HANOI, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Laos will apply for Word Trade Organization (WTO) membership in 2008, the country's news agency KPL reported Friday.

    To this end, the Lao government has instructed relevant ministries and sectors to hold WTO-related seminars and map out their development strategies to well prepare for the international economic integration.

    Laos' agriculture and forestry are very active in the preparation process because the two sectors currently account for half of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Its custom is also very active in the process.