Strengthening Economic Statistics in Lao PDR COUNTRY Strengthening Economic Statistics in Lao PDR Regional Programme on Economic Statistics Bangkok, Thailand | 30 November 2016

Overview of Progress What is the progress of the project? What issues have you faced? How have you overcome them? What plans do you have to maintain the improvement in capacity or functionality? What is your plan to progress the project (including timelines)? What have you learnt from the project so far?

Project Objective Provide assistance for the revision of the statistical law, including facilitation of transfer of good practices and guidelines. Support peer review of the National Statistical System in the context of the NSDS mid-term review and, in particular, review economic statistics production and dissemination. Support elaboration of an economic statistics development plan as part of the revised NSDS. Provide technical assistance to LSB and collaborate with LSB and relevant training partners in Lao PDR in strengthening local capacity to develop and deliver statistical training in the area of economic statistics.

Progress of the project Complete country review by mission on 11-13 May 2016 Finish project concept note with 4 expected outputs Review statistics law Review guidance questionnaire of NSS of Maldives Draft project plan and activities LSB and ESD complete the 5 years plan from 2016-2020

Project expected outputs Output A: Statistical law is revising and plan to submit to parliament for approval by next year. Consultant assists LSB in revision of the statistical law that takes into consideration existing good practices and guidelines, e.g. Generic Law on Official Statistics Output B: The Strategy for the Development of National Statistical System 2010-2020 is reviewed and the economic statistics development is incorporated /improved (July 2016 - March 2017) Conduct an economic statistics review which will complement the NSDS mid-term review coordinated by PARIS21 (July-August 2016) Develop economic statistics development plan (September 2016 – March 2017)

Project expected outputs Output C: Capacity to produce economic statistics is strengthened(2016-2018)  Output D: Development of research programme and institutionalize arrangements between LSB and Research Center (2016-2018)

Issues Almost of our activities were delay and postpone, which came from different issues: The project is just started, the project arrangement is not still not clear. (other regal document is not yet complete) including: financial arrangement, and etc,.. Human resources shortage and the internal arrangement is not yet in proper function. The process of revise statistics Law and NSDSS is still ongoing and at the same time this year is also the end of LAOSTAT project. Project activities plan is not yet clearly identify

Overcoming the issues Economic Statistics Department (ESD) play as a key focal point to coordinate and collaborate for this project. Moreover, Department of Administration also assist with collaborate with UNESCAP. LSB will instantly finalize revise the statistics law. We completed at provincial level and will translate (support by UNESCAP). ESD will summarize the activities that complete with LAOSTAT and what activities that remain to be continue with other projects.

Plan to progress / timelines LSB will urgently form the focal point and unit to take responsible on this project. At the same times the all other regal document is needed to be set The project plan and activities for each output has to be clearly identified by LSB and UNESCAP (Ex: output C and D). (During Jan-Feb 2017) include the budget need for each activities.

Plan to progress / timelines Output A: Statistical law TA on update statistical law to the most effectiveness and appropriate Once the new update finish, it should be translated into Laos Output B: The Strategy for the Development of National Statistical System 2010-2020 Mission on March with working on NSDSS updating, based on result from PARIS 21.

Plan to progress / timelines Output C: Capacity to produce economic statistics is strengthened (2016-2018), started with Environment statistics, SDG indicators, National accounts, GNI and Price statistics. Output D: Development of research programme Job training on data analysis and report writing in various sectors using LECS VI (2017/2018) Analyze and investigate on CPI weight using LECS VI

Plan to progress / timelines Output D: Development of research programme Analyze and construct household accounts by using LECS VI Case study on trade margin, investigate on import, export, wholesale and retail trade (2017) Input-output ratio on manufacturing product (2017-2018) Case study on mining reduction effected to growth 2018 Study and investigate on Real estate, how much it actually contribute to Lao Economy 2017

Lessons learnt Many projects are not consider on printing and copying. It is very effectively to assist statistics on dissemination program. It also help the users to accessible on data. Therefore, LSB hope that UNESCAP will consider to provide support on printing document such as GDP and economic growth (annual report), Lao Statistics Handbook, LECS VI report, and etc,.. Institution arrangement is very important to proceed the project, therefore it is the first thing to consider to kick off the project. Unit team and focal point are important factor, country need to consider. However, it is very difficult for country to assign staff to responsible on the project due to it related to skill and knowledge. The project which does not have local representative office. It needs to be frequently communicate and visit the country office to make sure running with progress and take immediately solution for all mater

Q&A