IFC in Lao PDR

IFC’s objective in Lao PDR is to expand and accelerate private sector services and facilities through improvements in the country’s business environment, support for sustainable development of natural resource projects, and the build up of the country’s financial sector in order to improve and expand access to finance and promote equitable growth. Recent IFC Advisory Services have helped improve the Enterprise, Investment, Mining and Commercial Banking laws, promoted sustainable tourism, and explored opportunities for private participation in hydropower projects. IFC’s Advisory Services in Lao PDR are delivered primarily through MPDF, a private sector development initiative in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, whose donors are Australia, Canada, Finland, IFC, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.

As in Cambodia and Vietnam, IFC helps coordinate a semi-annual business forum in Lao PDR that serves as a platform for meaningful discussion between representatives from the government and business community.

Currently, IFC has investments in the tourism, agribusiness, telecom and finance sectors. Most recently, IFC made its first equity investment in the country through a 10 percent equity stake in ANZ Vientiane Commercial Bank, and committed a US$ 9 million loan to Lao Brewery. IFC’s increasing investment and advisory engagements in Lao PDR has helped to catalyze other commercial financiers to expand their investment and lending activities in the country. To date, IFC investments in Lao PDR total US$ 18.4 million.