Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad (Photo: Internet)

(VOVworld)-Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad has granted VOV an interview on Vietnamese investment in Laos as part of activities to mark the Vietnam Laos Friendship Year.  Lengsavad, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Sub-Committee for Cooperation said that economic ties between Laos and Vietnam have enjoyed year-on-year growth with two-way trade turnover reaching more than US$500 million last year, US$100 million more than in previous year. Vietnamese investment in Laos has also grown every year since 2008. Vietnam is one of the biggest foreign investors in Laos , focusing mainly on hydro power and rubber plantation. Deputy Prime Minister Lengsavad called for more Vietnamese investment in Laos :“The Lao government wants Vietnamese businesses to grow organic vegetables and process farm produce for export. We grow cash crops such as corn, cassava, and trees for lumber, but export them in the form of raw materials. We need farm produce processing plants to raise our export value. We also encourage businesses to invest in health care, and education-training, especially in building high-technology schools.”