The Vietnamese Trade Office in Laos has employed various measures to support Vietnamese exporters amid declining trade revenue between the two countries in the first half of this year.

Trade Counsellor at the Vietnamese embassy in Vientiane Le Thi Phuong Hoa told Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that the office has regularly sent lists of Vietnamese exporters to Lao agencies, which then inform local enterprises that are seeking Vietnamese goods.

The office has also worked with businesses to address difficulties in goods transportation while coordinating with the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce to put forth mechanisms to support companies.

Hoa said demand in Laos for production and construction materials and consumer goods has fallen significantly due to the impact of Covid-19.

The pandemic has also obstructed goods transportation and trade promotion activities, she added.

As a result, trade between Vietnam and Laos in the first half of this year was down 14.6 per cent year-on-year at just $491.7 million.

Vietnam imported goods from Laos worth $214.85 million, down 6.1 per cent against the same period last year, while exporting $276.85 million worth of goods to the neighbouring country, down 20.2 per cent.

VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK