Youth in Laos see India as ideal destination for higher edu

There are also visible signs of the Indian influence on the Laotian language, culture and religion.

Though Buddhism, followed by 80 per cent of the population of Laos, has been popular here since the time of King Ashoka, there are strong Hindu influences as well. In one of the Buddhist temples, one can see a Ganesh idol placed next to Buddha.

Though French is still the official language due to its colonial past, the new generations are fast moving over to English to be better equipped to gain from globalisation.
Here India scores over China and Australia as it is reportedly more forthcoming in terms of scholarships for higher studies.

"I studied at the Jamia Millia Islamia university at New Delhi. It was a good learning experience," said Kanha Bouasavanh, who is now employed here with the Lao Law and Consultant Company.

She was named Kanha, one of the several names of Lord Krishna, by her grandfather because of her complexion which was like that of the Indian deity.
Lao language also has several Sanskrit and Pali words and names.
Khamdy Bounchaleun, a journalist with the official Lao television, went to New Delhi to learn English.

"I liked India so much I wanted to stay there much longer," he says.
President Pratibha Patil, who is on a five-day state visit to Laos, was entertained with an Odissi dance at a banquet hosted by Lao President Choummaly Sayasone. The Lao dancer had learnt it during her stay in India.

Hindi songs like "Neele gagan ke tale" and "Hum honge kamyaab" -- which many felt aptly symbolised the hopes and aspirations of the two countries -- were also performed.
However, the young generation - unarguably one of the most peace-loving in South-East Asia - is also influenced by the Western culture.
A visit to some of the luxury hotels in Laos shows some of the young and rich splurging on booze and leading the high society life. But locals say the women in such places are mostly from neighbouring Thailand.

The economy here has grown many-fold in the last few years but is still highly dependent on foreign investment.
Indian business houses like the Aditya Birla Group, Kirloskar and others have invested here in pulp and paper industry as well as irrigation.
As part of its 'Look East' policy and building stronger ties with ASEAN countries, India has provided lines of credit to Laos in the field of hydropower, power transmission and irrigation.

Habib Chowdhury, President of HSMM Group whose is a typical rags to riches story, is engaged in several businesses here.
This 40-year-old Assamese started exporting and importing from Dubai to India till he found Laos a more secure market for his limited resources. He gradually built his business and is now into mining and jewellery too.
He is the second biggest Indian investor in Laos after the Birla group.
The Aditya Birla Group sells its products manufactured here- mainly paper- to India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Tata Group is also eyeing the lucrative mining business here.
"We don't have a story here now. We hope to have a story soon," said Indraneel Sengupta, Chief Executive, South East Asia Projects, Tata Group.
India is hopeful Laos would sign the Free Trade Agreement with it soon to facilitate better trade between the two countries.
Laos Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh assured President Pratibha Patil that the National Assembly here had approved the Free Trade Agreement with India and only administrative formalities remained.