Technical Assistance for Needs Assessment for Capacity Building of SMEs and Other Stakeholders in Lao PDR

The Government of Lao PDR has received funding from the World Bank Group for the Small and Medium Enterprises Access to Finance Project (US$20 million). The objective of the Project is to provide long-term funding sources for commercial banks to provide long-term credit to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This will be achieved by increasing the supply of long-term finance provided by commercial banks and by strengthening the capability of Department of SME Promotion (DOSMEP), within the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) to formulate and implement public policies that promote access to finance for SMEs. The Project includes two components: (i) A Line of Credit (LOC) channeled through Participating Financial Intermediaries (PFIs) for on-lending to SMEs; and (ii) Technical Assistance (TA) for DOSMEP, PFIs and SMEs. The Project is managed by the DOSMEP. Other agencies involved in project implementation include PFIs for the LOC and National Implementation Unit (NIU at MoIC) for fiduciary tasks (procurement and financial management). Detailed information on the project is available on DOSMEP website (www.smepdo.org) in these relevant documents: Project Appraisal Document (PAD), Project Implementation Manual (PIM), and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).

Project symbol

LAO/17/01/IDA

Admin unit

CO-Bangkok

Start date

01/05/2018

End date

28/02/2020

Total allocation

1149254

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

1119060

Development Partners

World Bank, International Development Association

Country/Countries

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Outcomes

Outcome 4: Sustainable enterprises as generators of employment and promoters of innovation and decent work