The Lao PDR Investment Climate Survey (ICS) was undertaken jointly by the Government of the Lao PDR, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the World Bank between April and September 2005. 303 firms were surveyed. Of these, 246 were manufacturing firms, and 57 firms were from the tourism sector. Through face-to-face interviews with managers and owners, the ICS gathered qualitative and quantitative information regarding the investment climate and the performance of firms in sampled provinces and industries. Topics included infrastructure, finance, labor, regulatory burden and administrative delays, governance, innovation and technology, and firm productivity. Taken together, the qualitative and quantitative data helped connect the characteristics of the investment climate in the Lao PDR with the firms’ performance. The data and results from the ICS were intended to help develop policy reforms that would further promote growth and productivity of firms in the Lao PDR. The dataset described in this study includes only manufacturing firms. The manufacturing part of the survey was carried out in six provinces: Vientiane, Oudomxay, Luangprabang, Xayaboury, Savannakhet, and Champassak. It covered five industries: wood processing, construction materials, garments, textiles/handicraft, and food and beverage.
