Guest speech: Ambassador of Laos, H.E Mr. Khamkheuang Bounteum

As a continuation of the ASEAN guest-lecture series, the IMC Export under the auspices of the Chair for International Law and Global Political Studies, Prof. Dr. Anis Bajrektarevic invited H.E. Mr. Khamkheuang Bounteum, Ambassador of Laos to Austria and Vienna-based IOs.

H.E. Mr. Bounteum arrived with two of his counselors, who actively supported the Ambassador´s speech. After a very hearty welcome and an introduction by Prof. Bajrektarevic (who also made a brief reference on the international women day with some flowers brought for the female students), the ambassador guest started with an outline of his speech which would be focusing on the main question why Laos is going to be THE place to be and why it is profitable to invest in Laos.

A basic overview Laos by the Ambassador´s counselor followed, pointing out the most important facts of the country. The counselor went on with the current major infrastructure projects and finished with a brief introduction to Economic and Industrial Zones in Laos and other facilities.

H.E. took over, listing their achievements in the recent years of maintaining political and social order and then presenting their ambitious plans and strategies for the future including full integration into the ASEAN community by 2015 and entering the ASEAN Free Trade Area. As Excellency Bounteum stated; the country is on his way from a “land locked” to a “land linked” country.

In the last part of this 2-hour speech, Mr. Bounteum talked about the relations with Europe and particular with Austria. He finished by presenting Laws on Investment Promotion, which showed that the country is making a big effort to be an attractive place to invest.

The lecture was closed with a Q&A session, where Ambassador answered all questions about topics like educational system, their main focus within the ASEAN community and their export issues, in a very competent and kind way.

Summing up, this lecture wasn´t to be missed as H.E. Mr. Bounteum provided a very deep and interesting insight into Laos; a country where dynamic is taking place.

This Guest Lecture was the 84th event organized under the auspices of the Chairman Bajrektarevic (and the 7th from ASEAN series). The next in-house event will take place on 17th March 2011 when Prof. Bajrektarevic is hosting H.E. Mr. Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Ambassador of Hungary (EU Series).

Photos: Anton S. & Kathy B.
Text: Maria W. (rev. A.B.)