The Department of Handicrafts of the Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts is responsible on behalf of the Minister for encouraging, supporting and developing craft promotion throughout the country. It develops policies, plans, rules, regulations and legislation covering the development, supervision and promotion of the handicraft sector; supervises and inspects the sector to ensure conformity with provisions, regulations and laws; and promotes the production of consumer and export products to broaden the market to the fullest extent possible. Since its establishment in 1999 the Department has disbursed 1 billion kip each year in the form of interest-free loans for handicrafts development around the country. Handicraft Promotions Enterprises have thus far been set up in seven provinces – Houaphanh, Xieng Khouang, Phongsali, Borikhamxai, Savannakhet, Champassak, Sekong and Vientiane – and funds have been disbursed by Provincial Departments of Industry and Handicraft to village co-operatives, providing the latter with the basic working capital necessary to set up handicraft ventures; after three years this money is recovered and used to finance new handicraft businesses. The Department has also approached banks and other financial institutions to provide additional funding for financing schemes or the release of credit to individual artisans, groups and communities who are interested in investing in craft production using local raw materials; offered import and export tax and duty exemptions or reductions to both domestic and foreign craft businesses; fast-tracked the issue of export licences, especially those relating to exports to the EU, Canada, Australia and Singapore; supported the introduction of high technology and advanced machinery suitable for craft production with a view to increased productivity; and introduced tax duty and import restrictions on foreign craft products (specifically textiles, rattan, bamboo and wood products, traditional foods, ceramics and pottery, sa and sa paper) with a view to protecting the production of those domestic crafts which use these materials. It has also organised training courses and overseas study tours for artisans and for administrators in charge of craft development, maintenance, supply and allocation of raw material and export production; collected and made available through Provincial Departments of Industry and Handicraft and through Women’s Unions relevant data on international issues of concern to the craft sector (eg goods, marketing, prices, technology and sources of funding); and organised overseas trade fairs and exhibitions to promote Lao crafts internationally.