Lao jewellery products to face AEC competition
Lao jewellery products to face AEC competition
An urgent improvement of jewellery products, especially the unique design of gold jewellery, is needed to compete with other countries when the Asean Economic Community (AEC) comes into effect next year.
“Regular improvements of jewellery designs is essential for Lao products to compete in the AEC markets next year because jewellery makers from our neighbouring countries are skilful and familiar with using advanced production technologies,” Lao Gem Jewellery Trader Association President Mr Phouvong Phamisith said recently.
He said the association had regularly organised seminars and workshops to enhance and update skills for goldsmiths and silversmiths in relation to the fields of design and production.
“We often see a lot of Lao people buying Lao gold jewellery because of the regular improvements in design, which reflect the Lao tradition and culture. That is the reason we have to focus on improvements to attract more local customers initially,” Mr Phouvong said.
The association has more than 600 shop members nationwide, meanwhile Vientiane alone has a total of 200 shops and almost all of the products are locally designed by Lao jewellery makers.
A variety of gold jewellery designs are of interest to the customers and attract buyers who were once interested in diamond accessories only.
“To be honest, we cannot compare to other Asean countries, with the strength of our association only being 60 to 70 percent but we are quite sure Laos won't be the only jewellery market in Asean,” he said.
Several meetings within the association have been organised every year to ensure Lao gold jewellery had been improved and uniquely designed.
Laos wants to use foreign technologies in producing gold accessories but see designs still based on the Lao style, which is attractive to foreign buyers.
Many different problems and challenges have been raised by the association ahead of the competition in the AEC, however, the improvements of products based on the uniqueness of Lao culture can be a strength for Laos.
“To ensure that Laos is not only an existing market for foreign products, we have to upgrade skilled labourers in the product development by adding more Lao tradition and culture into products,” he said .
Currently gold jewellery is becoming quite popular within Lao society and this is a strength for the association to further work on improvements of a variety of products.
“We believe that Lao products can also expand into the AEC markets in the future if the jewellery industry is appropriately backed by the relevant government sectors,” Mr Phouvong said.
vientiane times
