Vietnam prioritizes forging cooperation with Laos and Cambodia in different fields, especially in economy, investment, trade and culture, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Van Trung said ahead the 4th conference on trade, investment and tourism promotion for the development triangle area slated for November 11 in Đak Lak Province.
According to statistics from relevant agencies, Vietnam is now the biggest foreign investor in Laos with the total registered capital of US $1.4 billion, and a big player in Cambodia with some US $600 million.
In Vietnam, there are now eight Lao-invested projects totaling over US $48 million and seven Cambodia-invested ones worth more than US $6.2 million.
In 2008, Vietnam was Cambodia’s second biggest exporter after Thailand with the two-way trade of US $1.6 billion, up 37% against 2007. The trade is expected to reach US $2 billion in 2010.
The two-way trade between Vietnam and Laos was US $455 million in 2008, up 45% against 2007. The two countries have agreed to raise the trade to US $1 billion in 2010, US $2 billion in 2015, and US $4 billion in 2020.