Vice President Pany Yathotou received here in Vientiane on Thursday outgoing Singaporean Ambassador Leow Siu Lin as the latter is concluding her diplomatic mission in the Lao PDR.
Ambassador Leow Siu Lin has served her diplomatic duty in the Lao PDR since September 2019.
At amicable talks, the Vice President spoke highly of the ambassador’s efforts in strengthening the cooperation between Laos and Singapore in various areas including politics, trade, investment and energy.
The ambassador has also played an important role in mobilising the Singaporean government’s support for SMEs, tourism, education and health in the Lao PDR.
Vice President Pany Yathotou also appreciated Ambassador Leow Siu Lin for her contributions to strengthening the friendly relations and cooperation between Laos and Singapore.
In reply, the Singapore Ambassador expressed her gratitude to the government and people of the Lao PDR as well as relevant authorities in the country for their cooperation and support that has helped her fulfil her diplomatic mission in the Lao PDR.
Laos and Singapore established diplomatic relations on December 2, 1974. In 2022, Singapore’s investment in the Lao PDR were estimated at 362 million USD in 83 projects, ranking Singapore the 10th largest investor in Laos.
Laos-Singapore bilateral trade between 2018 and 2022 was valued at over 450 million USD, with imports from Singapore estimated at 178.8 million USD, mainly tobacco products, machinery, perfumes, cosmetics, car parts, and diesel.
Laos’ exports to Singapore were valued at 274.6 million USD, making Singapore the 5th largest export market for the Lao PDR. Meanwhile Laos’ exports to the ASEAN neighbour were dominated by glass wares, liquors, electrical appliances, and coffee.
Over 5,000 Singapore tourists visited the Lao PDR last year.
Singapore is also a key provider of scholarships, short and long-term training opportunities for the Lao PDR.
Between 1993-2022, more than 16,500 Lao nationals were granted opportunities to study and have training in Singapore.
Source: Lao News Agency
