1. An IDA Implementation Support Mission for the Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification (PSC) Project visited Lesotho from 14-21 August, 2008. The mission team consisted of: Paul Baringanire (Power Engineer, AFTEG) and Ganesh Rasagam (Senior Private Sector Development Specialist, Task Team Leader, AFTPS). Husam Abudagga (Senior Country Officer, AFMLS), Edmund Motseki (Operations Officer, AFMLS), Theresia Rasethunts'a (AFMLS) and Masekeleme Sekeleme (AFMLS) provided support from the Resident Mission Office. Reynold Duncan (Lead Energy Specialist, AFTEG) and Bernard Drum (Lead Private Sector Development Specialist, AFTFP) provided support to the mission from Pretoria.
    
2. The mission team met with the Principal Secretaries and other key officials of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP); Ministry of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing (MTICM); Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture (MTEC), Ministry of Home Affairs and Public Safety (MHAPS), the CEO and senior officials of the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) and the CEO of the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC). The mission team also met with representatives from key private sector counterparts: the Lesotho Council for Tourism (LCT) and Denmar Estates.
    
3. The team was supported and guided by Ms. Mahlape T. Qoane, Acting Principal Secretary, MTICM, Mr. Chaba Mokuku, the Project Manager (PM) and PMU staff as well as the Technical Advisors to the Government of Lesotho (GoL): Mr. Andrew Singer and Mr. Ricardo Inzunza for their valuable support during the mission.
    
4. The objectives of the mission were to review overall implementation progress since May 2008 on the various project activities and agree on next steps. The key issues to be addressed during the mission include (i) finalization of the Companies Bill and drafting of the Business Reporting/Industrial Licensing Bill, (ii)establishing effective coordination and implementation of the immigration and passport service reform activities, (iii) replacement of the Lesotho Enterprise Assistance Program Sub-Component Manager and confirmation of the Project Manager’s appointment, and (iv) implementation of priority activities identified during the last mission on the horticulture sub-component.

The Mission concluded that overall project implementation continues to be Satisfactory and the PMU and Project Partners are making very good progress. Of the ten agreed priority actions from the last mission, seven were completed while the rest are underway.

August 14-21, 2008