Cambodia and Laos welcome Singaporean firms

Urging Singapore businesses |to venture into these markets, |he said: “Businessmen who come here have to be prepared to take a long-term view and put in the hard work now before the situation is settled.”
He was speaking to Singapore reporters at the end of state visits to Cambodia and Laos.
Both Asean members are old friends of Singapore and their development priorities are opportunities for Singapore companies, Tan said. Their economies have also been growing at a rapid 7 per cent a year in recent years.
He said: “We have a very strong brand here and we should take advantage of that. The main areas of interest in Cambodia and Laos also fit in very well with our expertise.”
Both countries are keen to develop the tourism sector, where Singapore can lend its experience.
Over the past week, Tan met his counterparts and leaders in Phnom Penh and Vientiane, and visited the heritage-rich tourist destinations of Siem Reap, the gateway to the Angkor Wat temple complex, and Luang Prabang, Laos’ former royal capital.
Recalling his last trip to Siem Reap two decades ago, he said he found the town transformed on this visit – bustling, with first-class hotels. 
Singapore can work with both countries on the human resource aspect of tourism, such as in |training hotel and service staff, he noted. 
Singapore is already involved in human resource development in both countries, which are among the top recipients of technical assistance under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP).
The SCP counts Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, who was in Singapore for a three-month English language course in the late 1990s, among its alumni.
Thongloun shared his SCP experience with Tan when he hosted the president to lunch last week.
“It’s a small investment for us, time for him, but it pays off dividends in the long run and this lasts a lifetime. This gives an example that we don’t need a lot of resources and money, but target areas where they are in need,” said Tan.
More than 12,800 Cambodian and more than 12,300 Lao officials have attended SCP courses since 1992.
Other areas Singapore companies can look at include healthcare, logistics, real estate and food processing, Tan said, noting that some companies are thinking of transferring their food processing facilities to Cambodia or Laos to be closer to food sources.
He added that recent enhancements in airline connectivity as well as bilateral agreements on avoidance of double taxation between Singapore and both countries, would support more companies to explore these business opportunities.