Laos, Indonesia enhance business cooperation ties
Laos, Indonesia enhance business cooperation ties
Trade between Laos and Indonesia was recorded at US$6 million last year, which remains the weakest volume among Asean nations, due to the lack of transportation linkages between the two sides, a trade promoter announced.
Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Oudet Souvannavong told Vientiane Times yesterday that they want to address the shortfall in two-way trade, while co-chairing a short business forum between Indonesia and Laos in Vientiane.
“To seek better ways to improve transport connectivity, Indonesian airline Garuda and Lao Airlines are also with us today to present and discuss the possibility of transport integration,” he said.
He said the two sides recently discussed what the current trade barriers are in an effort to address the slow growth of trade volumes and connectivity between businesspeople of the two countries.
“The answer is because there are no direct flights from Indonesia to Laos. That's why Garuda Indonesia Airlines have come to Laos to carry out a study on the potential to open direct flights to Laos,” he said, adding that they still need more time to consider the matter.
Prior to officially operating the direct flights, Garuda and Lao Airlines will still carry on seeking ways to further their business cooperation in areas such as ticketing services.
The half day forum was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to Laos, with a number of the businesspeople, trade promoters and officials from Laos and Indonesia in attendance.
The forum was held in cooperation with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.
The business sectors of the two sides anticipated they could benefit from supporting policies by the two countries' chambers of commerce and industry.
Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Laos, Mr Irmawan Emir Wisnandar said the forum allowed Indonesian and Lao businesspeople to strengthen their knowledge about doing business with each other.
“Laos is a strategic country sharing borders with Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, China and Myanmar so it is important for promoting business cooperation,” he said, noting that Laos has experienced economic growth of around 8.3 percent over the past three years.
“It is time for Indonesian businessmen to consider Laos as their wonderful business partner in order to obtain a market share in the region,” he said.
Mr Wisnandar also said the perspective was to think of how the two sides can develop links and connections that will enable direct flights from Indonesia to Laos.
“Without direct flights from Indonesia to Laos, business to business contact and people to people connections can't develop in a positive way,” he said.
“If we can have these kind of services the business will be strengthened and increase year by year.”
Lao bilateral trade cooperation with Indonesia is still low, compared to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore because they all have direct flights to Laos.
“That is why we should have direct flights from Indonesia to Laos and Laos to Indonesia, operated by Garuda or Lao Airlines,” Mr Wisnandar said.
Currently, Garuda Indonesia Airlines is now making a proposal to establish tour packages with local travel agents in Laos to build a connection encouraging people to travel between the two countries.
vientiane times
