The Lao franchise of the Vietnamese An Phu joint stock company broke ground for the construction of a commercial centre in Vientiane on October 12 in the presence of Lao Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavad.
The That Luong complex has been designed with a seven-storey and two-basement shopping centre, a six-storey and two-basement block of buildings reserved for offices and apartments for rent, and tree and entertainment parks.
The 58.68 million USD project is scheduled to be completed in December, 2012.
Vientiane Mayor Sombath Yialiheu said at the ground-breaking ceremony that the project has helped boost relations between Laos and Vietnam.
Vietnamese Ambassador Ta Minh Chau emphasised that the project has illustrated Vietnamese enterprises’ increasing interest in investment in Laos and economic relations between the two countries have been faring well.
The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) representative took this opportunity to present Vientiane with a check for 100,000 USD to help celebrate its 450 th founding anniversary./.