Trade fair to boost Lao-Thai business relations
Trade fair to boost Lao-Thai business relations
The value of trade between Laos and Thailand has reached almost US$1.7 billion in the first four months of 2013, which is 3.81 percent higher than the same period last year.
According to the Royal Thai Embassy's Official for Commercial Affairs, Thailand exported products to Laos valued at US$1.3 billion and imported products from Laos valued at US$390 million.
Minister Counsellor of the Office of Commercial Affairs of the Royal Thai Embassy to Laos, Ms Pimol Pongkongkaew, said she understands why there is a trade imbalance currently.
“The reason Laos has a smaller export value than Thailand is because Laos is currently intensively developing infrastructure and hydropower plants so they import many mechanical items, construction supplies and other products for their development projects,” she noted.
The annual trade fair, or the Laos-Thailand Sourcing and Business Matching 2013, will run from July 3-7 at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane. It is a collaborative event between Thailand's Ministry of Commerce and Laos' Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The organisers have selected around 200 companies and allocated 250 booths to display a wide range of products, including automobile parts, construction materials, household items, clothes, educational equipment, food and health products and other industrial items.
At the fair, business operators, investors, entrepreneurs and members of the general public have the chance to meet potential trade partners through the business matching activities, which will forge valuable links in anticipation of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
vientiane times
