Government vows to remove barriers to business

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Government.htm

The government will continue to eliminate business barriers in a bid to boost private investment in Laos, a top government leader announced last week.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad made the announcement at the annual conference of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

His statement comes after a number of businesses urged the government to do more to create favourable operating conditions.

Business operators have said they need help accessing cheaper investment capital, raw materials such as timber for the wood processing industry, and strong measures to protect domestic products against the rising tide of imported goods.

The government allows the import of construction materials for some priority development projects but some importers sell on part of their consignment to local markets. This increased supply makes it difficult for local companies to sell their products.

The government has a number of mega investment projects planned for 2011 to 2015, including the construction of a US$7 billion railway link to China.


Mr Somsavat said the government would provide more support for export companies that use domestic raw materials and employ a workforce sourced from remote parts of the country.

He urged the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to encourage members to run their business in accordance with the law and pay the correct amount of taxes owed in a timely fashion.

More and more companies in Laos are becoming members of the chamber, though others are hesitant about joining.

The government encourages companies to become members of the Chamber in the belief this will make it easier for them to deliver policy to the private sector which, in turn, will be able to communicate more easily with the government.

Chamber President Kissana Vongsay said members appreciated government efforts to counter the negative impacts of the global financial crisis, creating favourable conditions for growth of the business sector.

Despite the financial crisis, the government was able to secure GDP growth of 7.5 to 8 percent, he said.

Mr Kissana said foreign investment continues to grow in Laos while the number of businesses, especially in agriculture and the mining, tourism and garment industri es, also continues to rise.

The mining and electricity industries had seen remarkable growth in 2010 as foreign investment in the sector continued to increase. The Lao garment industry had performed better than expected after receiving orders from overseas markets.

Laos was now a garment production base for Chinese and Japanese companies as labour costs in their countries continued to rise. The garment industry is now facing a labour shortage, Mr Kissana said.

Banking sector growth was particularly remarkable in 2010, he noted, and there are now 23 different banks in Laos.

llX wrote on 7^th Feb, 2011 at 7:02am:


I'm afraid it maybe a wishful thinking, Laos people could never beat other nation, until the education system in Laos is improve and change!

its good that they doing something. maybe they could x communism altogether and turn democracy over night and become an ally to america to one day be toe to toe with thailand in terms of GDP. now isnt that worth it? indeed it is!

I don't mine socialist capitalist or democracy as long as they develope the country and improved people living standard like EU and China. But I still prefer democracy. If I have a choices. I like freedom, freedom of press, speech, religion and expression.

There are freedom of press. There are rule of law. Government have to keep secret. Every country has propaganda and control the press. Sometime they only let you know what they want you to know.

Wikileak is confidential information and top secret. They has to block it and shut it down. It's national security issue. And affect American national interest. At least American have freedom unlike North Korea.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 11^th Feb, 2011 at 5:21am:


I don't think they're afraid of Lao government. Any problem, issue with Laos they has to go through Vietnam, they put LPRP, Pathet Lao in power. Laos is nothing without Vietnam, China backing.

Now Vietnam and America has good ties, they're friends and business partner. American is Vietnam biggest foreign investors. If Vietnam has good ties with U.S so will Laos. That's my point.

llX wrote on 11^th Feb, 2011 at 4:18am:

Making mistake of killing civilians is not a matter of national security denied the best medical after wounding 2 children is a crime also I call cover up. That why American never won any war since 2rd world war.

There's always something for Wikileaks to talk about, we want to know what our secretive Lao Government is up to.

They have nothing to say about Laos because no one will give them the information like you said.