ODOP, OTOP fair to boost Lao-Thai trade
ODOP, OTOP fair to boost Lao-Thai trade
A joint trade fair was held in Khammuan province to promote exchanges in trade, investment, tourism and culture between Laos and neighbouring Thailand recently.
The trade fair featured various products and handicrafts produced under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative in Laos and the similar One Tambon One Product (OTOP) initiative over the border in Thailand.
The exhibition was organised over the period from March 6-10 in Thakhek district, Khammuan province, aiming is to promote income for local communities and develop market opportunities.
It was made possible through a collaborative effort between various sectors in Khammuan province of Laos and Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand.
The fair sought to promote exchanges between ODOP and OTOP entrepreneurs from Laos and Thailand.
It contributed to the deepening of relationships by allowing traders and producers to share their experiences, discuss opportunities and potential improvements to their products and marketing.
The fair also contributed to the maintenance and ongoing development of the good relationships between product producers groups and entrepreneurs in Laos and neighbouring Thailand, who share both linguistic and cultural ties.
All up, the trade exhibition comprised 13 stores from 10 districts in Khammuan province, which exhibited goods to the value of 511 million kip as well as 50 stores from Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand, demonstrating the considerable interest of the Thai traders.
After the Third Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge opened in 2011 to provide new links between Nakhon Phanom in Thailand and Khammuan province in Laos, cross border trade has continued to grow and expand.
The third friendship bridge has not only contributed to boosting trade and investment but also general ties between Laos and Thailand and in particular the tourism industry.
The product and handicraft fair was attended by the Khammuan provincial Deputy Governor, Mr Oday Soudaphone and also the Nakhon Phanom provincial authorities.
