Mid-Term Review of ARISE+ for Lao PDR (2022)

The Progamme is one of national components of the ARISE+ Regional Programme financed by EU. The EU also finances three ARISE+ regional programmes (i.e. ARISE+ Regional for ASEAN, ARISE+ IPR and ARISE+ Aviation) and eight bilateral ARISE+ country programmes to support eligible ASEAN member states to integrate with ASEAN and the world trading system. These eight eligible countries include Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The ARISE+ Lao PDR programme is being implemented by the Genevabased International Trade Centre (ITC) under the Contribution Agreement signed between the EU and ITC in July 2018.

The Overall Objective of the programme is to promote inclusive economic growth, increased climate change resilience, mitigation of vulnerability and job creation in Lao PDR. The Specific Objectives of the programme are to improve the business environment in targeted sectors with a focus on regional economic integration (ASEAN), and to increase trade and participation in global value chains in the targeted sectors. The programme supports the Government of Lao PDR (GoL) to reap the benefits of regional integration in line with multilateral trade frameworks such as the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).

The programme has a total budget of €4,867,000. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is the focal point and main beneficiary of the programme.