The central province of Binh Dinh and the southwestern Lao province of Champassak plan to promote a mutual comprehensive cooperation programme from 2012-2016.

The details were discussed during talks between the leaders of Binh Dinh province and a delegation from Champassak, led by its governor, Sonphay Siphandone, on August 20. The Lao provincial trip is to share experience in party building, socio-economic development, national defence and security cooperation during this period.

After their talks, it was decided that Binh Dinh province will continue to send agricultural specialists to Champassak to help introduce new models of farming and animal husbandry. Delegations of Vietnamese businesses will also be sent to the locality to seek out investment opportunities.

Champassak will speed up the process of granting certificates for land use to Vietnamese businesses keen to operate in the province and take advantage of the preferential policies, introduced to attract more investors from Binh Dinh province.

In recent years, Binh Dinh has helped the Lao province to train up health care workers and has provided scholarships for students in the province to study in Vietnam .

Both provinces have teamed up to build a 2 million USD pharmaceuticals factory in Champassak, which has set aside 340 ha for the Binh Dinh Medical Equipment Company to plant coffee in the locality, bringing stable jobs for 500 local people and providing seasonal work for 1,000 others.

To mark the occasion, Secretary of Binh Dinh’s provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Thien and Chairman of Binh Dinh’s People’s Committee Le Huu Loc, were conferred with Laos’ Issara Order, third-class, for their contributions to establishing and promoting friendship and comprehensive cooperation between both provinces and both countries.-VNA