A seminar to promote trade and tourism cooperation between the mountainous province of Dien Bien and northern localities in Laos took 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 to creating the best possible conditions for investors to operate in the province.

Delegates also discussed measures to solve issues for trade and tourism promotions between different localities in both countries.

They suggested that authorities develop stronger ties between the business communities in both countries and increase the number of trade promotions on the two sides of the border.

According to Nguyen Van Tuong, Director of Dien Bien province’s Department of Trade and Industry, two-way trade between Dien Bien and the northern provinces in Laos reached 72 million USD during 2008-2012, with cross-border trade accounting for 44 million USD.

Earlier, on September 10, 150 businesses from Vietnam and Laos gathered for the 2012 Vietnam-Laos Trade and Tourism Fair in Dien Bien province.

On display were garments and textiles, footwear, electronics, home appliances, 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 their counterparts in Laos, especially in the northern provinces such as Phongsali, Luang Prabang, Oudomxai, Bokeo, Luang Namtha and Xayabouri.-VNA