empowering sme women entrepreneurs in lao pdr

7/28/2019 Empowering SME women entrepreneurs in Lao PDR

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Empowering women entrepreneursthrough an SME development program

in Lao PDR

Presented by:

Mohd Sani IsmailFinancial Sector Economist

Public Management, Finance & Trade Division (SEPF)

Southeast Asia Department

Asian Development Bank

Gender Equity CoP

Asian Development Bank

Thursday, 24 January 2013


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Background of the program

Primary objective: to promote and contribute to the development of the private sectorand SMEs of Lao PDR

Second Private Sector and Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises Development

Program (PSME2), subprogram 1

OUTPUTS

i) Implementation of SME policy, including improving

SME access to services

ii) Promoting regulatory efficiency

iii) Strengthening trade policies to support SME growth

OUTCOME

improved business

environment for SMEs

IMPACTexpansion of the

formal SME sector


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PMSE2: Empowerment of women

entrepreneurs

Supply side intervention

Output 1: Implementation

of SME Enterprises

Policy, including

Improving Small and

Medium-SizedEnterprises Access to

Services

Output 2: Promoting

Regulatory

Efficiency

SME policy (drafting of the national SME Development Plan for 2011-2015

which includes activities to promote empowerment of female entrepreneurs,reporting on disaggregated data by gender, region and size through the ERO)

Regulatory impact assessment (consultations on RIA measures are with women

stakeholder groups, reduction of high-cost regulation benefits women

as they are concentrated in the micro and small enterprise sector)


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entrepreneurs

Stimulating demand

Output 3: Strengthening

trade policies to support

small and medium-sized

enterprises growth

Trade policy (consult women owned enterprises for trade negotiations and

information dissemination through encouraged participation in workshops)


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entrepreneurs

Importance of measuring indicators: enterprise registry offices (EROs)

Introduction of new

registration system in 6

pilot provinces simplified registration and

cut business compliance

costs by 35%

National rollout to

remaining 10 provincial

EROs allows SMEs to register and

obtain certification at the

provincial level

Upgrading of hardware &

software and training on

implementing registration

procedures


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entrepreneurs

Importance of measuring indicators: enterprise registry offices (EROs)

RESULTS

May 2011:

70, 000

enterprisesregistered

late 2008:35, 000

enterprises

registered

2010:

54.8% of

newly

registered

enterprisesowned by

women

2009:

43.9% of

newly

registered

enterprises

owned bywomen

Increased

transparency

through first

everpublished

book on

enterprise

regulation

(includesdisaggregate

d data by

gender,

region and

size)


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entrepreneurs

Incorporating gender equity into ADB program loans


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entrepreneursIncorporating gender equity into ADB program loans


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entrepreneursIncorporating gender equity into ADB program loans


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Gender Analysis Report

Main problems facing female entrepreneurs in Lao:

1. Access to finance: lack of collateral, lack of business knowledge and skills2. Access to technology: uses less machinery and technology than men

3. Access to training: not eligible for subsidized Business Development Support

Services without tax registration, mobility restrictions

Status: Lao PDR is implementing reforms which will create a level playing field for the poor

who are wanting to go into business, but needs to encourage the growth of female

entrepreneurs

Developments:

i. SME Promotion and Development Office to implement a survey which identifies what

financial products & services are needed by female-owned SMEs and what banks will

accept as collateral

ii. vocational institutes to help women with developing business skills


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entrepreneurs


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Thank you!

empowering sme women entrepreneurs in lao pdr

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