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Laos to join business forum in India
Some 29 delegates from Laos will attend the First Laos-Northern India Business Forum on July 2 in India, it was announced at a press conference held in Vientiane yesterday.
The delegation will depart Laos on June 30 and return on July 4. The forum is jointly organised by the Assam Chamber of Commerce and the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Laos.
The objective is to develop the existing friendship between the two countries and promote trade, culture and tourism.
Indian Ambassador to Laos Dr Jitendra Nath Misra said the Indian government has assisted the Lao government with a credit line of about US$72.5 million.
“However, if we talk about investments between the two countries the number can be considered quite low,” he pointed out.
He also said that, as of 2010, India exported goods to Laos worth US$7.4 million.
The forum in India will provide opportunities for Lao business representatives to engage in discussions and exchanges with Indian investors and businesses.
Dr Jitendra Nath Misra told Lao media that India may open direct flights to Laos and Vietnam in the future.
“But it's yet to be confirmed when flights between India and Laos or Vietnam would begin because it's not a state-owned airline but rather a private airline that is interested in investing in those routes,” he said.
Director General of the Ministry of Planning and Investment Mr Hounpheng Souralay said India is one of the top 10 investors in Laos.
“Most Indian investments in Laos are in agriculture, electricity and mining,” he added. President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Laos Mr Habib Mohammed Chowdhury said he personally has operated a business in Laos for 14 years.
“I'm hearing that many Indians want to invest in Laos, so I will persuade them to do business here,” he said.
The Lao delegation to the business forum in India will engage in discussions covering cooperation and investment in IT, trade, education, culture and infrastructure.
Laos earned about US$400 million from tourism in 2010, but the number of Indian visitors to Laos, and vice versa, was quite low.
vientiane times
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