VIENTIANE, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government and its development partners convened a seminar in the Lao capital Vientiane to discuss challenges and opportunities in Laos' forthcoming graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
The seminar was held on Wednesday, Lao national TV reported on Thursday.
Leaving the LDC status will allow Laos to stand out in the international arena in terms of trade and economic integration with the region and the world. It will also boost confidence among investors and create opportunities to access new sources of capital, according to the report.
On the other hand, by losing LDC status, Laos will forfeit some of trade privileges offered to least-developed countries, as well as access to grants and low-interest loans, it said.
The seminar stressed the need to fully understand the opportunities and challenges ahead and preparations that should be made through studies and discussions involving public and private sectors. ■
