NEWSROOM

How one episode of undervaluation fraud represents the larger impact of the USAID/Timor-Leste Customs Reform Project The USAID/Timor-Leste Customs Reform Project (CRP) works to strengthen the Customs Authority (CA) and support the Government of Timor-Leste by increasing government revenue through improved systems, procedures, and personnel. The new improvements were on full display when an importation of 96,040 kg of new equipment used for construction and road building was i

In honor of Women’s History Month, IBI is pleased to highlight one of the ways the IBI-implemented USAID/Laos Business Environment Activity is working to empower women and create sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Lao. This March, the Activity organized a two-day “Strengthening and Promoting Women’s Business” Seminar. The goal of the seminar, which was put on in partnership with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), was to empower women entrepre

IBI is proud to be the prime implementing partner on USAID/Timor-Leste’s Customs Reform Project (CRP). Since the start of CRP in 2017, the average time it takes to clear goods through Customs has been reduced from 9 days to 2.7 days, representing a 70% decrease. How has the Customs Authority, with support from IBI staff, accomplished this? A key component of this success flows from the project's efforts to engage the private sector trading community and its government counter

The USAID/Laos Business Environment Activity focuses on improving SMEs' ability to compete in both domestic and international markets. Recently, IBI conducted an ICT Value Chain Assessment to take a close look at the current challenges and opportunities encountered by Lao businesses in the ICT sector. We started with an in-depth, end-market value chain analysis to collect data that can be used for further design of targeted technical interventions. We interviewed 56 individua

On February 2nd, 2021 the IBI-implemented USAID/Laos Business Environment Activity partnered with the Government of Lao (GoL) counterparts, including the Department of Foreign Trade Policy (DFTP) and the Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), to hold a one-day workshop entitled LDC Graduation Preparation in the Digital Economy to Commemorate 8th Anniversary of Lao PDR’s WTO Membership. This workshop is part of Lao’s ongoing commitment to graduate from ‘Least Developed