The provincial leadership has assigned relevant local departments, agencies, and consulting units to soon complete the adjustment, considering this an urgent task aimed at promoting socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, and aligning with the regional planning of the North Central and Central Coast areas, as well as the provincial planning for Quang Tri from 2021 to 2030, with a vision to 2050.

The goal is to build the Lao Bao Special Economic - Trade Zone into a dynamic, sustainable economic growth hub for Quang Tri, in line with Vietnam’s border-gate economic development strategy, especially during the period of international economic integration. It aims to form a cross-border economic and trade zone between Lao Bao (Quang Tri, Vietnam) and Densavan (Savannakhet, Laos).

The leadership asked the designated agencies to review and readjust the functional areas, while maintaining the existing boundaries. It said, the plan should clarify advantages such as regional linkages, international relations, infrastructure, human resources, production materials, energy development opportunities, industrial and agricultural advantages, investment attraction, and logistics services, given the strategic position of the East-West Economic Corridor.

Notably, the designated agencies were required to assess the suitability of the adjustment in relation to the formation of a Lao Bao-Densavan cross-border economic and trade zone. They will study the feasibility of attracting investment after the planning adjustment and proposing practical implementation methods.

The creation of the Lao Bao-Densavan cross-border economic and trade zone will open up numerous opportunities for long-term cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, particularly in industrial, agricultural, and logistics sectors.

The Lao Bao Special Economic - Trade Zone is one of Vietnam’s eight key border gate economic zones, using state budget resources for the 2021-2025 period. Established in 1998, this special economic zone covers a total area of over 15,800 hectares, spanning across 5 communes and 2 towns along the East-West Economic Corridor through Huong Hoa district.

This is a comprehensive economic model that functions both as an industrial park, export processing zone, and border economic zone. It is also a special bonded warehouse where pilot mechanisms and policies with the highest preferential treatment are applied, in accordance with current Vietnamese laws and the international agreements that Vietnam has signed or participated in.

So far, the Lao Bao Special Economic - Trade Zone has attracted approximately VND3,700 billion in investments from businesses into about 60 production and business projects.

Robust trade activities at border gates signals strong economic start to 2025

Import-export activities at Lao Bao and La Lay international border gates in the central province of Quang Tri have experienced a sharp rise in the early days of the Lunar New Year, indicating a positive economic outlook for 2025.