Senior Vietnamese and Lao officials at the Vietnam - Laos business seminar.
This request was made yesterday at a business seminar in Hanoi organised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), National Assembly Committee for External Relations and the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Laos (AVIL).
The seminar was attended by attended by Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and his Lao counterpart, Pany Yathotou, as well as other senior officials and enterprises from both countries.
The seminar created an opportunity for the Lao authorities to introduce their country’s investment potential and policies to the Vietnamese business community and also seek ways to boost bilateral co-operation in trade and investment.
Vietnamese enterprises appealed to the Lao Government to consider assigning development projects to Vietnamese enterprises, especially along the border between the two countries.
According to the MPI, Vietnam has invested over US$34 billion in 206 projects in Laos, ranking third among foreign investors in the country. Laos is also the most popular investment destination for Vietnamese investors.
AVIL reports show that Vietnamese-invested projects have transformed the economic picture in Laos by creating jobs for local residents, increasing revenues for the Laos State budget and improving the lives of the people.
Speaking at the seminar, Lao Deputy PM Somsavat Lengsavat praised the contributions Vietnamese enterprises have made to economic development in Laos.
He suggested that the two countries exchange information frequently to remove obstacles quickly and speed up the progress of co-operation projects.
Vietnamese Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed with his Lao counterpart and suggested that Vietnam and Laos should take appropriate measures to encourage investment in infrastructure, financial and banking projects.
He stressed that Vietnamese enterprises should also be responsible for promoting friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries.