Technical Cooperation
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- Technical Cooperation
- Technical Cooperation for Lao Development Bank (LDB)
JFC-Micro cooperates with financial institutions, which are trying to overcome several challenges, in developing countries by providing its know-how in MSME finance. JFC-Micro conducts seminars in their countries and in Japan based on collaboration with ODA implementing organizations, etc.
Technical Cooperation
for Lao
Development Bank (LDB)
JFC-Micro has provided technical cooperation for Lao Development Bank (LDB) to develop its human resources and to improve its credit operations, as an ODA project of Policy Research Institute (PRI) of Ministry of Finance (MOF), Japan.
Outline of Lao Development Bank
LDB was established on April 2003 by merging two previous state-owned commercial banks namely Lao Xang Bank and Lao May Bank. Since then, LDB plays an important role as a financial institution for SME promotion.
| Organization | State-owned Commercial Bank |
|---|---|
| Objective/Purpose | Loan Services, Deposits, Foreign Exchange, etc. |
| Established | April 2003 |
| Branch Offices | 18 Branches, 75 Service Units, 22 Foreign Exchange Units (as of December 2015) |
| Employees | 1,419 (as of December 2015) |
*Above data is based on the hearing from LDB
Back ground of JFC-Micro's Technical Cooperation
LDB provides widespread of financial services. Under the governmental policy, the bank now puts more importance on financing for SMEs. Thus, it is required for LDB to develop human resources and improve its credit operations.
Under these circumstance, the bank asked PRI for technical support. Considering the achievement by JFC-Micro in the Technical Cooperation for Vietnam Bank for Social Policies and for SME Bank, Malaysia, PRI asked JFC-Micro for technical cooperation.
JFC-Micro's Activities on this project
1st Phase : Develop LDB's human resources and to improve its credit operations
March 9 - 18, 2011
Preliminary Survey
JFC-Micro and PRI conducted a field survey in order to figure out the necessity of technical cooperation. Executives of LDB officially asked for the provision of JFC-Micro's know-how.
June 15 - 16, 2011
Signing Ceremony
JFC-Micro and PRI visited Vientiane to sign the Memorandum of Understanding. After the signing ceremony, JFC-Micro, PRI and LDB held a discussion. All parties agreed to hold the 1st seminar on November, 2011.
November 29 - December 10, 2011
1st Seminar in Laos
JFC-Micro gave lectures to 93 managerial staffs such as branch manager, unit head, etc. regarding credit analysis methods in JFC-Micro. Lectures were held at three cities (Luang Prabang, Pakse and Vientiane), two-day each. At the discussion held at the last day of the seminar, all parties agreed to hold next seminar in Japan.
June 4 - 15, 2012
2nd Seminar in Japan
JFC-Micro accepted 20 members of LDB including executives in head office and branch managers, and conducted a two-week seminar in Japan.They were highly motivated to improve their operation, so they asked a lot of questions during the seminar.
October 2 - 3, 2012
Mid-term Evaluation
JFC-Micro conducted a field survey in order to evaluate how the LDB has disseminated the 1st and 2nd seminar. We confirmed that the contents of the seminars have been widely spread to the whole of LDB by the efforts of the seminar participants.
January 27 - February 6, 2013
3rd Seminar in Laos
JFC-Micro gave lectures to 153 managerial staffs, regarding methods of credit analysis in JFC-Micro. Lectures were held at three cities (Luang Prabang, Pakse and Vientiane), two and half-day each.At the discussion held at the last day of the seminar, all parties agreed to hold 4th seminar in Laos.
August 27 - September 5, 2013
4th Seminar in Laos
JFC-Micro gave lectures to 131 managerial staffs, regarding methods of credit analysis in JFC-Micro. Lectures were held at two cities (Xiengkhouang and Vientiane), four-day each. At the discussion held at the last day of the seminar, all parties agreed to hold final evaluation in Laos.
November 13 - 15, 2013
Final Evaluation in Laos
As a final evaluation, JFC-Micro conducted a field survey in order to evaluate the achievement of this technical cooperation. Through the discussion with LDB, we confirmed that the ability of their credit analysis is improved. Besides, LDB officers' attitude toward their clients has been improved as well. LDB executives mentioned that this technical cooperation contributes to enhancing their human resources. Even after this project, we will continue to promote this close relationship with LDB.
2nd Phase : Disseminated to the staff of LDB about knowledge and know-how about SME finance provided by Japan
February 4 - 11, 2015
1st Seminar in Laos
We held a three-day seminar in two cities in Lao PDR as Luang Prabang and Vientiane from February 4 to 11, 2015. And there were 152 participants who are mainly in charge of credit analysis in branch offices. JFC conducted lectures on how to use a new format of credit analysis that was revised by LDB after the project/phase1, a case study about an applicant for a business loan who plans to open a new restaurant and an outline of a manual of credit analysis that we support for making in the project/phase2.
August 31 - September 4, 2015
2nd Seminar in Japan
JFC-Micro accepted 23 members of LDB including Mr. Khamsing, deputy managing director of LDB and held a 5 days seminar in Japan. We conducted lectures about "support to business start-up", "collaboration with external organization" and "personnel training". In addition we visited Tokyochuou branch and Kawasaki Chambers of Commerce and Industry. LDB mentioned that they were able to learn JFC's various activities and branch operations.
February 1, 2016
Interim Assessment and Workshop in Laos
JFC-Micro visited a Headquarter and a branch of LDB to conduct the interim assessment of the project with PRI. Through the assessment, we heard from LDB about progress of dissemination, how to utilize a manual of credit analysis that we have provided support to make etc. In addition, we held a workshop on business start-ups and 48 people participated from LDB, MOF of Lao and BOL etc.
August 26 - September 2, 2016
3rd Seminar in Laos
We held a two-day seminar in each three cities in Lao PDR (Luang Prabang, Pakse and Vientiane) from August 26 to September 2, 2016. 144 credit analysis officers from each branch offices participated and JFC-Micro conducted lectures about credit analysis, including case studies of hotel industry. Many questions were asked by the participants and the seminar was worthwhile. At the meeting with the LDB executives, it was agreed to hold the next 4th seminar in Laos, in February, 2017.
February 13 - 17, 2017
4th Seminar in Laos
We held a five-day seminar in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and 76 participants (managerial class and credit analysis officers) from each branch attended the seminar. In addition to the lectures about credit analysis, JFC introduced the practices of its HR development, business improvement etc. and afterward we offered opportunity to hold group discussions among participants. Participants actively exchanged their ideas and realized the importance of organizational and customer service improvement. At the meeting with the LDB executives, we agreed to hold a final evaluation of the 2nd Phase in Laos.
August 22 - 26, 2017
Final Evaluation in Laos
As a final evaluation, JFC-Micro conducted field survey in order to assess the achievement of the 2nd Phase technical cooperation for LDB. Through the interview with LDB, we confirmed that the branch staff practically utilized revised credit analysis format and manual in their daily work. Also, we held the Closing Ceremony inviting Ministry of Finance Lao PDR, Bank of Lao PDR and other institutions to give a presentation about undertaken efforts and outcomes of the technical cooperation. LDB executives showed strong willingness on sustained support to SMEs, and mentioned about how effectively the technical cooperation has contributed to improve their human resources development. This ceremony was taken up by local newspapers and gained much attention. Accepting the request from JICA, JFC-Micro's staff is now residing inside LDB as a JICA Expert from March 2017. Through this new approach of field cooperation, JFC-Micro will continue to assist LDB's further development.
