Dr. Apichai Boontherawara (third right), President of Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Thailand); Mr. Koichi Danno (far right), Executive Director, Managing Director, Head of Asia Pacific Region, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC); and Mr. Akihiko Kanamura (third left), Executive Director, Head of Asia and Oceania, Daiwa Securities SMBC (Daiwa), recently proposed a fund raising program by issuing an Asian Bond to H.E. Mr. Somsawat Lengsavad (second right), Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR. The bond will serve as a fund raising option for large-scale investment projects such as hydropower dam projects in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Deputy Prime Minister has responded favorably to the proposal and expressed his view that it would bring substantial benefit to the Lao PDR.