GUWAHATI: Soon the region's agriculture, hotel and tourism industries will get a major boost as a high-level delegation from Laos will be reaching the city to initiate formal dialogues for various projects. The 28-member delegation, including Laos's industry and commerce minister Nam Viaket, tourism minister Somphong Mongkhonbhilai and invitees from Bangkok, Hong Kong and Thailand will attend the first 'Laos North East India Business Forum Meet' on July 2.
Addressing the media, Assam Chamber of Commerce (ACC)'s convener Rupam Goswami informed that the meet on mutual business exploration between Laos and the northeast will be attended by governor of Meghalaya Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary and chief ministers of all the northeastern states.
"This initiative is to enhance business and development prospects between the countries. Already India has a direct investment of 162 million US dollars in Laos. India has been investing in the energy, mines, irrigation, IT sectors of Laos for a long time. With the geographical location of Assam and the rest of the northeast, the entire region can give a boost to the present business scenario," said Rupam Goswami ACC state convener.
The Laos tourism minister Somphong Mongkhonbhilai has already expressed his willingness to invest in the tourism sector of the region. The ACC has also discussed on cash cropping technologies that can be adopted from Laos and Thailand.
"As part of the 'Look East' policy, ACC is trying to integrate most of the South East Asian countries to have a better business relation. We even demanded opening of road ways between the neighboring countries to the state. Laos is interested in investing in the region's tourism and hotel sectors. Apart from it, the delegation will also discuss possibilities of investing in the region's agriculture sector," he added.
Earlier, in March last year, a five member delegation of Assam Chamber of Commerce visited Loas to exchange views and ideas of business prospects between the two countries.
