Economic Forum for the East-West Corridor: Focus on Cooperations!

Economic Forum for the East-West Corridor: Focus on Cooperations!

On May 23, 2025, an important forum on economic cooperation in the East-West Economic Corridor took place. 18 provinces and cities in Vietnam, four provinces in southern Laos and Ubon Ratchathani from Thailand were represented. Among those present was Mr. Nguyen Ngoc He, deputy chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee. The forum was held both in person and online, which made it easier to reach many participants and demonstrated the interest in regional cooperation.

The main goal of the forum was the exchange between municipalities, investors and companies. The region's potential and strengths were presented and measures to attract foreign investment were discussed. A focus was on trade and tourism in order to strengthen cooperation in these sectors. Concrete proposals have been drawn up to promote tourism, trade and investment within the framework of the East-West Economic Corridor.

Regional cooperation and infrastructure

A central theme of the event was improving infrastructure connections in order to increase the region's competitiveness. The proposed solutions included innovative approaches to strengthening transport and trade structures. This is particularly important in the context of the Greater Mekong Subregion: East-West Corridor Project, which aims to support economic cooperation between Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. This project aims to facilitate trade through improved transport infrastructure and is part of a larger effort linking Da Nang in Vietnam with Mawlamyine in Myanmar to promote comprehensive economic ties across the region. ADB reports that…

The event also included the presentation of potential projects that could be implemented within the framework of the East-West Economic Corridor. Participants included representatives from Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, as well as a variety of Vietnamese companies who promoted their agricultural products and services, including processed foods, clothing and handicrafts.

Vietnam – Laos Trade and Tourism Fair 2025

The forum also hosted the Vietnam – Laos Trade and Tourism Fair 2025, which was held from May 21 to 23, 2025 at the Sekong Provincial Trade Center. The fair offered a valuable platform for companies to present local products and promote cultural and tourism services. The products from the “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) program, which pays particular attention to high-quality, locally produced goods, were particularly recognized.

The results of the forum make it clear that regional cooperation and the creation of economic synergies are a central concern of the nations involved. With a clear focus on improving infrastructure and promoting trade, the East-West Economic Corridor offers many opportunities for future developments, as well Vietnam reports that... shows.