Introduction

It is with great pleasure that I present this inaugural issue of the Lao Trade Research Digest. This journal was established, as part of trade policy capacity building under the Lao Integrated Framework - Trade Development Facility, and is supported by multi-donor trust fund financed by the EU and Australia, and administered by the World Bank. Its main objectives are to stimulate policy research, both internationally and within the country, on trade-related issues relevant to Laos' to stimulate the usage of trade and development related research into decision making and policy planning; and to provide an opportunity for Lao researchers to share their research with a wider audience.

I take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR for its institutional support, and to express my gratitude to donor partners for their assistance through the multi-donor trust fund, to bring out this publication. Several international academics assisted us in reviewing the papers and providing valuable comments which contributed to the improved quality of the papers published. I cordially thank them all. My special thanks go to all those who contributed papers to the journal. Their contribution to the literature and policy dialogue on trade and development issues in Lao PDR is much appreciated.

It is my earnest hope that researchers interested in Lao trade and development will use this Digest to publish their research work. Contribution of such research papers will be much appreciated.

Dr Somphouang Phinphinth

Director-General

Economic Research Institute for Trade

Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR

... December 2010