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Lao export businesses strengthened

The government has established projects to strengthen the capacity of key export businesses in Laos, hoping that they can access larger markets after the country becomes a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Trade Promotion and Production Development Department Director General Mr Phaengsanguan Chounlamany said on Friday that the department was managing Australian and European Union funded projects to assist key exporting firms.

The projects, worth US$1.3 million, aim to enhance the capacity of key Lao businesses that produce garments, silk, handicrafts and wooden products for export so they can produce qualified products to meet the demands of the world market.

Australia and the European Union approved a fund in 2009 to help the Lao government improve the capacity of key businesses in Laos. The fund is managed by the World Bank Office in Laos.

Mr Phaengsanguan was speaking at an opening ceremony of the Second IF Task Force Meeting Trade Development Facility Component 3 held at Novotel in Vientiane on Friday.

Another official in charge of the projects said there is a need to enhance the capacity of export businesses in Laos for the country to gain the full benefit of becoming a WTO member.

He said some companies were selected to implement the pilot projects so they can provide good lessons for others.

At the one-day meeting, representatives of key export businesses reported progress in the implementation of their projects and future plans to improve the capacity of their businesses.

A representative of garment firms said that with support from the projects, firms were building a garment service centre, which aims to provide training opportunities for garment factory managers in Laos and enhance the effective operation of the firms.

A number of garment representatives were sent to Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand so they could learn how the garment firms in those countries operate.

A representative of handicraft businesses reported that it was promoting the production of local silk as one of the measures to reduce the importing of foreign goods.

A representative of the wood processing industry also reported progress in the improvement of the sector, which aims to enable the industry to manufacture qualified products for the world market.

One of the main highlights of the meeting was the discussion of a pilot project to modernise the provincial trade department, hoping to help businesspeople access the state service more easily. Champassak province was selected to run the pilot project. The Champassak Trade Modernisation Project will focus on the development of a lab which can test the quality of Lao agricultural products before exporting them. Foreign importers need certification from the trade department as to whether Lao products are organic or not. Champassak province has plenty of fertilised land in which to grow organic fruits, as well as coffee and vegetables for export. However, many farmers need certification from authorities that their products are chemical free so that they can export to the world market, where there is a growing demand for organic products.

 

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update August 23, 2010)