On the afternoon of June 23, the Vietnam Institute of Strategy and Policy for Industry and Trade (under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam) and the Institute for Industry, Commerce and Energy of Laos (under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Laos) held a working session to promote cooperation in the fields of industry, trade and energy between the two countries.

The meeting was co-chaired by Nguyen Van Hoi, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Strategy and Policy for Industry and Trade, and Anousak Phongsavath, Director of the Institute for Industry, Commerce and Energy of Laos.

Earlier, in December 2025, during Party General Secretary (now Party General Secretary and State President) To Lam’s state visit to Laos, senior leaders of the two countries witnessed the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Laos’ Ministry of Industry and Commerce on the development of industrial linkage chains. The two institutes were assigned as focal agencies to coordinate and implement the contents of the MoU.

Promoting implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the two ministries

At the meeting, Nguyen Van Hoi expressed his pleasure at welcoming the Lao delegation and noted that this was the second meeting between the two sides following a working visit to Laos at the end of 2025. He stressed the importance of maintaining regular exchanges to advance cooperation in industry, trade and energy.

Anousak Phongsavath highly appreciated the coordination between the two sides over the past period and said that, after nearly six months since the signing of the MoU, the two institutes should review implementation results and discuss future directions for cooperation to support state management activities and strengthen ties between the two ministries as well as between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to maintain a mechanism for regular, candid and open exchanges to address difficulties and obstacles arising during the implementation of cooperation activities. According to Nguyen Van Hoi, an immediate priority is to establish a standing working group to facilitate communication, information sharing and the development of detailed implementation plans for the signed MoU.

He said the Vietnamese side had reported the implementation plan to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and expressed hope that both sides would soon accelerate the comprehensive implementation of the agreed cooperation contents while regularly reviewing and evaluating progress. Exchange activities could be carried out flexibly through either in-person or online formats.

Expanding cooperation in training, research and business connectivity

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the possibility of organising online forums to promote trade, investment and technology transfer in the fields of industry, trade and energy. The Vietnamese side plans to invite scientists, experts and businesses to participate in these activities.

Human resource training and capacity building emerged as one of the areas receiving particular attention from both sides. Nguyen Van Hoi affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to cooperate in implementing training programmes for Lao officials, focusing on areas such as industrial park management, logistics, seaports and other related specialised fields. Vietnam is also prepared to mobilise lecturers, experts and experienced managers to provide training and share practical experience.

Representatives of Lao agencies said they would soon implement human resource development activities in the sectors that the two ministries had agreed to cooperate on. Lao delegates also expressed interest in issues related to border trade, logistics, e-commerce, renewable energy and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The two sides also exchanged views on research and cooperation orientations in areas including renewable energy, minerals, food processing, textiles and garments, footwear, steel and processing industries. In particular, the idea of studying a Vietnam - Laos joint industrial park model in border areas was raised for consideration and feasibility assessment as a basis for reporting to the competent authorities of the two countries.

Concluding the meeting, leaders of the two institutes reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination in implementing the contents of the memorandum of understanding, thereby contributing to more substantive and effective cooperation in industry, trade and energy between Vietnam and Laos.