Laos Other Connections

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• Bilateral Linkages
• Development Assistance
• Other Connections

Laos Other Connections

Air Services

In addition to Lao Aviation, the main carriers servicing Vientiane are Thai International, and Viet Nam Airlines.  Lao Aviation provides services to provincial airports in Laos, with Luang Prabang in the north being the most popular and notable tourist destination.  Bangkok Airways now provides direct services in and out of Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai.  A number of provincial airports are currently being upgraded under an ADB supported ‘small airport improvement project'.

Agriculture

Some New Zealand consulting services have been provided previously in forestry and cattle breeding.

Trade Access Issues

Laos is pursuing WTO membership.  New Zealand has provided some support to help Laos with their agricultural interests during their integration into the ASEAN Free Trade Area and accession to the WTO rules-based global trading system.  This has included advice on the requirements of accession to the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).  Assistance has also been provided on sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards, to lift export capability in agriculture.

The Lao government has recently established some new incentive schemes, such as tax holidays to help facilitate foreign direct investment.  The Committee for Planning and Cooperation is the central body for coordinating donor and investor interests.