People join traffic in Vientiane. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Laogovernment has instructed ministries to streamline procedures to facilitatetrade and speed up freight transport and the export of goods, reported Xinhuanews agency.
The move aims to facilitatetrade and accelerate freight transport and the export of goods such as farmproducts, timber and non-timber forest products, and minerals.
The Lao Ministry ofAgriculture and Forestry was assigned to work with relevant bodies tostreamline procedures and the certification process, so that domestic transportand the export of products managed by the ministry would take place at a muchfaster pace, according to Lao economic daily.
The Lao government advisedthe relevant bodies to devise clear and streamlined regulations to shorten allthe related processes and cut spending, thus speeding up the movement offreight.
In addition, authoritieswere told to formulate legislation to regulate products such as woodenfurniture and handicrafts being sold at fairs and electronics markets.
The shipment of commercialcrops including rice, coffee, beans and vegetables no longer requirestransporters to seek permission from the authorities. However, in the event ofa plant or animal disease outbreak, transport will be prohibited.
The Lao Ministry of Energyand Mines was tasked with streamlining similar procedures and mechanisms tospeed up the export of mineral products, while the Ministry of Finance withcontinuing to install a computerised customs management system, and to expandthe Lao National Single Window (for tariff declaration) in order to facilitateand quicken procedures.
Laos’s total trade value inApril amounted to 950 million USD, of which 424 million USD were exports and526 million USD were imports./.
