INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN ECONOMIC ZONES IN LAO PDR

Trade and Investment Facilitation

WRITTEN BY MEKONG INSTITUTE'S TRADE AND INVESTMENT FACILITATION DEPARTMENT

Mekong Institute (MI) in cooperation with the Special Economic Zone Promotion and Management Office, Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Faculty of Engineering of National University of Laos (NUOL), organized a National virtual Workshop on “Investment Opportunities and Incentives in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Laos” on September 23, 2021 to promote and get insights and information on investment rules and opportunities and potential investors’ perspectives in economic zones against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, provide suggestions for further advancing trade and cooperation in connection with cross-border special economic zones and COVID-19 recovery measures in EZs in Lao PDR. 

Mr. Phonepaseuth Hao-onchanh, Director of Promotion and External Relations Division, Special Economic Zone Promotion and Management Office, chaired the workshop and presented their responsibilities, progress of EZ projects, the country’s policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and future plans. The speakers in technical sessions spoke about status, type and policies on investment in EZs, emerging investment opportunities, and the progress in development of Xaysettha Specific Economics Zone.

The workshop was attended by 30 participants representing government agencies such as the Customs Department, Tax Department, Department of Financial Policy and Legislation Department, Special Economic Zone Promotion and Management Office, Promotion Industry Department and Industrial and Handicraft Department, Dry Port, private sector such as Savan Park, exporters’ associations, banks, SEZ developers and faculty from NUOL and experts from consulting companies.

The workshop was organized as a series of national workshops on investment opportunities in economic zones as part of a multi-year project on “Joint Development of Cross-Border Economic Zones in Lancang-Mekong Countries,” supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund and implemented by MI in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, Royal Government of Thailand.

The highlights of discussions of the national workshop in Laos and other Lancang-Mekong countries will be presented at a regional online Synthesis and Evaluation Workshop in the second week of October 2021. 

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.