|
US eyes increased investment in Laos
A delegation of US corporate executives from the US-Asean Business Council met with Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad and several other senior government officials in Vientiane on Monday to discuss the business environment and investment opportunities in Laos.
 |
|
The US delegation meets with officials in Vientiane. | The group includes representatives from the Coca-Cola Company, General Electric, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Johnson & Johnson. The delegation is visiting Laos in the middle of a three-country tour which began in Cambodia and will conclude in Vietnam.
The US-Asean Business Council is a leading advocacy organisation for US corporations in Southeast Asia and has offices in Washington DC, Bangkok, Singapore, Hanoi, Jakarta and Manila. Its members include dozens of Fortune 500 companies.
In addition to meeting the deputy prime minister, the delegation had individual meetings with Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Nam Vinhaket and Minister of Planning and Investment Mr Somdy Duangdy.
They attended a luncheon hosted by US Ambassador to Laos Ms Karen Stewart at her residence which was also attended by government officials and members of the local business community.
Some of the major points of discussion during the official meetings were the US-Laos business relationship, Laos' accession to the World Trade Organisation, and Asean economic integration.
Overall, organisers of the visit expressed a desire to increase US bilateral trade with Laos, which reached US$71 million last year.
The delegation's visit followed closely on the heels of last week's visit from a group of US investors aligned with the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand.
vientiane times
|
