The Departments of Industry and Trade of northwestern Dien Bien provinceand six northern provinces of Laos on Se ptember 16 signedan agreement on cooperation for the period of 2013-2015.

Attheir working session in Dien Bien, officials from Dien Bien and the Laoprovinces of Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Bokeo, Luang Namthaand Saynhabuli reviewed the implementation of their previous deal in2011-2013. They also agreed on measures to boost the export of eachlocality’s key products in order to realise their export targets in thecoming time.

According to Nguyen Van Tuong, director of DienBien’s Department of Industry and Trade, from 2011 to present, totalexport-import turnover between Dien Bien and the six Lao localitiesreached 50 million USD.
He said at present, 74 businesses from Dien Bien are operating in Phongsali province.

The director of Oudomxay Department of Industry and Trade, BounthanVannachay reported that seven Vietnamese companies have invested inOudomxay with total capital of over 7 million USD.

Inaddition, Dien Bien province has provided financial assistance toOudomxay in building several public works such as a museum anddormitories for local schools.

The localities agreed to work together to develop a network of markets in Vietnam-Laos border areas by 2020.-VNA