Lord Puttnam Meets British Business Group at Lunch Event
The UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, Lord David Puttnam met members of the British business community in Vientiane today during his first official visit to Lao PDR.
British Business Group Members dine with Lord Puttnam in Vientiane on Monday.
Lord Puttnam had the opportunity to meet the members of the British Business Group, a loose networking group of British companies represented in Laos. The British Business Group was created on the initiative of the British Embassy Vientiane in April this year as a forum for networking and exchanging information on the business climate in Lao PDR. Other guests included the Embassy’s Honorary Legal Adviser and representatives of the European Chamber of Commerce in Laos.
After a short introduction by Ambassador Philip Malone, Lord Puttnam said a few words on his role as a Trade Envoy for the Mekong region. In line with the UK government’s objective of promoting UK business interests, Lord Puttnam encouraged the British Business Group to form a close network to encourage other UK firms to venture into the Lao market.
British investment in Lao PDR is increasing and since the re-establishment of the British Embassy in late 2012, Embassy staff have seen an increase in interest in the Lao market from potential British investors.