In accordance with Prime Ministerial Decree 33/PM of 1999, the Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts is the state management organisation responsible for implementing party and government policy in the industry and handicrafts sector with a view to enabling it to grow and modernise step by step, based on water power and mining, providing basic infomation for the formulation of strategies and the systematic development of industry and the enforcement of macro management in the industry and handicrafts sector throughout the country. Its responsibilities include: (i) realising the policies, guidelines and resolutions of the Party and government in the form of detailed policy, plans and projects of the sector and being responsible for their implementation; (ii) elaborating draft policies, laws, decrees and regulations for the macro management of the sector and submitting them to government; (iii) studying and formulating strategies for the development of the industry and handicrafts sectors in each planning period for submission to the government; (iv) managing the overall organisation in a vertical line within the sector and also managing the technical units of industry and handicrafts, to ensure that they implement their duties in accordance with the law and regulations and that they achieve successful results; (v) formulating and enforcing the use of the working methods and regulations of the Ministry; (vi) co-ordinating with the relevant ministries, organisations and local authorities to disseminate the necessary policies and measures in order to promote the development of industry and handicrafts and to explore all the potentials of the Lao PDR in electrical engineering, mineral industry, light industry, small industry and handicrafts; (vii) welcoming individuals, organisation representatives and comments related to the implementation of the duties of the sector, collaborating with the relevant sectors and local authorities in order to find solutions to problems; (viii) upgrading and training personnel in political ideology, service management and professional issues with the potential to respond appropriately to the needs of the sector at all levels, employing, rotating, managing and compensating civil servants in accordance with the regulations and policies of the party and government; (ix) publicising, disseminating and giving instructions on the implementation of rules, regulations and laws in order to train rank-and-file civil servants in political ideology; (x) managing and using the sectoral budget and assets of the Ministry; (xi) liaising with foreign countries and different international organisations in seeking assistance and co-operation in industry and handicrafts development, based on the principles established by the government; and (xii) monitoring and inspecting the implementation of resolutions, orders, strategic plans, work plans and projects in accordance with the law. The Ministry comprises the following departments: