Vientiane (VNA) - The Vietnamese TradeOffice in Laos has undertaken an array of measures to support Vietnameseexporters amid the declining trade revenue between the two countries in thefirst half of this year.
Trade Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos LeThi Phuong Hoa told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that the office has regularlysent lists of Vietnamese exporters to relevant Lao agencies.
Those agencies then inform local enterprises that areseeking Vietnamese goods, Hoa said.
The office has also worked with businesses to address difficultiesin goods transportation while coordinating with the Lao Ministry of Industryand Commerce to put forth mechanisms in support of companies.
According to the Counsellor, demand in Laos forproduction and construction materials and consumer goods has fallen significantlydue to the impact of COVID-19.
The pandemic has also obstructed goods transportationand trade promotion activities, she added.
As a result, trade between Vietnam and Laos in thefirst half of this year was down 14.6 percent year-on-year, reaching just 491.7million USD.
Vietnam imported goods from Laos worth 214.85 millionUSD, down 6.1 percent against the same period last year, while exporting 276.85million USD worth of goods to the neighbouring country, down 20.2 percent./.
Requiem for fallen soldiers at Vietnam – Laos int’l martyrs’ cemetery
A grand requiem ceremony was held at Vietnam – Laos International Martyrs’ Cemetery in the central province of Nghe An on July 18 night, on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of Day of Martyrs and Invalids (July 27).