On the afternoon of 3 December 2025, the Investment Promotion and Management Committee, in cooperation with the Laos–Vietnam Cooperation Committee, the Ministry of Finance of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Vietnam Business Association in Laos, convened the Lao–Vietnam Investment Promotion Conference under the theme “Strategic Cooperation for Prosperous Development”. The conference was held at the International Cooperation and Training Center (ICTC) in Vientiane Capital, with participation from approximately 500 representatives from both the public and private sectors.
The event was honored to be co-chaired by H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and H.E. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
This year’s conference served as an important platform for strengthening and expanding the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. It also contributed to the commemoration of the 62nd anniversary of Lao–Vietnam diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao PDR.
During the conference, H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister of the Lao PDR, Chairman of the Laos–Vietnam Cooperation Committee, and Chairman of the Investment Promotion and Management Committee, highlighted the Lao government’s strong commitment to promoting private-sector investment, both domestic and foreign. He emphasized that the government has prioritized improving the country’s business and investment environment by streamlining approval processes and enhancing the overall efficiency of investment management.
A key achievement noted was the amendment of the Investment Promotion Law, completed in late 2024, which defines nine priority sectors eligible for investment incentives. These incentives include profit tax exemptions, reductions or exemptions of state land rental or concession fees, and tax exemptions on imported materials and equipment not available domestically, as well as on machinery used directly in production. The incentives vary according to sector and project location. Special policies have also been introduced to promote the development of industrial parks and high-technology zones, supporting the creation of integrated production chains linked to regional and global markets.
H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith further reported that in the first ten months of 2025, the Lao government approved 95 investment projects across concession and controlled business activities, with a total approved value of over USD 5 billion—nearly doubling the figure recorded for 2024. Vietnamese investment in Laos spans key sectors such as electricity, mining, and agriculture, with USD 2.5 billion in Vietnamese investment approved in 2025 alone, representing a 59.6% increase compared to 2024.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone commended the significance of the Lao–Vietnam Investment Promotion Conference, noting that it provides an essential platform for engagement between government agencies and the business community. He emphasized the importance of fostering deeper trade and investment cooperation and encouraged enterprises from both countries to continue exploring new opportunities in order to fulfill their role as “key drivers of national development in the new era.”
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh praised the Lao government for its achievements in socio-economic development and its efforts to facilitate an increasingly favorable investment climate for Vietnamese enterprises. He called on businesses from both countries to embrace innovation, strengthen investment collaboration, and contribute more actively to promoting economic growth in alignment with the special relationship shared between Laos and Vietnam.
The conference concluded with a formal ceremony marking the signing and exchange of nine investment cooperation documents, symbolizing the commitment of both nations to further deepen investment collaboration and strengthen bilateral ties.