Laos: Furniture makers must improve marketing strategy: PM

• Jan 17, 2017

The Lao Furniture Association (LFA) needs to improve its marketing strategy in order to export more wood products to international markets, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has advised.

Mr Thongloun Sisoulith suggests making more efficient use of wood.

Mr Thongloun made the observation during a visit to the 3rd Lao Wood Furniture Fair on Sunday at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane.

We are proud to know that our furniture products will be able to compete with others in the region and internationally, he said.

In the past, the association has depended largely on the domestic market, meaning that the benefits it obtained were less.

Mr Thongloun observed that various furniture products have been produced for the domestic market and now for export as well.

I hope that in the near future Lao furniture will boost its reputation in Laos and boost the international market.

He said the government has a policy to help promote Lao wood products including Prime Minister’s Order 15/PM. This emphasises the protection of forests and the making of value-added wood products, as well as rattan and bamboo goods, through the use of technology and innovation.

LFA President Mr Khamphay Somsana said the prime minister had expressed his appreciation to the LFA and called on all members to implement the Prime Minister’s order to promote the growth of the Lao furniture business.

The LFA team is very proud to be able to gather furniture products made in Laos for display to local and foreign visitors, he added.

Mr Khampay said the furniture fair aimed to increase the capacity of Lao wood product manufacturers to compete in local and international markets, create job opportunities, reduce unemployment, and rise above poverty.

The fair will enable the exchange of new ideas, encourage innovation and let furniture makers share lessons learnt so they can produce better quality goods and services as well as showing the skills of Lao people, he said.

This year there are 175 exhibition booths, of which 31 are set up by 13 companies from 10 provinces, while there are 144 booths from furniture makers based in Vientiane.

Trading value is expected to reach 40 billion kip and about 80 percent of total exhibits will be sold, the association predicted.

The association believes that about 350,000 people will visit the fair, of which about 200,000 will come from Vientiane, 50,000 from the provinces and some from overseas, especially Asean countries and China.

Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_Furniture.htm