Lao PM opens meeting of ASEAN business leaders 

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone joined leaders from other ASEAN countries to preside over the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC).

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (right) speaks at the ASEAN Leader’s Interface with Representatives of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council in Vientiane on October 9.

The meeting, made up of leaders from government, business and other sectors of society, was held on October 9 at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane, with its discussions centred around the theme for Laos’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2024, “Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.
During the meeting, the PM and other leaders acknowledged the substantial progress made in implementing the business sector’s priority areas for 2024, which include transforming for the digital future, sustainable development, health resilience, food security, trade and investment facilitation, connectivity and supply chains, and creating a more conducive environment for business. 
The ASEAN-BAC initiatives aim to enhance and promote regional economic development, foster competitiveness, and build a more connected and integrated regional economy linked to other regions worldwide.
Leaders at the meeting highlighted the need for ASEAN to strengthen cooperation and collaboration between the public and business sectors further, specifically in addressing challenges to reduce trade barriers and leverage digital transformation. 
Further cooperation here is said to be essential for ensuring smooth, efficient, and high-quality business operations that maximise benefits for the region as a whole.
During the occasion, leaders at the meeting encouraged ASEAN-BAC to continue coordinating with relevant ASEAN entities to implement business priorities, develop an Action Plan of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, and enhance the efficiency of coordination mechanisms between the public and business sectors. 
These actions are believed to help create an environment conducive to further trade and investment in ASEAN, fostering a robust and growing economy in the future.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update October 10, 2024)