The Swiss Cooperation Strategy in the Mekong region is covering Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Myanmar. Switzerland, through SECO, has supported the sustainable economic growth of these countries by promoting the private sector, contributing to the establishment of a conducive economic framework and the integration into the world economy. Through its programmes, SECO is successfully contributing to generating income and thus to have a positive impact on poverty reduction.

SECO programmes in the region are focused mainly on Vietnam. Selected projects have been implemented on the basis of a regional approach. Especially the programmes in the area of trade promotion qualify for a regional approach because trade per se implies a regional dimension. The regional scope of the programmes allows Lao PDR to profit from an outstanding experience sharing with Vietnam. This approach therefore has been aiming at fostering South-South relations between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Lao PDR’s transformation into a market economy is still in its infancy. Nevertheless economic growth has substantially accelerated in recent years based on strong export. The efforts of the government to integrate into the regional and international trade system are supported by SECO’s trade related technical assistance and its private sector promotion programme. The focus of the trade promotion programme is on building capacities in trade promotion for SMEs and on improving the competitiveness of export-oriented SMEs. The latter combined with environmental objectives is also the aim of the Cleaner Production Centre program of SECO.  Furthermore, SECO through its policy advice project is facilitating Lao PDR’s accession to the WTO.