Lao garment exports decline by 5 percent
Laos’ garment exports reached US$165 million in 2016, a reduction of 5 percent compared to 2015, the Association of Lao Garment Industry has reported. The shortage of workers is still a chronic problem in the sector resulting in a reduction of garment exports, President of ALGI Dr Xaybandith Rasphone said at the association’s recent general assembly for 2017. In 2016 Laos had 85 garment factories mainly in and around Vientiane with 12 of these solely owned by Lao business people. The Japanese were also large investors in the garment sector, followed by Thai nationals.
