Central city plans to re-open direct flight to Champasak

The announcement was made by the city’s secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh during a working visit to Champasak province in Laos.

He said the two cities, Pakse and Danang should increase investment, trade, tourism, and education by re-opening the direct flight that was halted shortly after its original launch in 2013.

Xuan Anh, who is chairman of Danang’s People’s Council, said Danang offers investment projects in infrastructure, urban development, trade service and tourism in south and central provinces of Laos.

The two cities also agreed on co-operation programmes in 2018-22 including education, trade and tourism, heath and urban development.

As scheduled, Danang will support Champasak with total funds of VND21.74 billion (nearly US$1 million) for social security and heath care.

The city allocated an assistance fund of VND5.8 billion (US$258,000) for Champasak following a Memorandum of Understanding in 2013-17.

Danang has only one investment project in Chamasak, out of 271 foreign direct investment projects.

The central had signed assistance projects for provinces in Laos worth a total US$2 million from 2013 to 2017.

The city inked 29 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with cities and provinces such as Vientiane, Savannakhet, Champasak, Sekong, Salavan, Attapu, Bolikhamsay and Xaynhaburi.

According to the city’s investment and planning department, Danang has invested US$52.3 million in Laos’ garment, mine ore, industrial and agricultural sectors.

Last year, Danang exported petrol, rubber and plastics to Laos worth US$34.4 million.

According to the latest report from the Association of Vietnam Investors to Laos (AVIL), Vietnam’s investments in Laos now total US$5.3 billion in registered capital, with annual growth rates averaging 30% over the last five years.

Investments registered in Laos account for roughly one quarter of Vietnam’s overseas investments of US$20.2 billion.