(KPL)The Government of the Lao PDR recognizes the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as models that can contribute to meeting development goals.

PPPs can be used to operate public infrastructure, as well as provision of public services through private sector support, introducing new technologies and expertise.

Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in cooperation with the Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment organized three-day training on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Guideline on Solicited Proposals for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Vientiane on Aug 29 to 31.

The training addressed 45 government officials from provinces, together with central authorities representing several sectors. In the training, the participants learned about how to effectively identify, design and draft quality PPP Solicited Proposal and the operating procedure of Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

In the training, Ms. Thavichanh Thiengthepvongsa, Deputy Director General of Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) highlighted that along with developing good policies to promote and manage PPP efficiently and effectively, we still need to strengthen technical capacity of government officials in promoting and managing PPP.

“This training will enhance the understanding of the standard operating procedure of PPP (SOP), and upgrade the capacity to better research, design and develop the PPP solicited proposal to determine the standards, conditions, investment form, project life, financial outcomes, social outcomes, estimating potential risks, risk and benefit sharing throughout the project period to attract quality investment,” said Ms. Thavichanh Thiengthepvongsa.

Ms. Ricarda Rieger, the Resident Representative of UNDP the Lao PDR stressed that to achieve the ambitions of the NSEDP and the SDGs the government and the private sector need to build on each others’ strengths when entering into a partnership.  The overall objective of any PPP needs to be a positive outcome for the population, to adapt to climate change, create jobs, and to improve the quality of life.

Since 2018, the Investment Promotion Department and the Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals (PEA) has developed tools and capacity to enhance quality investment promotion and management in Lao PDR. Besides developing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the Guideline on Solicited Proposals for Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the project has supported the development of PPP Model Contract and PPP Financing Model. The project is funded by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Government of Austria, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and the European Union.

KPL