Vientiane (VNA) – An international conference onthe strengthening of regional connectivity and development of the East-Westlogistics corridors was held in Vientiane on November 4, drawingrepresentatives from a number of ministries and agencies of Vietnam and Laos aswell as logistics associations, experts and more than 80 enterprises fromdifferent countries.

According to the organising committee, located in the centreof the route connecting China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, Laoshas great potential to become a transport hub of the region.

The Kunming-Vientiane railway route, the waterway transportconnections on the Mekong Delta River, as well as roads and borders withVietnam and Thailand are also among good conditions for Laos to develop the East-West logistic corridor, experts held.

Somvixay Vongthirath, Vice Director of the Trade PromotionDepartment under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Laos, highlighted theimportance of logistics in promoting trade and import-export activities ofLaos.

A landlocked country, yet Laos has receivedsupport from Vietnam in maritime transport, he said, adding that in the future,Laos will continue to strengthen border trade cooperation and logistics connectionswith Vietnam.

Bui Van Quy, Deputy General Director of Saigon NewportCorporation, expressed his hope that through the conference, logistics firms of Laoswill recognise the great potential of the regional market and their advantagesto expand operations to nearby countries, affirming the role Laos plays inthe common development of the ASEAN Community.

He underscored the huge opportunities for Vietnam and Laosto beef up logistics cooperation through the East-West logistics corridors,underlining that his firm hopes to make contributions to the development ofLaos’ transport sector by developing solutions to connect it with the ecosystemof seaports and inland container depots, warehouse and logistics services of SaigonNewport Corporation.

At the event, participants discussed the situation andpotential in logistics development as well as market connection in the region, and difficulties that Lao logistics enterprises are facing. Representatives of the LaoInternational Truck and Forwarder Association (LITFA) said that the associationwill develop strategic partnership with logistics businesses and associationsin regional countries, especially Vietnam.

Participants also pointed to existing problems inimport-export activities in the region.
 
Following the conference, the Saigon Newport Corporation, LITFA, and the Association of Vietnamese Businesses in Laos signed a memorandumof understanding on their cooperation./.