Manufacturing
FDI in manufacturing remains small – less than $70 million in 2015. Companies such as
Coca-Cola (United States) and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (Japan) established plants
in 2015. The former produces soft drinks for the local market while the latter manufactures
thermistor sensors to export abroad. These are in addition to Japanese companies such
as Toyota Boshoku, Mitsubishi Materials, Nikon, Minebea and Siam Cement (Thailand) that
are already operating in the country (ASEAN Secretariat and UNCTAD 2015). Many of these
companies are connecting their manufacturing activities in the Lao People’s Democratic
Republic with their operations based in other ASEAN Member States such as Thailand.
operations in 2016 (table 1.13).