The plan aims to effectively implement the Vietnam – Laos Trade Agreement signed on April 8, 2024, facilitating businesses in applying preferential import tariffs, demonstrating the special friendship and importance both sides attach to their ties, thus further promoting the bilateral trade ties.

Under the plan, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), in coordination with relevant ministries and agencies, will disseminate the agreement’s content, tariff preferences, and related guidelines to officials in charge of managing import–export activities and to the Vietnamese business community.

The Ministry of Finance will coordinate with the MoIT and relevant agencies to issue a decree on Vietnam’s special preferential import tariffs for implementing the agreement under a shortened process, with retroactive effect from the date the agreement took effect for Vietnam, if necessary.

After the Decree on Vietnam’s special preferential import tariffs under the agreement takes effect, the MoIT, in coordination with relevant agencies, will issue a circular on tariff-rate quotas for imports of tobacco leaves, rice, sugar, and related products (HS 17.01) originating from Laos.

The MoIT, together with Lao counterparts and relevant Vietnamese agencies, will organise working missions to exchange information, review, and assess the implementation of the agreement. This will be conducted every three years or as requested.

Unitel recognised as Laos’ best telecom network

Star Telecom (Unitel), a joint venture between the Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) of Vietnam and the Lao Asia Telecom under the Lao Ministry of National Defence, has been recognised as the telecom operator with the best network infrastructure in Laos.