Nghe An (VNA) – The potential ofand ways to promote trade and tourism between Nghe An and Laos were discussedat a seminar in Vinh city of the Vietnamese central province on November 15.

Deputy Director of Nghe An’s Department ofIndustry and Trade Vo Thi An said Laos has continually been among the top 10trade partners of the province. In 2018, trade between Nghe An and Laos reached23.27 million USD, with exports to Laos mainly building materials, aquaticproducts and consumer goods, and imports from the neighbouring country mostlytimber, fruits, vegetables and plaster.

Meanwhile, about 90 enterprises of Nghe An haveinvested over 200 million USD in projects in Laos, she noted.

She proposed that to further reinforce tradelinks, the Vietnamese and Lao governments, ministries, sectors and the People’sCommittee of Nghe An should step up the signing and implementation ofcooperation deals between the two countries and their provinces, thus creatinga favourable legal corridor for business partnerships between Vietnamese andLao firms.

Additionally, state agencies should press onwith the plan on building an expressway linking Hanoi and Vientiane capitalsthat will run through Thanh Thuy Border Gate of Nghe An to create a drivingforce for economic connectivity among Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.

An also called for funding for the upgrade ofmarkets and infrastructure at Vietnam-Laos border gates, including those inNghe An.

At the seminar, First Secretary of the LaosEmbassy in Vietnam May Kham Kheua noted his country has licensed 409 projectsworth some 4.1 billion USD of Vietnamese businesses, making Vietnam the thirdbiggest foreign investor there, following China and Thailand.

Laos has stepped up the attraction of directinvestment. Besides, relevant agencies of both countries have also worked todeal with difficulties and obstacles facing Vietnamese businesses in Laos, hesaid.

In the recent past, to boost tourism links withLaos, Nghe An has organised several events to introduce its tourism potentialin Vientiane. Its travel agencies have also enhanced cooperation with partnersin Lao provinces to provide tours from Nghe An to Bolikhamxay, Khammoune,Vientiane, Xiangkhouang and Luang Prabang of Laos and vice versa. Tours alongroads linking the two countries have also been offered to tourists.

Among Vietnamese localities, Nghe An shares thelongest borderline with Laos – 468km, equivalent to 20 percent of the totallength, with four border gates and many crossings connecting with Xiangkhouang,Houaphanh and Bolikhamxay provinces of Laos./.