Precious metals need proof of quality
Precious metals need proof of quality
The government and private sector must establish a body that can certify what percentage of gold, silver, or copper a handmade product contains, according to the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI).
The organisation should be equipped with a laboratory to check, analyse and certify the products' percentage and quality.
“This is to build confidence among customers, especially foreign buyers,” LNCCI Secretary Mr Khanthavong Dalavong said yesterday.
Concerns over percentages and the ensuing quality certifications were some of the recommendations made by visitors to Laos, which the LNCCI wants the government to take into consideration.
“The LNCCI alone cannot establish that organisation, because we only work as a bridge that links the business and state sectors,” Mr Khanthavong said.
“The organisation should be set up by the state sector.”
Currently, Laos' diverse mix of styled and shaped silver, gold and copper items is attracting the interest of foreign buyers. Made by hand, they stand out from similar products from other countries, where they're churned out by machines.
“But we have no specific group that can provide the information buyers want about a product's precious metal percentage,” Mr Khanthavong said.
“The LNCCI has reported the issue to the state sector, but there hasn't been any change in the situation.”
Such an initiative would protect customers from deceitful vendors.
“There are certainly cases where customers have been lied to about the percentage of precious metal a particular item contained,” he said.
“A special body set up for this purpose would be fair to both buyers and sellers.”
Overseas visitors to the recent Made in Laos Expo praised Laos' agricultural and handicraft products, saying that although Laos is an underdeveloped country, the skills here are equal to those found in developed countries.
The most popular goods on display were those made from silkworms. Other products praised were furniture and decorative items, particularly those made from scrap wood, and agricultural products such as organic vegetables.
vientiane times
