At the request of the German International Cooperation (GIZ), Lao PDR, Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of the Trade & Investment Facilitation Department of Mekong Institute (MI), prepared a policy paper and policy brief on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) Development in Lao PDR. 

The paper highlighted measures for SME promotion in the backdrop of ASEAN integration process while suggesting a well-coordinated institutional support mechanism and international best practices in the development of SMEs. Mr. Dutta presented the paper at a seminar organized by GIZ in partnership with Lao National Assembly on July 11, 2017, at Vientiane, Lao PDR. Around 40 participants representing Members of the Parliament of Lao PDR, senior officials from the Line Ministries, and GIZ officials attended the event.