(VOV) - Boosting trade and investment in Champasak province and Vientiane capital in Laos was the focus of a seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City on July 16.
Vietnam, Laos create peaceful border Participating businesses were given information on the policies and development potential in the two countries and were encouraged to learn more about the areas of their concern for effective, long-term cooperation.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulit said his Government creates favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to operate in Laos and to benefit both countries.
The seminar is one of the activities co-organized by Vietnamese and Lao localities to celebrate Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year 2012 and commemorate the 50 th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 35 th anniversary of signing the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.
Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Laos reached US$734 million in 2011, up 50 percent compared to the previous year. In the first quarter of this year, it gained US$136 million, a year-on-year increase of 66.6 percent.
Vietnam is currently the second biggest investor in Laos with 424 projects worth nearly US$2.6 billion. HCM City has 35 businesses that have been granted investment licenses in Laos with a total of US$306 million in capital.