On that basis, proceed to establish the Vietnam-Laos Agricultural Enterprise Association according to the consensus at the meeting between the Agriculture Ministers of two countries in December 2022.
Minister Le Minh Hoan raised the issue for businesses to discuss. Penetrating the Lao market, our opportunities, difficulties, challenges and actions. We should consider agricultural cooperation as the economic space between the two countries as well as the administrative boundary space spread across the country. Although we know Laos is a small market and there are many barriers about the state system. In one sense we do the economy, but in another we also make the country safer in a century as competitive as it is today.

Mr. Bui Van Quy, Deputy General Director of Saigon Tan Cang Corporation (SNP)

Mr. Bui Van Quy, Deputy General Director of Saigon Tan Cang Corporation (SNP) and also the Chairman of Vietnam Seaport Association shared, Saigon Tan Cang is the first investor to boldly invest in building the center logistics in the Mekong Delta, with two current ports, Cao Lanh and Sa Dec. With the view of deep international integration is to protect the Fatherland from afar, if the trade between Vietnam and Laos is stronger and closer, we will be firmly protected. Tan Cang SG pioneers in the market of Laos, Northeast Thailand.
It is worth mentioning that the Lao side also wants to develop goods through the eastern gateway of Vung Ang rather than through the West through Bangkok, Thailand. Especially with the Vientiane - Kunming railway, Laos is no longer remote in terms of the market. Currently, Laos has 7 dry ports and 1 water port with Vung Ang, so it is capable of logistics. We absolutely have the opportunity to radiate in the southwest direction, if Tan Cang cooperates with businesses with the same idea to develop a distribution center for agricultural products, from there moving to China. As for the supply chain of goods from the Mekong Delta, now through Vung Ang, by sea from Tan Cang to Vung Ang port and by road through Cau Treo border gate to Laos and Northeast Thailand.
According to Mr. Quy, this is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to develop investment in Laos, "The more clues we have in Laos, the greater the position of Vietnam. And Tan Cang SG is willing to join hands with businesses under the direction of ministries and agencies so that with the role of both national defense and security and economy, Tan Cang SG is looking forward to cooperating to find a strategy. and logistics solutions to promote Vietnam-Laos trade, "said Mr. Quy.
As a state manager, Mr. Vu Van Chung - Deputy Director of the Foreign Investment Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment shared the view that the goal of promoting investment cooperation to Laos to take advantage of development opportunities. Investment results in Laos are currently ranked first among 80 countries and territories that have investment relations with Vietnam. Nearly 240 projects in Laos have investment capital of nearly 5.4 billion USD, of which agriculture has 49 projects and investment capital is about 1 billion USD.

Mr. Vu Van Chung - Deputy Director of the Foreign Investment Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment

The two sides have signed and implemented the Trade Agreement and the Border Trade Agreement. For investment projects, on July 24, 2009, the Governments of the two countries signed an Agreement on cooperation in investment in rubber plantations in Laos with an area of 100,000 ha. Up to now, the rubber plantation area of Vietnam in Laos is about 45,000 hectares. For other crops, there have also been many successes such as fruit trees, sugarcane on 15,000 ha, etc.
Mr. Chung assessed that with an area of agricultural and forestry land in Laos of about 7 million hectares, currently most of the cultivation is done manually, traditionally, it is a great opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to invest in Laos. However, it should also be noted that there are still many difficulties because Laos is a developing country, infrastructure is still lacking in both human and technical resources, Vietnamese businesses to Laos must adapt to the environment and Try to take the best opportunity for growth.
“With the potential still open, we need to do well in the direction of a win-win mindset. If the business does not see the opportunity, it will be slow. If you invest in that mindset, it will be more sustainable, but it will definitely be more difficult. Taking this opportunity, I want businesses to have more multi-dimensional views to have motivation, thinking together to develop together, "Minister Le Minh Hoan said./.