Vientiane Logistic Park to increase trade and investment
Vientiane Logistic Park to increase trade and investment
The government is seeking funds to develop the Vientiane Logistic Park after completing a feasibility study of the infrastructure development project.
The first steering committee meeting for the project, between the Lao government and Japanese development partners involved in the project, was held in Vientiane last week to discuss the planned implementation.
The project aims to construct and operate a logistics park on the north side of Thanalaeng station in Hadxaifong district, Vientiane to provide compr ehensive services including a customs procedures area, heavy bulk cargo areas, general cargo warehouse areas, parking lot, administrative building, customs office, service workshop, vehicle weight scales, buffer area, railway si dings and other facilities.
With a supported loan and grants from the Thai government, the project is currently constructing one component of the park – the container yard, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
Ministry authorities expect construction of the container yard to be completed at the beginning of 2015 after it commenced in September last year.
“In previous years, the government had invested a lot of the budget into infrastructure development of the country's transportation sector to connect with neighbouring countries,” Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr Sommad Pholsena said at the meeting.
“The development provided more facilities for transportation and created useful opportunities for agriculture product promotion, trading, investment and tourism in Laos,” he said.
“How ever, people have not yet benefited much from this investment as the country has so far not perfected transportation facilities such as parking, stations, logistic area and a goods centre.
“So, the government has formulated policy to shift Laos from a landlocked country, or no land to connect with sea, into a land-linked country or transit country.”
“As we are know, Laos is party to and member of international and regional organisations such as ASEAN, Mekong Sub-region and World Trade Organisation, so accordingly it is necessary for the government to invest in developing transportation infrastructure to link with neighbouring countries,” he added.
Mr Sommad stated if Laos provides good transportation services, it would present excellent opportunities for the country's development as it would encourage neighbouring countries to do trading, investment and visit.
Laos plans to implement all aspects of the ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement by 2015. This will reduce import duties for other ASEAN member countries exporting their products to Laos, removing trade barriers. Laos will also be able to export goods to other ASEAN countries more easily.
The meeting was also attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Laos, Mr Hiroyuki Kishino and Japanese International Cooperation Agency Headquarter Representative, Mr Takehiro Yasui.
vientiane times
