ANZBA discusses better business linkages
ANZBA discusses better business linkages
Australian companies have faced certain challenges when doing business in Laos, which was recognised during a recent visit by Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms Julie Bishop.
The Australia and New Zealand Business Association (ANZBA) and Australian business representatives met with Ms Bishop during her visit to Vientiane, to discuss the situation for Australian companies doing business in Laos.
The meeting provided an opportunity to showcase the performance of Australian companies currently operating in Laos and also to look back at some of the leading innovations in the market that have been brought in by Australian companies in the past, such as Telstra, Leighton, and Normandy/Oxiana.
Durin g the short meeting, Ms Bishop recognised the challenges Australian companies face in operating in Laos. The top three challenges were seen as improving the ease of doing business, increasing transparency and efficiency of tax administration and promoting Australian foreign direct investment .
ANZBA supported maintaining Australian aid to Laos, particularly in the realm of improving the business operating environment. Australia supports enhanced business mobility for Lao business people travelling to Australia and highly skilled Australian workers living in Laos, as well as the need for an electronic national payments mechanism in the financial sector.
Ms Bishop said that many of the recommendations made by ANZBA were already in line with the Australian Government's recently released policies. The ANZBA President, Mr Richard Taylor, pushed for the Australian Government to consider a permanent Austrade presence in Laos and a bilateral double taxation agreement.
Ms Julia also spoke about enhancing Australia's role in the region and about the importance of Laos in the context of Asean, particularly in the lead up to Laos' impending chairmanship of Asean in 2016.
She spoke about the importan ce of the Australian aid programme, particularly its role in the education and UXO sector as well as Australia's engagement in regards to promoting gender equality.
vientiane times
