Vietnam, Laos enhance cross-border trade

Vietnamese and Lao trade officials have discussed measures to promote trade in the two countries’ border areas, thus contributing to meeting their target of 1 billion USD in two-way trade turnover by 2010.

At the sixth meeting on trade management in the border areas between Vietnam and Laos on December 4-5 in the Savannakhet province of Laos, the two sides agreed to increase levels of cooperation between border area authorities, pairs of bordergates and markets along the border.

They also agreed that cross-border economic and commercial exchanges between the two countries not only boosts trade activities in the border provinces, but also maximises the potential and strengths of each locality and forms active economic zones in the Vietnam-Lao border areas, contributing to raising two-way trade turnover in recent years from 246.6 million USD in 2006 to 460 million USD in 2008.

The meeting proposed that each country’s authorities remove obstacles to policies, simplify commercial procedures at bordergates, improve infrastructure at border areas, and facilitate cross-border activities and the trade of goods.

The Vietnamese delegation attending the meeting was led by Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Nguyen Cam Tu and the Lao delegation by Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Khemmant Phonsena.

Source: VNA