GATS/SC/150  
 
22 April 2013  
(13-2102)  Page: 1/17  
Trade in Services   
 
 LAO PDR 
SCHEDULE OF SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS 
(This is authentic in English only) 
 
 
_______________  
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Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Li mitations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
I. HORIZONTAL COMMITMENTS (A PPLICABLE TO ALL SECTORS INCLUDED IN THIS SCHEDULE) 
Land ownership  (3), (4) Non-Lao PDR natural and juridical 
persons are not allowed to own land but may own premises and lease land up to 75 years.  
Subsidies and investment incentives  (1), (2), (3), (4) Unbound with respect to 
subsidies, investment incentives and other state support measures, eligibility for which may be limited to particular regions, categories of persons, or enterprises.  
Commercial presence (3) To establish a commercial presence, 
a services provider must be incorporated in specific legal form in accordance with laws and regulations of Lao PDR.  
 (3) Foreign investors shall provide 
adequate training opportunities to Lao PDR nationals.  
 (3) Tax measures, generally pertaining 
to small and medium enterprises may result in a difference of treatment in favour of Lao PDR services and service suppliers.   
Movement of natural persons providing 
services (4) Unbound, except for measures 
affecting the temporary entry and stay of natural persons who qualify under one of the following categories, and in all cases, the total number of foreign natural persons in the following categories shall not exceed 20% of the total staff: 
 A. Business visitors: 
Natural persons who: - Enter Lao PDR to be engaged in 
activities related to representing a 
services supplier for the purpose of 
negotiating for the sale of the services of that supplier; 
- Stay in Lao PDR without receiving 
remuneration from sources within Lao PDR; and 
- Do not engage in making direct 
sales to the general public or supplying services. 
 The temporary stay of business visitors is subject to a maximum duration of stay of 90 days.   B. Intra-Corporate Transferees: 
Natural persons who have been employed (4) Unbound, except for measures 
concerning the categories of natural persons referred to in the market access column. Unbound for all measures relating to social insurance schemes including inter alia  unemployment and 
pension benefits.   
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by a juridical person  of another Member 
outside Lao PDR for a period of not less than 1 year immedi ately preceding the 
request for transfer to Lao PDR, who seek temporary entry to provide services through commercial establishment of that juridical person in Lao PDR, who cannot be substituted by Lao PDR nationals, and who fall within one of the following categories: (a) Executives: Natural persons within 
an organization wh o primarily direct 
the management of the organization, exercise wide latitude in decision-making, and receive only general supervision or direction from higher-level executives, the board of directors, or shareholders of the 
business. Executives would not 
directly perform ta sks related to the 
actual supply of a service or services of the organization; and  
(b) Managers: Natural persons who 
possess knowledge at an advanced level of expertise or proprietary knowledge of a juridical entity's products, services, research, equipment, techniques, or management, and who primarily direct the organization or a department of the organization; supervise and control the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees; have the authority to hire and fire or recommend hiring, firing or other personnel actions; and exercise discretionary authority over day-to-day operations. They do not include first-line superv isors, unless the 
employees supervised are 
professionals
1, nor do they include 
employees who primarily perform tasks necessary for the supply of the service.  
 
                                               
1 Natural persons with professional qualific ations for performing work within the scope  of a particular profession, where these are required by the laws and regulations of 
Lao PDR.  
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(c) Specialists: Natural persons within 
an organization who possess 
knowledge at an advanced level of continued expertise and who possess proprietary knowledge of the organization's services, research equipment, techniques, or management and where there are shortages of Lao PDR nationals with requisite skills.   
For the natural persons in the categories defined under intra-corporate transferees, temporary residency an d work permit will 
be issued for 1 year which may be renewed every 6 months for up to 3 years as long as conditions indicated for each category are satisfied.  
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II. SECTOR-SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS 
1. BUSINESS SERVICES 
A. Professional Services 
(a) Legal services, excluding: 
- Participation in legal proceedings 
in the capacity of defenders or representatives of their clients before the courts of Lao PDR; 
- Legal documentation and 
certification services of the laws of Lao PDR (part of CPC 861) (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 49%. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Unbound.  (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the  horizontal section.  
(b) Accounting, auditing and 
bookkeeping services  
 (CPC 862) (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Unbound for 7 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, a joint venture with a Lao PDR national accountant who is a full member of 
the Lao Institute of Certified Public 
Accountants (LICPA) is required
2. 
(4) Unbound. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) The majority of directors must be  certified accountants who are Lao  nationals. 
 
 
 
(4) Unbound.  
(c) Taxation consulting services 
(part of CPC 863) (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the  horizontal section.  
(d) Architectural services 
(CPC 8671) 
(e) Engineerin g services 
(CPC 8672) 
(f) Integrated engineering services 
(CPC 8673) 
(g) Urban planning and landscape 
architectural services (CPC 8674) (1) None. 
    
(2) None.     (3) For 5 years after accession, foreign 
equity participation limited to 51%. Thereafter: none. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the horizontal section. (1) The service must be authenticated 
by an architect or engineer who has appropriate practi cing certificate 
working in a juridical entity established in Lao PDR. 
(2) The service must be authenticated 
by an architect or engineer who has appropriate practi cing certificate 
working in a juridical entity established in Lao PDR. 
(3) None. 
  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
                                               
2 For all phased in commitments in this schedule, it is understood that limitations indicated in sectoral headnotes and/or the h orizontal commitments section will apply at 
phase in.  
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B. Computer and Related Services 
 Computer and Related Services 
 (CPC 84)  (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
C. Research and Development  
(a) R&D services on natural sciences 
(CPC 851)  
  (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 51%. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None.  (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.   
F. Other Business Services 
(a) Advertising services: 
- Planning, creating and placement 
services of advertising  
 (CPC 87120) (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 49%. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Unbound.  (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
(b) Market research services  
 (CPC 86401) (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
(c) Management consulting services 
(CPC 865) (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) For 3 years after accession, foreign 
equity participation limited to 51%. Thereafter: None. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) None. 
  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.   
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(e) Technical testing and analysis 
services  
 (CPC 8676) (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 51%. After 5 years from the date of accession, foreign equity participation limited to 70%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) The majority of directors must be 
engineers who are Lao PDR nationals. 
 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
(h) Services incidental to mining 
(CPC 5115) (1) Unbound3. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 51%. After 5 years from the date of accession, foreign equity participation limited to 70%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) Unbound
4. 
(2) None. (3) The majority of directors must be 
engineers who are Lao PDR nationals. 
 (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
(m) Related scientific and technical 
consulting services 
(CPC 86751 and 86752 only) (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 51%. After 5 years from the date of accession, foreign equity participation limited to 70%. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) The majority of directors must be 
engineers who are Lao PDR nationals. 
 (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
(n) Maintenance and repair of 
equipment (not including maritime vessels, aircraft or other transport equipment): 
- Repair of energy equipment  
(part of CPC 88620) (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 51%. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None.  (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.   
(t) Specialty design services  
 (CPC 87907)  (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) For 5 years after accession, foreign 
equity participation limited to 49%. Thereafter: foreign equity participation limited to 51%. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None.    (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.   
                                               
3 Unbound due to lack of technical feasibility. 
4 Unbound due to lack of technical feasibility.  
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2. COMMUNICATION SERVICES 
B. Courier services  
Courier services (CPC 7512) consisting of 
express delivery services5, except for the 
following services: (a) the collection, transport and 
delivery of domestic and cross-border addressed mail to Post Office (PO) boxes in the following categories: 
 (i) addressed letters  weighing not 
 more than 200 grams; 
 (ii) small items or packages 
 weighing up to 2 kg; 
(b) the collection, transport and 
delivery to PO boxes of domestic and international postal parcels weighing up to 20 kg; 
(c) the provision of PO boxes; and (d) issuing of postage stamps.  (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
C. Telecommunication services 
 Commitments are taken consistent with "Not es for Scheduling Basic Telecom Services Commitments" (S/GBT/W/2/Rev.1) and "Market Access Limitations on Spectrum 
Availability" (S/GBT/W/3). 
The following services (a-o) can be supplied only on a facilities basis, and for public use services:  Basic telecommunication services  (a) Voice telephone services 
(CPC 7521)  
(b) Packet-switched data transmission 
services 
(CPC 7523**) 
(c) Circuit-switched data transmission 
services (CPC 7523**) 
(d) Telex services 
(CPC 7523**) 
(e) Telegraph services 
(CPC 7522) 
(f) Facsimile services 
(CPC 7521**+ 7529**)  
     (1) Wire-based services, Terrestrial-
based mobile servic es and Satellite-
based services: Service must be offered through commercial 
arrangements with an entity 
established in Lao PDR and licensed 
to provide international telecommunication services.  
(2) None. (3) Only through acquisition of existing 
operators and foreign equity participation limited to 49% for 5 years after the date of accession. Thereafter, commercial presence for  
     (1) Wire-based services, Terrestrial-
based mobile servic es and Satellite-
based services: Service must be offered through commercial 
arrangements with an entity 
established in Lao PDR and licensed 
to provide international telecommunication services.  
(2) None. (3) None as phased-in in the market 
access column. 
    
     Lao PDR undertakes the obligations in the Reference Paper attach ed hereto within 
2 years of accession.   
                                               
5 Express delivery services include the coll ection, transport and delivery of document s, printed matter, parcels and/or other go ods on an expedited basis, while tracking 
and maintaining control of these items th roughout the supply of the service.  
** The (**) indicates that the service specified constitutes only a part of the total range of activities covered by the CPC co ncordance (e.g. voice mail is only a 
component of CPC item 7523).  
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(g) Private leased circuit services new investments will be allowed   
(CPC 7522**+7523**) 
(o) Other: - Terrestrial-based mobile phone 
services with foreign equity participation limited to 
60%. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the horizontal section.  
 (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the horizontal section.  
Value-added telecommunication services 
 (h) Electronic-mail 
(CPC 7523**) 
(i) Voice mail 
(CPC 7523**) 
(j) Online information and data base 
retrieval (CPC 7523**) 
(k) Electronic data interchange (EDI) 
(CPC 7523**)  
(l) Enhanced/value-added facsimile 
services, including store and forward, store and retrieve (CPC 7523**)  
(m) Code and protocol conversion (n) On-line information and/or data 
processing (including transaction processing) (CPC 843**)  
 (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
 (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
3. CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED ENGINEERING SERVICES 
A. General construction work for 
buildings  (CPC 512) 
B. General construction work for civil 
engineering  (CPC 513) 
C. Installation and assembly work 
(CPC 514+516) 
D. Building completion and finishing 
work (CPC 517) 
E. Other: 
(CPC 511+515+518) (1) Unbound. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 70%. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) Unbound. 
(2) None. (3) None.  (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.   
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4. DISTRIBUTION SERVICES 
 The distribution of goods under the Controlled List of the Mini stry of Industry of Commerce - arms, ammunition, explosives and  explosive substances, highly toxic 
chemicals, narcotics, cultural items, books, newspapers and ma gazines, precious metals and st ones, medicines and medical equipm ent, endangered species, gambling 
machines, money printing machines, processe d oil and crude oil, alcohols, tobacco prod ucts, rice - is excluded from commitments .  
B. Wholesale trade services 
(part of CPC 61111, 6113, 6121) 
  (1) None. 
(2) None.  (3) Unbound for 7 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, foreign equity participation limited to 49%. Subject to meeting economic need tests
6. 
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section. (1) None.  
(2) None.  (3) Unbound.      
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  
 
C. Retailing services 
(part of CPC 61112, 6113, 6121) 
  (1) Unbound. 
(2) Unbound. (3) Unbound for 7 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, foreign equity participation limited to 49%. Subject to meeting economic need tests
7. 
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section. (1) Unbound. 
(2) Unbound. (3) Unbound.     (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  
D. Franchising 
(part of CPC 8929)8 
 (1) None. 
(2) None.  (3) Unbound for 7 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, foreign equity participation limited to 49%. Subject to meeting economic need tests
9. 
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the 
horizontal section. (1) None.  
(2) None.  (3) Unbound.      (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the 
horizontal section.  
                                               
6 The main criteria include the number of existing service suppliers in a particular geographical area, the stability of market and geographical scale. 
7 The main criteria include the number of existing service suppliers in a particular geographical area, the stability of market and geographical scale. 
8 As related to the provision of a distributi on service which is subject to a specific commitment under Section II.4 of this Sch edule. 
9 The main criteria include the number of existing service suppliers in a particular geographical area, the stability of market and geographical scale.  
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5. PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 
 The education curriculum and contents must be appr oved by the Ministry of Education of Lao PDR. 
 With respect to C and D below, the commitments cover only technical, natural sciences and technology, business administration and business studies, economics, 
accounting, international law and language training fields. 
 The scope of private education services conc erns only fully-private ly funded services. 
A. Primary education services 
(part of CPC 921) 
B. Secondary education services 
(part of CPC 922) (1) Unbound. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) Unbound. 
(2) None. (3) Directors must be  qualified teachers 
who are Lao PDR nationals. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
C. Higher education services 
(part of CPC 923) 
D. Adult education 
(part of CPC 924) 
E. Other education services: - Short term foreign language training 
only (part of CPC 929) (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Directors must be  qualified teachers 
who are Lao PDR nationals. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
6. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES10 
a.  Services considered as public utilities at a national or local level may be subject to public monopolies or to exclusive right s granted to private operators.  
A. Wastewater management 
(part of CPC 9401) 
B. Waste management 
(part of CPC 9402 and 9403) 
C. Protection of ambient air and 
climate (part of CPC 9404) 
D. Remediation and cleanup of soil and 
water (part of CPC 9406) 
E. Noise and vibration abatement 
(part of CPC 9405) (1) Unbound, except related consulting 
services.  
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) Unbound, except related consulting 
services.  
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
                                               
10 Environmental services exclude the provision of water for human  use, including water collection , purification and distribution  through mains.  
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7. FINANCIAL SERVICES 
 Access by foreign services suppliers and th e provision of new financial services within the scope of the commitments below and  that have not yet been provided by the 
private sector in Lao PDR at the date of accession, may be subject to measures adop ted for prudential reasons. 
 Direct branching is not allowed. Financial institutions in Lao PDR must adopt a specific legal form.   All the commitments are subject to entry requirements, domestic laws, rules and regulations and the terms and conditions of th e Bank of Lao PDR, the Ministry of Finance 
and/or any other competent authority in Lao PDR, as the case may be, which are consistent with Article VI of the GATS and parag raph 2 of the Annex on Financial Services 
and do not impair the commitments undertaken herewith. 
A. All insurance and insurance-related services  Insurance companies are restricted from offe ring both Life and Non-life insurance services. Excluded from the scope of these c ommitments are comp ulsory insurance, 
including but not limited to motor vehicle insurance, collective accident insurance for workers, depositors ' protection fund and social security fund.  
(i) Direct insurance 
 (A) Life insurance  (1) Unbound.  
(2) Unbound.  (3) Unbound for 5 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, foreign equity participation limited to 51%. 
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  (1) Unbound.  
(2) Unbound.  (3) None.   (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  
 (B) Non-life insurance (1) Unbound except for insurance 
services in international transportation, including of risks relating to: 
 (i) international maritime 
transport  and international commercial  aviation, with such insurance to  cover any or all of 
the  following: the goods being 
 transported, the vehicle  transporting the goods and any  liability arising there-from; and  
 (ii) goods in international 
transit. 
(2) Unbound except for insurance 
services in international transportation, including of risks relating to: 
 (i) international maritime 
transport  and international commercial  aviation, with such insurance to  cover any or all of the  following: the goods being  transported, the vehicle  transporting the goods and any  liability arising there-from; and  
 (ii) goods in international 
transit. 
 (1) Unbound except for insurance 
services in international transportation, including of risks relating to: 
 (i) international maritime 
transport  and international commercial  aviation, with such insurance to  cover any or all of 
the  following: the goods being 
 transported, the vehicle  transporting the goods and any  liability arising there-from; and  
 (ii) goods in international 
transit. 
(2) Unbound except for insurance 
services in international transportation, including of risks relating to: 
 (i) international maritime 
transport  and international commercial  aviation, with such insurance to  cover any or all of the  following: the goods being  transported, the vehicle  transporting the goods and any  liability arising there-from; and  
 (ii) goods in international 
transit. 
   
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 (3) Unbound for 5 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, foreign equity participation limited to 51%. 
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section. (3) None. 
  (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  
(ii) Reinsurance and retrocession (1) None.  
(2) None.  (3) Unbound for 5 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, unbound except for foreign equity participation limited to 51%. 
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  (1) None.  
(2) None.  (3) None.     (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.   
(iv) Services auxiliary to insurance, such 
as consultancy, actuarial, risk assessment and claim settlement 
services.  
 (1) None.  
(2) None.  (3) Unbound for 5 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, foreign 
equity participation limited to 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section. (1) None.  
(2) None.  (3) None.  
 
 (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.   
B. Banking and other financial services (excluding insurance) 
 Commitment is with respect to commercial banking only and limited to financial institutions licensed to provide banking servic es. Foreign juridical person must incorporate 
as either a joint stock or limited liabil ity company, but may not incorporate as a sole ownership limited liability company. 
(v) Acceptance of deposits and other 
repayable funds from the public 
(vi) Lending of all types, including, 
inter alia , consumer credit, 
mortgage credit, factoring and financing of commercial transactions 
(vii) Financial leasing (viii) All payment and money 
transmission services including credit, charge and debit cards, travellers cheques and bankers drafts 
(ix) Guarantees and commitments (x) Trading for own account or for 
account of customers, whether on an exchange, in an over-the-counter market or otherwise, the following: 
 (A) money market instruments 
(including cheques, bills, certificates of deposits);  
  (1) Unbound for 5 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, unbound except for: 
 (xv) Provision and transfer of 
financial information, and financial data processing and related software by suppl iers of other 
financial services; and  
 (xvi) Advisory, intermediation 
and other auxiliary financial services on all the activities listed in subparagraphs (v) through (xv), including credit reference and analysis, investme nt and portfolio 
research and advice, advice on acquisitions and on corporate restructuring and strategy. 
(2) Unbound for 5 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, unbound except for: 
  (1) Unbound, for 5 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, unbound except for: 
  (xv) Provision and transfer of 
financial information, and financial data processing and related software by suppliers of other financial services; and  
 (xvi) Advisory, intermediation 
and other auxiliary financial services on all the activities listed in subparagraphs (v) through (xv), including credit reference and analysis, investme nt and portfolio 
research and advice, advice on acquisitions and on corporate restructuring and strategy. 
(2) Unbound for 5 years after the date 
of accession. Thereafter, unbound except for: 
   
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 (B) foreign exchange; 
 (C) derivative products, 
including, but not limited to, futures and  options; 
 (D) exchange rate and interest 
rate  instruments, including products  such as swaps, forward rate  agreements; 
 (E) transferable securities;  (F) other negotiable 
instruments and financial assets, including bullion. 
(xv) Provision and transfer of financial 
information, and financial data processing and related software by suppliers of other financial services;  
(xvi) Advisory, intermediation and other 
auxiliary financial services on all the 
activities listed in subparagraphs (v) 
through (xv), including credit reference and anal ysis, investment 
and portfolio research and advice, advice on acquisitions and on corporate restructuring and strategy.  (xv) Provision and transfer of 
financial information, and financial data processing and related software by suppl iers of other 
financial services; and  
 (xvi) Advisory, intermediation 
and other auxiliary financial services on all the activities listed in subparagraphs (v) through (xv), including credit reference and analysis, investme nt and portfolio 
research and advice, advice on acquisitions and on corporate restructuring and strategy. 
(3) For (v) to (x): Unbound for 5 years 
after the date of accession. Thereafter, foreign equity participation limited to 51%. 
 
 For (xv) to (xvi): Unbound for 7 
years after the date of accession. Thereafter, foreign equity participation limited to 51%. 
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  (xv) Provision and transfer of 
financial information, and financial data processing and related software by suppliers of other financial services; and  
 (xvi) Advisory, intermediation 
and other auxiliary financial services on all the activities listed in subparagraphs (v) through (xv), including credit reference and analysis, investme nt and portfolio 
research and advice, advice on acquisitions and on corporate restructuring and strategy. 
(3) For (v) to (x): None.   For (xv) to (xvi): The admission to 
the market of new financial services 
may be subject to the existence of, 
and consistency with, related laws and regulations. 
  (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  
8. PRIVATE HEALTH RELATED AND SOCIAL SERVICES 
 (Other than those listed under II.1.A.h-j.)  The scope of private health related and social serv ices concerns only fully- privately funded services. 
A. Private hospital services 
(Modern hospital with more than 100 beds in big cities only) (part of CPC 93110) (1) Unbound. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section. (1) Unbound. 
(2) None. (3) Unbound. (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  
9. TOURISM AND TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES  
A. Hotels and restaurants 
 (including catering) 
(part of CPC 641 (excluding guesthouses
11 and 6419), CPC 642, 
and CPC 643) (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) For lodging services: limited to 
establishments with three stars rating or higher.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None.   (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
                                               
11 Defined as "furnished accommodation with up to 14 bedrooms, main ly provided in private apartments or homes on a temporary lodg ing, and with a two stars rating or 
lower".  
  GATS/SC/150  
 
- 15 - Modes of supply: (1) Cross-Border supply  (2) Consumption abroad  (3) Commercial pr esence (4) Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Li mitations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
B. Travel agencies and tour operators 
services (CPC 7471)  (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 70%.  
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign service supplying 
enterprises can only do inbound services. 
(4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  
D. Other: 
- Tourism consultancy services (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except for executives and 
managers as per conditions in the horizontal section.  
11. TRANSPORT SERVICES 
C. Air Transport Services  
(d) Maintenance and repair of aircraft  
 (part of CPC 8868) (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) Foreign equity participation limited 
to 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) None. 
 (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
 - Selling and marketing of air 
transport services 
- Computer reservation system (CRS) 
services  (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  GATS/SC/150 
 
- 16 - 
 
  REFERENCE PAPER 
Scope The following are definitions and principles on the regulatory framework for the basic 
telecommunications services. 
Definitions 
Users mean service consumers and service suppliers.  
Essential facilities mean facilities of a public telecommunications transport network or service that: 
a. are exclusively or predominantly provided by a single or limited number of 
suppliers; and 
b. cannot feasibly be economically or technically substituted in order to provide a 
service. 
A major supplier is a supplier which has the ability to materially affect the terms of participation 
(having regard to price and supply) in the relevant market for basic telecommunications services 
as a result of: 
a. control over essential facilities; or 
b. use of its position in the market. 
1  COMPETITIVE SAFEGUARDS 
1.1  Prevention of anti-competiti ve practices in telecommunications 
Appropriate measures shall be maintained for the purpose of preventing suppliers who, alone or 
together, are a major supplier from engaging in or continuing anti-competitive practices. 
1.2  Safeguards 
The anti-competitive practices referred to above shall include in particular: 
a. engaging in anti-competitive cross-subsidization; 
 b. using information obtained from competitors with anti-competitive results; and 
 c. not making available to other services suppliers on a timely basis technical 
information about essential facilities and commercially relevant information which are necessary for them to provide services. 
2  INTERCONNECTION 
2.1  This section applies to linking with suppliers providing public telecommunications 
transport networks or services in orde r to allow the users of one supplier to 
communicate with users of another supplier an d to access services provided by another 
supplier, where specific commitments are undertaken. 
2.2  Interconnection to be ensured Interconnection with a major supplier will be ensured at any technically feasible point in the 
network. Such interconnection is provided: 
a. under non-discriminatory terms, conditions (including technical standards and 
specifications) and rates and of a quality no less favourable than that provided for 
its own like services or for like services of non-affiliated service suppliers or for its 
subsidiaries or other affiliates; 
b. in a timely fashion, on terms, conditions (including technical standards and 
specifications) and cost-oriented rates that are transparent, reasonable, having GATS/SC/150 
 
- 17 - 
 
  regard to economic feasibility, and sufficiently unbundled so that the supplier need 
not pay for network components or facilities that it does not require for the service to be provided; and 
c. upon request, at points in addition to the network termination points offered to the 
majority of users, subject to charges that reflect the cost of construction of 
necessary additional facilities. 
2.3  Public availability of the procedures for interconnection negotiations 
The procedures applicable for interconnection to a major supplier will be made publicly available. 
2.4  Transparency of interconnection arrangements 
It is ensured that a major supplier will make publicly available either its interconnection 
agreements or a reference interconnection offer. 
2.5  Interconnection: dispute settlement 
A service supplier requesting interconnection with a major supplier will have recourse, either: 
a. at any time; or 
b. after a reasonable period of time which has been made publicly known to an 
independent domestic body, which may be a regulatory body as referred to in paragraph 5 below, to resolve disputes regarding appropriate terms, conditions 
and rates for interconnection within a reasonable period of time, to the extent that 
these have not been established previously. 
3  UNIVERSAL SERVICE Any Member has the right to define the kind of universal service obligation it wishes to maintain. 
Such obligations will not be regarded as anti-competitive per se , provided they are administered in 
a transparent, non-discriminatory and competitively neutral manner and are not more burdensome than necessary for the kind of unive rsal service defined by the Member. 
4  PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF LICENSING CRITERIA 
Where a licence is required, the following will be made publicly available: 
a. all the licensing criteria and the period of time normally required to reach a 
decision concerning an application for a licence; and 
b. the terms and conditions of individual licenses.  
The reasons for the denial of a licence will be made known to the applicant upon request. 
5  INDEPENDENT REGULATORS 
The regulatory body is separate from, an d not accountable to, any supplier of basic 
telecommunications services. The decisions of and the procedures used by regulators shall be 
impartial with respect to all market participants. 
6  ALLOCATION AND USE OF SCARCE RESOURCES Any procedures for the allocation and use of scarc e resources, including frequencies, numbers and 
rights of way, will be carried out in an objective, timely, transparent and non-discriminatory 
manner. The current state of allocated frequency bands will be made publicly available, but detailed identification of frequencies allocated for specific government uses is not required. 
__________