VIENTIANE, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 entrepreneurs from Laos, European and regional countries met Wednesday in Lao capital Vientiane to debate trends and opportunities in the market of the Association of southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the Vientiane Economic Forum.
"Today's challenges are not just the ever changing global economic landscape, global warming, an upcoming aging society even in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and so on," Vice President of Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Thanongsinh Khanlagna was quoted by Lao state-run Vientiane Times as saying.
The private sector will have to work together to use all its innovative and entrepreneurship capacity, the various resources including human, natural, and non-natural that the countries possess, to positively work on the opportunities lying ahead, and overcome the challenges, old and new, to reach its planned destination safe and sound, he added.
During the forum, participants discussed topics such as trends and opportunities in ASEAN and the ASEAN Economic Community, the latest developments in the banking sector, new strategies for transforming, how to do business especially for SMEs, innovation in manufacturing, start-up trends in Laos and ASEAN, new forms of financing, venture capital, and innovation in the service industry and in technology.
According to Ramon Bruesseler, Executive Director of the Europe Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Laos, the idea of the forum is to have a regular significant event in Vientiane which does not have its focus on Laos but takes a wider perspective.
The forum was co-chaired by Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Somchith Inthamith, Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Thanongsinh Khanlagna, and President of the Europe Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Laos Guy Apovy.
