A ceremony was held in Vientiane, Laos on July 16 to present the 2011 ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) for outstanding Lao and Vietnamese individuals and businesses.

 

 The awards honour and encourage the business community to promote ASEAN prosperity and regional economic development, as well as friendship and solidarity within the ASEAN bloc.

 The Vietnamese delegation at the event included Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Duc Kien, the Vietnamese ambassador to Laos Ta Minh Chau and more than 300 Vietnamese entrepreneurs.

 Politburo member and Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee Bunphon Buttanavon, Minister of Industry and Trade Vinhaket, and 10 prestigious Lao businesspeople represented Laos.

 In his speech, Vice NA Chairman Kien said the symbolic awards are a great source of encouragement for businesspeople and entrepreneurs at a time when regional countries are struggling to overcome the global economic crisis and develop highly competitive, effective and sustainable economies.

 He also praised outstanding businesses for achieving high productivity and economic efficiency that has contributed significantly to the bloc’s economic development.

 In his closing speech, Mr Buttanavon congratulated both Vietnamese and Lao entrepreneurs on winning the prestigious awards and wished them further success in the future.

 He said he hopes cooperation between the two countries will be strengthened in to economically benefit businesses and contribute to reducing poverty.

 During a visit to the Vietnamese embassy in Laos the same day, the Vietnamese delegation expressed their desire to act as a bridge for Vietnamese businesses so they can expand their investments in Laos.

 Ambassador Chau pledged to create the best possible conditions for them to obtain the most accurate information about the Lao market and bring their strength into full play in the country.

 The awards ceremony was sponsored by the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Association for Economic Cooperation Development, in coordination with the Laos Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Culture.

(VOV)