HCMC – Vietnam and Laos are working to enhance economic ties by encouraging investment along their border.
Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung, emphasized the importance of developing industrial clusters and border economic zones to foster trade and industrial cooperation. These proposals were discussed at the 2025 Vietnam–Laos Investment Cooperation Conference, held on January 9 as part of the 47th Intergovernmental Committee meeting on bilateral cooperation.
Key sectors targeted for investment include agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy, and mineral processing. Dung also encouraged businesses to explore opportunities in eco-tourism and large-scale resort developments in Laos.
Both Vietnamese and foreign investors are being urged to consider projects that can integrate the two economies and boost Laos’ export capacity.
Vietnam’s registered investment in Laos surged by 62.1% in 2024 to US$191.1 million. This brings the total to 267 projects valued at a combined US$5.7 billion, spanning 17 of Laos’ 18 provinces.
Bilateral trade between the two nations rose significantly, totaling US$2.2 billion in 2024, a 33.9% increase from the previous year. Laos recorded a trade surplus of US$732.7 million with Vietnam.
Dung stressed the importance of Laos stabilizing its macroeconomic environment, refining investment policies, and finalizing agricultural development plans to attract greater private and foreign investment.
