised or developed anew to meet BTA and WTO requirements at the NA Workshop on Economic Law Priorities for the Legislative Agenda from 2011-2015 held on March 29-30, 2011. A more comprehensive BTA/WTO Roadmap will be developed in the second and third quarters, linked with an AEC Roadmap. Capacity-building programs were supported by LUNA, including FTPD Website and Communications, translations, WTO and Trade Reference Room, awareness of the WTO and BTA, and a study mission for the Project Steering Committee. The FTPD website was improved, and translations of key documents were completed, including the Decree on Fees and Services Charges, GATS Enquiry Point Decision, Draft Decree on Animal Disease Control, and Draft Decree on Animal Movement. The WTO and Trade Reference Room was stocked with trade and WTO reference materials, and awareness of the WTO and BTA was raised through workshops with government officials and private-sector stakeholders.