The ASEAN-Korea Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment last Friday held the Laos-Korea Investment Forum and Business Matching meeting to enhance bilateral business cooperation between the two nations.
The Forum, held in Vientiane, was attended by Secretary General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre Kim Young-sun, Minister of Planning and Investment Somdy Douangdy, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos Kim Soo-Gwon, and business people from the two countries.
In his remarks, Minister Somdy noted that Laos has attached special attention to the socio-economicdevelopment policy and will support it through the National Socio-Economic Development Plan – 2016-2020.
He also expressed his interest in the New Village Movement of the Republic of Korea, which has enabled Korea to achieve notable economic development based on development in rural areas, and also his willingness to further enhance cooperation with Korea through various work programmes.
The Minister said that a business delegation composed of leading businessmen in Lao PDR plans to visit the Republic of Korea later this year.
It was noted at the event that Laos is the chair of ASEAN in 2016, the historic year of the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community, and has great potential in terms of economic, social, and cultural cooperation with the Republic of Korea.
Last December, the Republic of Korea’s Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn visited Laos and met with his Lao counterpart, Mr Thongsing Thammavong.
The two parties agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, infrastructure, and energy.
Last Friday’s forum was held as part of the Investment and Market Research Mission programme in the fields of agricultural development, food and beverages.
In order to obtain first-hand information on the investment environment and explore opportunities in Laos, Korean delegates visited the Saysettha Special Economic Zone, KOLAO – the first Korean company in Laos to list its stock, and the Charoen Pokphand in Laos – one of the world’s largest agro-food companies.
The ASEAN-Korea Centre, also in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR, held the Product Development Seminar for Handicraft SMEs in Laos on 27-28 January 2016 in Vientiane.
Approximately 70 participants from the handicraft SMEs learned from experiences of Korean experts through presentations of designs of Korean handicraft products and marketing strategies for commercializing the products. Visits to Lao handicraft SMEs for on-site support were also conducted.
Source (KPL)
