Global India Business Forum presented Honorary membership to H.E. Bounneme Chouanghom, Ambassador,
Embassy of Lao P.D.R in New Delhi.
Ambassador and Consul General
INDIA - LAO BUSINESS & CULTURAL COUNCIL
Global India Business Forum presented Honorary membership to H.E. Bounneme Chouanghom, Ambassador,
Embassy of Lao P.D.R in New Delhi.A discussion to have a collaboration between GIBF and Lao to explore
different business opportunities and trade between two countries was held.Global President- GIBF.
Machinery, equipment and motor vehicles, iron and steel, telecommunication
equipment, beverages and cement.
ABOUT
ABOUT LAO
Laos is a Southeast Asian country traversed by the Mekong River and known for mountainous
terrain, French colonial architecture, hill tribe settlements and Buddhist monasteries.
Vientiane, the capital, is the site of the That Luang monument, where a reliquary reportedly
houses the Buddha’s breastbone, plus the Patuxai war memorial and Talat Sao (Morning Market), a
complex jammed with food, clothes and craft stalls.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN LAO
The Laos government introduced more pragmatic development policies in 1980 and has been
implementing them. By 1986 it introduced market-oriented reforms. This opened the
channels for private and state enterprises and they operated side by side. The
government also encouraged foreign investment. Besides energy production and mining, Lao
is mainly into food processing (rice milling and beverage production—mostly beer and
soft drinks), sawmilling, the production of building materials (e.g., nails and brick).
It also manufactures a variety of light consumer goods (primarily plastic products,
tobacco and cigarettes, and detergents). Garment production is majorly for export, has
been expanding rapidly. Laos manufacturing sector also includes handicrafts.
Foreigners can invest in a number of businesses. They can do business by being a sole
proprietor, having limited liability company (including foreign-owned company and
joint-venture company), partnerships, branch of a foreign corporation, a representative
office, or a business cooperation by contract.
EXPORTS AND IMPORTS IN LAO
In 2020, Laos was the number 113 economy in the world in terms of GDP (current US$), the
number 105 in total exports, the number 121 in total imports, the number 141 economy in
terms of GDP per capita (current US$) and the number 104 most complex economy according
to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI).
TOP EXPORTS OF LAO
Lao mainly exports electricity ($1.93B), gold ($553M), rubber ($360M), refined copper
($335M), and copper ore ($309M) mostly to Thailand ($2.95B), China ($1.68B), Vietnam
($440M), Japan ($127M), and Germany ($118M).
TOP IMPORTS OF LAO
Laos major imports include refined petroleum ($527M), bovine ($154M), cars ($145M), iron
structures ($124M), and broadcasting equipment ($114M) mostly from Thailand ($3.36B),
China ($1.42B), Vietnam ($566M), Japan ($142M), and Germany ($57.4M).