VIENTIANE, Laos — October 8, 2026 — Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith of the Lao PDR and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam co-chaired the Lao-Vietnam Investment Promotion Conference at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane, bringing together approximately 500 public and private sector leaders. Organised jointly by key government bodies, trade chambers, and business associations from both nations, the event served as a major milestone to bolster bilateral economic ties while marking 65 years of diplomatic relations and 50 years of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.
During the session, Prime Minister Saleumxay reaffirmed the Lao government’s commitment to improving the national business climate, highlighting the newly established Investment Promotion and Management Committee designed to offer centralized, single-window services under direct prime ministerial oversight. Private sector contributions have already exceeded official targets, with the Lao government approving 45 concession and regulated investment projects valued at $8.57 billion USD in the first nine months of 2026 alone—with Vietnam leading all foreign investors at over $4.7 billion USD.
To align bilateral economic cooperation with the strong political ties between both nations, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung called on Vietnamese enterprises to expand their presence in Laos, targeting priority sectors such as high-tech agriculture, mineral processing, clean energy, banking, logistics, tourism, and digital transformation, while also encouraging Lao businesses to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam.
The conference concluded with a landmark handover and exchange ceremony featuring 17 investment agreements, establishing a concrete foundation for deepened cross-border economic collaboration ahead of the upcoming 2027 Lao-Vietnam Year of Solidarity and Friendship.