Lao People's Democratic Republic

24 August 2022 — G/TFA/N/LAO/3/Rev.1  

Lao Customs has been conducting Time Release Study (TRS) surveys for many years and in the last survey conducted in 2020, it expanded its scope to capture the time taken by various cross-border regulatory authorities for issuance of various licences and permits by needed for import, export and transit.

The WB under the Lao PDR's Competitiveness & Trade Project (LCTP) continues to provide following support:

1. To Customs, for conducting TRS survey (using WCO's TRS software) in 2022 and 2024.
2. Capacity building of non-Customs agencies at the border for joining in the future TRS surveys.
3. The TRS 2022 and 2024 survey will continue to cover the areas of survey to the field of license issuance with improved methodology and also aims to include licenses/permits issued at the provincial level.

19 March 2021 — G/TFA/N/LAO/3  

Lao Customs has been conducting Time Release Study (TRS) surveys for many years and in the last survey conducted in February 2019, it tried to include other border agencies as well.
The WB under the Lao PDR’s Competitiveness & Trade Project (LCTP) has assured to provide following support:
1. To Customs, for conducting TRS survey (using WCO’s TRS software) in 2020
2. Capacity building of non-Customs agencies at the border for joining in the future TRS surveys
However, due to fund constraints, WB support is limited and hence, support of development partners/WTO is required for the following activities beyond 2020:
(a) To conduct TRS survey for Customs and other border agencies beyond 2020, particularly including the time taken in issuing licenses and for other documentary compliances
(b) Capacity building of the officials of Customs and other border agencies for this purpose