The Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce recently hosted a training session aimed at enhancing stakeholders' understanding of the United Kingdom's trade preferences and the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The session, co-chaired by Saeng-Aloun Vilaysack, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations and International Economic Cooperation, and Mew Barlow, the British Ambassador to Laos, focused on equipping both public and private sector representatives with the tools to maximize trade benefits under the preferential system.

Discussions covered trade facilitation measures, tax declaration procedures, and regulatory frameworks designed to ease commerce between Laos and the UK. This initiative also served as a platform for dialogue on trade challenges and opportunities, fostering stronger economic cooperation between the two nations. Laos, which engages in trade with over 60 countries, benefits from preferential trade agreements with 42 nations, including the UK. In 2024, total trade volume between the two countries reached $38.27 million, with exports from Laos primarily consisting of footwear, garments, and sugar, while imports from the UK included whiskey, wine, and vehicles.

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