More than 100 Lao businesses are showcasing their manufactured goods, handicrafts, furniture, jewellery, food and drink, agricultural produce, One District, One Product items, and service products at the 4th Made in Laos Expo.

The expo officially opened yesterday at Lao-ITECC in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr Siewsavath Savengseuksa, and President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) Mr Oudet Souvannavong.

Dr Sonexay Siphandone and Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials examine goods on display at the expo in Vientiane.

Speaking at the event, LNCCI Vice President Ms Chanthachone Vongsay said it was the policy of the government to promote domestic productivity and strengthen the capacity of Lao enterprises in order to realise socio-economic development ambitions.

The expo has been organised by the LNCCI in collaboration with provincial chambers of commerce and industry, business groups and associations. The event runs from November 28 to December 4.

The main objective is to gather together an impressive display of products made or assembled in Laos by local and international investors, for exhibition and sale.

Another goal is to bolster the competitiveness of Lao products through the sharing of business experiences, business matching and innovation to improve goods and services. These need to have a stronger competitive edge within the country as well as regionally and internationally, particularly within the Asean Economic Community, Ms Chanthachone added.

The Made in Laos Expo was held to demonstrate the growth of the private sector and to celebrate the success of the 28th and 29th Asean Summits held under the chairmanship of Laos, as well as the Asean Business and Investment Summit 2016 and the 41st anniversary of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on December 2.

The LNCCI, as a representative of the private sector, hoped the expo would enable local and international visitors to appreciate that Lao products were ready to enter the regional and international markets.

This event will encourage tourists and investors from Laos and overseas to visit and do business here, Ms Chanthachone said.

More than 100 businesses are taking part in the expo, with 32 booths featuring handicrafts, 20 booths displaying manufactured goods, eight selling food and drink, 16 advertising service products, 16 displaying agricultural and ODOP products, 10 featuring jewellery, and 60 booths exhibiting furniture.

Products from the provinces include stone from Attapeu province; coffee from Champassak; wooden furniture from the provinces of Xekong, Savannakhet, Saravan, Khammuan and Borikhamxay; rattan furniture from Vientiane province; and silk textiles from Huaphan Luang Prabang and other provinces.

The goods displayed at the 200 booths were estimated to be worth 5 billion kip.

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