Laos to host Asia-Europe Business Forum
Laos to host Asia-Europe Business Forum
Laos will host the Asia-Europe Business Forum at the end of this year, with a view to boosting investment and trade between the two regions.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Nam Vinhaket, Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mr Kissana Vongsay, and European Chamber of Commerce to Laos President Mr Guy Apovy yesterday addressed a press conference to announce the 13th edition of the forum in Vientiane.
A number of senior government and Chamber officials also attended the conference, which was held at the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Asia-Europe Business Forum will be held from November 3 to 5 as an important side event of the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit where government leaders from Asia and Europe will meet to discuss political and economic cooperation. The ASEM Summit will be held on November 5 and 6.
The business forum will serve as a venue for business leaders to promote partnership in the public and private sectors across Asia and Europe. The event will give participants a chance to exchange views with dignitaries, business operators, academics and policy makers from Europe and Asia.
According to the organise rs, the forum will invite a number of top CEOs and decision makers in the business community to give insight into underlying influencing structures, identify business opportunities and challenges and give recommendations for government leaders on sound economic development policies.
It is expected that about 300 representatives of businesses and companies from Asia and the European Union will attend the event.
The theme of the 13th Asia-Europe Business Forum will be ‘Asia-Europe Cooperation - Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development'.
The forum will focus discussion on the four topics of financial and capital management, market access between Asean, the Greater Mekong Sub region and Europe, the social and environmental responsibilities of Asian and European businesses, and cross-cutting issues of successful value and supply chain implementation.
Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President, Mr Oudet Souvannavong, said prep arations for the business forum were well under way, adding that the preparation committee had completed the necessary concept papers. The committee has also completed sponsorship packages and drafted invitations to meeting participants and lecturers, he said. The committee is also drafting the forum contents and developing a website to provide information on the forum.
The government hopes the successful hosting of the business forum will raise the profile of Laos, in particular its ability to host international events.
The Asia-Europe Business Forum was launched at the first ASEM Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1996. This year's forum aims not only to facilitate dialogue between entrepreneurs in both regions but also to enhance relations between business and the ASEM government sector.
vientiane times
