Jong-Won Lee, manager of Kotra, which was established in Laos in 2011 to assist trade and investment with South Korea, says there are more than 10 distributors importing Korean products to Laos.

That figure is expected to increase through continuing promotional events.

This year alone, Kotra has arranged its third promotional event, which was led by more than 30 companies including those representing construction equipment, medical equipment, cosmetics and other consumer goods.

Promotional events are aimed at introducing Korean products to Lao businesses that want to be distributors supplying the demands of both local and Korean customers in Laos as well as trying to expand these markets.

The promotion efforts by the agency are starting to show, as more Korean consumer goods are now available and Laos has seen an increase in buyers as more people become interested in obtaining a variety of goods.

According to the Korean Economic Statistics System, imports to Laos rose 9.2 per cent to $170 million last year, including passenger vehicles, freight vehicles, motors, automobile parts and construction equipment.

Growth is also being seen in exports. Last year, Lao exports to South Korea surged 52.5 per cent to $22.9 million.