DPM encourages French businesspeople to Laos as production base
DPM encourages French businesspeople to Laos as production base
Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Sonexay Siphandone has encouraged businesspeople from France to choose Laos as their new production base for goods exports to Asean member coun tries and cooperation partner countries.
He made the comment at the Vientiane Rendezvous in Vientiane yesterday, organised by the Vientiane Administration Office and French Embassy in Vientiane.
Laos and France have good relationships, long-term and effective cooperation in both mutual and multiple forms.
The most meaningful events have included the historic visit of President of the French Republic, Mr François Hollande during the 9th Summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting in Vientiane in 2012 and a visit by former President Choummaly Sayasone to France in October 2013.
The visits have contributed to strengthened relations and cooperation between the two countries, Mr Sonexay said in his opening remarks.
The Lao government has highly valued the successful relations and cooperation between the two countries in various sectors, including agriculture, health, governance, heritage, education, the francophonie and other areas.
In the economic and investment sector, France currently ranks as the fifth largest investor in Laos, with its significant investment projects including the Nam Theun 2 hydropower plant and French companies like EDF, Essilor, BRED, and Citelum in Laos, Mr Sonexay said.
In 2013, Laos and France initiated a business meeting in Vientiane aiming to promote trade and investment between the two countries and attract more French investors to Laos.
In the successful results of the previous meeting, the two countries decided to organise the second edition of the Vientiane Rendezvous from January 23 to 27.
The topics of this meeting were very interesting and significant and covered various issues such as Laos as a gateway to Asean, climate change, tourism, and the francophonie economy, Mr Sonexay said.
�Currently, the Lao government is making efforts to successfully implement the 8th Five Year Plan from 2016-2020, aiming to escape least developed country status by 2020. In this endeavour, we hope to receive assistance and support from friendly countries, in particular France and francophone countries,� the deputy prime minister said.
Mr Sonexay noted that Laos has potential to attract investment into the country in many sectors due to its political stability. Laos' annual GDP growth rate is 7.5 percent and the country has an abundance of natural resources and tourism industry potential.
Another thing is that Laos successfully played the role of Asean Chair and hosted the 28th and 29th Asean Summits and related meetings in 2016 after establishing the Asean Economic Community in 2015.
Laos is strategically located in the centre of Southeast Asia and also greater Asia. It is also a member of the Francophone countries, Asean countries and the World Trade Organisation.
Mr Sonexay called on French businesspeople to choose Laos to be their new production base for goods exports to Asean member countries and cooperation partner countries including China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
