Lao, Thai businesses network
Lao, Thai businesses network
Lao and Thai business operators took the opportunity to seek out potential franchise partners in the hope of expanding their enterprises at the recent Lao-Thai Business Matching Session in Vientiane.
Organised by the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Business Development Department of Thailand's Ministry of Commerce and the Thai International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), the multi-sectoral meeting was a chance for entrepreneurs from both sides of the Mekong to network.
ITD Deputy Executive Director, Dr Watcharas Leelawath, said some 45 shops owners from Bangkok and Udon Thani crossed the border to meet with members of the Lao business community.
“I can't calculate what the exact results of this session will be, but I believe if there is synergy and cooperation, it will lead to more employment in this country,” he said.
“On the other hand,” Dr Watcharas said, “opening franchises in Laos would offer consumers more choice and variety, particularly in the rapidly-growing and ever-changing capital city.”
He said people in Vientiane and across Laos had more money and were living more modern lifestyles, with more of a focus on eating and d rinking out.
“This can attract Thai people to do business in Laos,” he said, adding that he believes the Thai food and beverage sectors would be able to penetrate the country because of the lifestyle of its inhabitants.
Dr Watcharas said his organisation had held similar business-matching sessions across Southeast Asia, including in the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
He said it was difficult to evaluate the meetings' success in the short-term, but feedback indicated participants were continuing to negotiate and cooperate long afterwards, which was good news for bilateral business ties.
vientiane times
