Lao business exhibitors ready for 11th CAEXPO
Lao business exhibitors ready for 11th CAEXPO
Some 45 various businesses from Laos are ready to participate at the upcoming 11th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) to be held in Nanning, China from September 16-19 next month.
Ministry of Industry and Commerce' Office Head Mr Somvang Ninthavong reported on the progress of preparations at a recent meeting in Vientiane.
Mr Somvang, who is also head of the CAEXPO Secretariat, said over the past two months the secretariat has coordinated with relevant government and private sector organisations and so far all preparations were going smoothly.
He said currently the Lao businesses were ticking all the boxes when it came to getting ready for the big event with only some minor loose ends to tie up.
“So far, we have completed about 90 percent of the booths' decorations, while only some small matters remain unfinished,” Mr Somvang added.
He said the 45 Lao businesses will occupy a total of 85 booths at this year's CAEXPO, including 30 booths for 14 furniture product businesses, 20 booths for 7 wood carving businesses, 13 booths for 9 silk handicraft retailers, 5 booths for jewellery and ornament merchants, three booths for tourism and investment promotion units, along with numerous booths for goods and drink sellers.
Last year, there were 86 booths exhibiting goods from more than 50 companies with the Lao goods on display including furniture, coffee, jewellery, drinks and other products.
Although the number of participants declined slightly this year, more and more businesses from Laos have shown interest in attending CAEXPO, with more than 100 businesses initially expressing their desire of having a presence at the 2014 event.
“Due to government budget limitations, and some companies failing to comply with standards and regulations, only 45 companies were selected to participate in CAEXPO.” Mr Somvang stressed.
According to the secretariat, this year Bokeo province has been chosen as the City of Charm for Laos at CAEXPO, where it will showcase its unique appeal to the world.
The Cities of Charm of China and the other 9 Asean member states have also been confirmed as Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China, Bandar Seri Begawan of Brunei Darussalam, Sihanoukville province of Cambodia, South Sumatra province of Indonesia, Langkawi of Malaysia, Yangon of Myanmar, Davao of the Philippines, Singapore, Nakhon Si Thammarat of Thailand, and Binh Thuan of Vietnam.
Last year, the country's pavilion presented the ‘charming city of Vientiane', based on the themes of security, cleanliness, greenness, light, charm and civilisation.
The annual China-Asean Expo, co-sponsored by China and the 10 Asean countries as well as the Asean Secretariat, is the only international trade fair which focuses solely on the China-Asean Free Trade Area to promote the reciprocal cooperation and common development of China and Asean.
vientiane times
