LAOs Overview Exhibition Industry and Land of Ample Opportunities and Successes is presented by Ms. Ladda Mongkolchaiwiwat, GM - VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific, prepared by Mr. Sarawut Burapapat, Strategic Communication Consultant - Market-Comms and sourced by Laos National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

1. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
S
LAOS
Overview Exhibition Industry and Land
of Ample Opportunities and Successes

2. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
Country Snapshot
S Land area:
S Population:
S Population density:
S Population growth:
S Labour Force:
S Religion:
S Currency:
S Exchange rate:
S Language:
S 236,800 sq.k,
S 6.9 million (2008)
S 25 people/sq.km
S 2.3%
S 2.9 million
S Buddhism
S Lao Kip (LAK)
S 8,000/USD
S Official LAO
Other language: Thai, French, English, Chinese and Vietnamese

3. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
Country
Snapshot
Lao PDR : Strategic
Location
S Laos is at the center of
GMS consisting of
Cambodia, Myanmar, Thail
and, Vietnam and Yunnan
province of China.
S It is the only country
bordering all the other
countries in the sub-
region.
S More than 70% of
international trade in Laos
except air freight is
cross- border trade
S 50% of the Lao
population lives in border
districts.

4. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
Overview exhibition in Laos
and Oversea
Domestic exhibition and cooperation
S Total 98 Events including around countries
S Some event we organize in the provinces open air, LAO- ITEC in
Vientiane and ITEC in other province
S 3 Events cooperation with Lao-Thai and Lao-Vietnam Exhibition and
most of event we coordinate with LNCCI to encourage the potential
business to join
S In the strategy of our department have target to create exhibition and
training center in 3 parts of Laos to facilitate for our business to
upgrade their capacity on trade

5. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
I.
International
Exhibition
S ACMECS: supported by
Thailand Government 7
events a year in
Bangkok, total 6 booths /
event and one leader from
government official
S Cooperation with ASEAN
Japan Center: supported 3
event/year and held
National Activities
S Cooperation with ASEAN
Korea Center supported 3
event/year and one
workshop and site visit in
Seoul
S China ASEAN EXPO: one
time a year

6. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
II. Highlight
Exhibition in
the Country
S in Laos-Thai exhibition
30/6-4/7/2012 at LAO –
ITEC Vientiane (around
400 booths)
S Lao Handicraft Festival
1- 7 /11/2012 at LAO –
ITEC Vientiane
S Laos-Vietnam exhibition
29/11-2 /12/ 2012 at LAO
– ITEC Vientiane

7. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
III. Policy
Framework
S A fast growing economy with sustained
annual GDP growth over 6% in past
two decades.
S National policy identifies quality
investments to drive sustainable
development and a diversified economy
:
S 1) The National Socio-Economic
Development Plan (NSEDP)
2011-15: targets at least 8% annual
GDP growth, 60% of which will be
from private investments
S 2) The NSEDP also focuses on
the quality of growth, particularly
on sustainable land and resource
use, environmental management
and increasing resource use
efficiency
S 3) Manufacturing, services, tourism
and construction sectors are
expanding fast
S Strong policy framework creates an
enabling environment for private
investments: recently revised Decree
on Investment Promotion 2011
Good policy framework:

8. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
III. Policy
Framework
S To fasten and facilitate
investment procedures.
S The Government is
creating a favorable
business environment
that is responsive to
private sector needs.
S One Stop Service
brings together
representatives from all
key ministries to facilitate
investment applications
and business start-up
One stop service unit:

9. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
IV. Why
invest in Lao
PDR
1. Political stability
2. High safety
3. Low risk from natural
disasters
4. Low labor cost
Country of rich natural
resources: Fertile
land, Minerals, Water, fores
t, giving development
potential in
agriculture, mining &
hydropower.
Comparative & Competitive
Advantages:

10. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
IV. Why invest in Lao PDR
Market access:
S Access to ASEAN market with more than 500 million inhabitants including
southern part of neighboring China.
S Connects Vietnam and Thailand through the East-West Corridor with Special
Economic Zone in Savannakhet acting as a trade and service center.
S Unilateral Trade agreements with 39 countries including countries in
EU, Japan, Canada, Australia, India, China and South Korea.
S Bilateral investment treaties with more than 25 countries from Europe to Asia
S Easy regional access with regular direct flights to the major hubs of
Bangkok, Hanoi, Kunming, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

11. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
IV. Why invest in Lao PDR
S Special Economic Zones:
S Government strongly encourage investors to develop:
S Special economic zone Export Processing zone Industrial Park
Tourism zone Duty free zone ICT Zone, and Others zone
S Existing Zone in Lao PDR:
S Savan - SENO Economic Special Zone ( Savanhnakhed
Province )
S Boten Den Kham Economic Special Zone ( Luangnamtha
Province )
S Dokyil Kham Economic Special Zone ( Bokeo Province )

12. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
IV. Why invest in Lao PDR
S Other incentives:
S Exemption from import duties and taxes on raw materials
and capital equipment's using for production.
S Exemption from export duty on export products.
S Tax holidays offered up to 10 years.
S Additional tax holidays, reduced tax rates for large projects
with special concession are available upon negotiation.
S Special treatment for healthcare and education service.

13. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
No Country Projects Value of Investment
Approved Value (US$)
1 Vietnam 438 4,854,805,514
2 Thailand 750 4,027,135,894
3 China 806 3,336,870,043
4 Korea 287 619,928,170
5 France 226 508,319,743
6 Malaysia 97 417,937,461
7 Japan 106 414,937,461
8 Australia 90 391,678,812
9 Norway 6 358,265,000
10 India 22 150,604,702
IV. Why invest in Lao PDR

14. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
V. Sectors
Opportunities
Agriculture forestry
S Highest ratio of forest
area
S Suitable land for various
tree Plantation
S Large stands of tropical
hardwoods including
teak and rosewood
S Plenty of productive land
The government is now
promoting the contract
farming instead of granting
concession over large area
of land for agriculture and
tree plantation

15. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
V. Sectors
Opportunities
Tourism Sector
S Eco-Tourism
S Cultural Tourism
S Agro-Tourism
Tourism Business is now
opened to FDI with Foreign
Equity of up to 70%
Several natural tourist sites
are welcoming FDI

16. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
V. Sectors
Opportunities
S Combined the domestic
investment law and foreign direct
investment law into one to create
a “level playing field” for both
domestic and foreign investors;
S Shorten procedures to open new
businesses;
S No terms of investment for
promoted activities;
S Extended Investment incentives:
Education and Health care sectors
are top priorities;
S Foreigners can have access to
local financial sources;
S Foreign Invested Companies can
own a piece of land for building
their residences (Certain
conditions to be applied);
S Foreigners can invest in the real
estate sector;
S Promotion of the development of
SEZ and Industrial Park.
New Feature of Investment
Law

17. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
Conclusion
S Lao PDR is endowed with rich
natural resources.
S Located in the center of the
GMS, and linking 6 countries.
S Potential for investment in many
sectors, including Processing &
Manufacturing industries, Mining
industries, Handicrafts &
Electricity industry
S The government of Lao PDR has
a strategy to attracting foreign
investment.
S Legal & Financial environments
are favorable for private/foreign
investment.
S Industrial, Agro-Forest
Processing & Tourism sectors
development with private &
foreign investment can provide a
source of revenue, raising living
standards and generating
economic development and
employment.

18. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
Conclusion
S Lao PDR is Least Developed
Country.
S Lao PDR is new member of
ASEAN.
S Lao PDR gets GSP from 44
countries.
S In Lao PDR there are both
opportunities & challenges for
business.
S There is no ready business for
foreign investors to buy or
take-over.
S Foreign investors have to
create business by
themselves.

19. Sources : Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
S
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trade exhibition organizer
in Asia Pacific
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Road, Yannawa, Bangkok, Thailand
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