Nghe An (VNA) – A workshop was held inthe central province of Nghe An on June 29 to seek ways to boost border tradeactivities with Laos.

Ambassador of Vietnam to Laos Nguyen Dinh Basaid shortcomings in regulations and policies of the two countries have causeddifficulties for management agencies and businesses.

Investment has not been poured in buildingtransport infrastructure in border markets over the past time, he said, addingthat the cash payment in trade makes it difficult for commercial banks to opennew branches, transaction and foreign exchange offices at border gates.

The bilateral coordination in preventingsmuggling and trade fraud remains limited, Ba said.

At the workshop, economists and businessesproposed Nghe An make use of all investment resources to upgrade border tradeinfrastructure and prioritize building, expanding and improving roads to bordergates to promote bilateral trade.

Experts suggested upgrading trade facilities,building border markets, and launching services at Nam Can and Thanh Thuyborder gates.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department ofIndustry and Trade Vo Thi An called on Nghe An relevant agencies to coordinate withLao counterparts to promote made-in-Vietnam products in the market as well asstrengthen inspections of cross-border trade activities to ensure security andprevent trade fraud and smuggling.

She asked Laos’ Bolikhamsai and Houphanprovinces to upgrade border gates with Vietnam and open auxiliary ones.

She suggested the two countries’ governmentsencourage online payment through banks to make it easier for import-exportactivities.

Nghe An shares 419km of borderline with Laoprovinces of Bolikhamsai, Xiangkhouang, and Houphan. It is home to oneinternational border gate and four auxiliary ones with Laos.

In the first six months of 2018, the totalimport-export turnover between Nghe An and Laos was estimated at 15.36 millionUSD, a year-on-year rise of 22 percent.

Of the figure, Nghe An exported 13.66 millionUSD worth of goods, mainly construction materials, electric wires and aquaticproducts.

Nearly 90 local businesses are making investmentin Laos, focusing in the fields of mining, hydropower, processing, trade oftimber and small trucks, wine and steel production, forestation, tourism,agro-fishery, consumption products, and information and communication services witha total investment of over 200 million USD.-VNA