Dong Nai attends forum on promoting connectivity along East–West economic corridor 2026 in Laos

As part of a working visit to Laos, on April 3, a delegation from Dong Nai Province led by Le Truong Son, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, visited and worked with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Pakse province and attended the 2026 Investment, Trade and Tourism Cooperation Forum on promoting East–West Economic Corridor connectivity in Champasak Province, Laos.

The delegation was received by Ta Phuong Dung, Consul General of Vietnam in Pakse province, along with consulate officials and staff.

At the meeting, Consul General Ta Phuong Dung praised Dong Nai’s strategic development steps, particularly its policy to become a centrally governed city. With an area of over 12,737 sq.km and a population exceeding 4.5 million, Dong Nai possesses all five key modes of transport: road, rail, air, maritime and inland waterways. Notably, Long Thanh International Airport is expected to become operational in 2026, further reinforcing Dong Nai Province’s role as a dynamic economic driver and a key growth pole in the Southern key economic region and nationwide.

Le Truong Son, Member of Dong Nai Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, and Ta Phuong Dung, Consul General of Vietnam in Pakse (Laos), exchange views at the working session.

Le Truong Son, Member of Dong Nai Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, presents a friendship gift to Ta Phuong Dung, Consul General of Vietnam in Pakse (Laos).

The Dong Nai’s working delegation visits and works at the Consulate General of Vietnam in Pakse, Laos.

Regarding cooperation with southern provinces of Laos in general, and with Champasak province, in particular, the Consul General expressed her willingness to continue serving as a bridge to support the effective implementation of memoranda of understanding, provide updates on investment cooperation needs, and assist Dong Nai enterprises in implementing projects in Southern Lao provinces in general and Champasak province in particular.

Member of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Truong Son expressed his deep gratitude to the Consulate General for its continued support in connecting Dong Nai with Lao localities, helping deepen cooperation programs. On this occasion, the delegation presented a friendship gift to the Consulate General.

* Also on April 3, the delegation attended the Investment, Trade and Tourism Cooperation Forum themed “Promoting Connectivity along the East–West Economic Corridor 2026” in Champasak Province.

The event was co-organized by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Pakse of Laos, the People’s Committee of Vietnam’s Da Nang City, and the Champasak provincial administration, drawing more than 400 delegates from five Lao provinces (Champasak, Savannakhet, Salavan, Attapeu and Sekong) and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani Province.

On the Vietnamese side, participants included leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese diplomatic missions in Laos, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and representatives from 10 provinces and cities, including Da Nang, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, An Giang, Quang Tri, Hue and Quang Ngai.

Delegates pose for a commemorative photo at the forum.

The forum introduced an overview of the development potential, competitive advantages, and a list of priority projects for investment attraction from the South-Central provinces of Laos, thereby providing practical information for investors in seeking and selecting cooperation opportunities. At the same time, the forum created a direct dialogue space between state management agencies and the business community to identify difficulties and obstacles in investment, trade, and tourism activities between Vietnam and the South-central region  of Laos, while proposing solutions and concerted mechanisms to improve the investment environment and promote effective, sustainable cooperation.

The working visit not only helped expand cross-border investment, trade and tourism cooperation, creating new business opportunities, but also strengthened the special relationship between Dong Nai and South–central provinces of Laos, as well as between Vietnam and Laos, contributing to promoting the regional prosperity.

By Nguyen Hang - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha