In addition, Vietnamese goods exported to Laos are eligiblefor zero tariffs and vice versa under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement(ATIGA), the Vietnam – Laos trade agreement and border trade agreements, Hoa said.
Vietnam’s exports to Laos totalled 594.7 million USD, up 4%year-on-year while imports from Laos jumped 69.8% to 778.2 million USD.
In the first half of this year, imports from Laos soared45.3% year-on-year to 514.6 million USD. Key imported items included rubber,wood and timber products, fertilisers, vegetables, ores and minerals.
Exports edged down 6% year-on-year to just 309.4 million USDduring the period. Vietnam mostly shipped to Laos iron and steel products,vehicles and parts, machinery and components, fertiliers, plastics andvegetables.
Vietnam has so far invested some 4.3 billion USD in 417projects in Laos, making it the third largest investor there. Laos has givenpriority to Vietnamese investors in multiple areas, including cleanagriculture, and processing and manufacturing.
One of the biggest Vietnam-funded projects in Laos is VinamilkLao-Jagro dairy complex, worth some 66.4 million USD, in Xiangkhouang. Vinamilk,Vietnam’s leading milk producer, has recently imported 1,000 Holstein-Friesiandairy cows from the US for its farm in Laos.
The two countries are believed to have huge potential to expand cooperation in electricity and mining. They are striving to raise thebilateral trade by 10 – 15% this year after two years suffering from economicfallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic./.