Lao PDR Customs and Trade Facilitation Project

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The objective of the Customs and Trade Facilitation Project for Laos is to facilitate trade by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of customs administration. The project will simplify customs procedures, eliminate duplication and redundancy, and reduce transaction costs and time to clear goods, and increase transparency and accountability. There are two components to the project. The first component is the implementation of Automated Systems for Customs Data Management (ASYCUDA) world. It will finance the strengthening, through training and provision of some basic computer equipment, of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) Customs Department (LCD) Information Technology (IT) staff, to prepare them to maintain and run the ASYCUDA system once in operation. It will finance Personnel Committee (PC) familiarization and basic computer skills development for Lao PDR Customs Department (LCD) staff and other relevant agencies to facilitate the successful adoption and long term sustainability of the ASYCUDA World system. A staffing plan and a skills development plan will need to be developed and implemented to ensure the smooth operation and sustainability of the new system. Key officials in other relevant agencies will receive similar technical training in basic IT skills and relevant application-specific skills. The second component is the customs modernization support. World Bank (WB) experience suggests that while implementation of the new customs IT system is likely to streamline and rationalize processes and procedures and will provide a sound platform for the introduction of a range of internationally agreed standards, it is unlikely to realize its full potential unless a number of complementary reforms and supporting operational changes are undertaken in parallel with system implementation. To ensure these complementary measures are introduced in a structured and cost effective manner the project will also finance a range of capacity building activities and a long term international customs reform and modernization advisor. The advisor will be responsible for assisting customs management in supervising the introduction of the new systems, quality control and where necessary verification of results. The advisor will also assist in the overall change management process.