August 30, 2008

Lao-Thailand two-way trade seen exceeding $900m
Lao government officials said that on the completion of the construction of Road 3 and the operation of

the Lao-Thai railway the trade between the two countries, Laos and Thailand would increase and that it

would breach the $900 million limit in 2009, reported Laos government news agency KPL.

The officials said that the construction of Laos’s first highway, R3a road was completed in 2007. They

also said it should contribute to the economic development of the northern provinces and facilitate

economic and commercial exchanges with neighboring countries, China and Thailand.

Seng Aloun, an officer from the Foreign Trade Policy Department, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce

said that the development of this infrastructure is a key factor in boosting trade, investment and tourism

among the three countries, Laos, Thailand and China.

He said the cooperation on trade between Laos and Thailand met more than $800 million in 2007, in which

Laos exported furniture, agricultural, garment and semi-copper products to Thailand with $290 million.

At the same time Laos imported various goods from Thailand, which was estimated about $651 million. Thai

goods covered 60 percent of the market in Laos, with the rest coming from Vietnam and China.