A seminar to promote trade and tourism cooperation between themountainous province of Dien Bien and northern localities in Laostook place in Dien Bien City on September 10.
The seminar made the participants aware of Dien Bien province’s incentives and its priority fields for investment.
By hosting the seminar, the province underlined its commitment tocreating the best possible conditions for investors to operate in theprovince.
Delegates also discussed measures tosolve issues for trade and tourism promotions between differentlocalities in both countries.
They suggested thatauthorities develop stronger ties between the business communities inboth countries and increase the number of trade promotions on the twosides of the border.
According to Nguyen VanTuong, Director of Dien Bien province’s Department of Trade andIndustry, two-way trade between Dien Bien and the northern provincesin Laos reached 72 million USD during 2008-2012, with cross-bordertrade accounting for 44 million USD.
Earlier, onSeptember 10, 150 businesses from Vietnam and Laos gathered forthe 2012 Vietnam-Laos Trade and Tourism Fair in Dien Bien province.
On display were garments and textiles, footwear, electronics, homeappliances, cement, wooden products, cosmetics, beverages, handicrafts,rice, coffee, tea, and various kinds of foodstuffs.
The fair aims to enable local businesses to strengthen ties with theircounterparts in Laos, especially in the northern provinces such asPhongsali, Luang Prabang, Oudomxai, Bokeo, Luang Namtha and Xayabouri.-VNA