Vietnam, Laos step up investment cooperation to advance East–West Economic Corridor connectivity

The ACV said on July 20 that contractors are deploying additional workers and equipment to speed up construction under Component Project 3, which covers the airport's essential aviation infrastructure. Major facilities, including the first and second runways, taxiways, aircraft aprons, the passenger terminal apron and the aircraft fuel supply system, are approaching completion.

The Department of Customs requested regional customs sub-departments to provide maximum facilitation and ensure same-day customs clearance for exported agricultural, forestry and fishery products, including outside regular working hours.

Vietnam and Laos have agreed to step up cooperation in finance, agriculture, natural resources and environmental management, with a focus on sustainable agricultural development, forest protection and green energy.

According to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, GDP expanded by 8.39% in the second quarter, up from 8.14% a year earlier. Growth for the first six months reached 8.18%, exceeding the 7.63% recorded in the same period of 2025. The performance reflected broad-based contributions from both the supply and demand sides of the economy.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance reported that the manufacturing and processing sector remained the principal driver of economic growth, accounting for 33.07% of the economy's total value-added growth during the first six months of the year.

EuroCham's latest survey shows European business confidence rebounding to its highest level in nearly seven years, driven by stronger demand despite global uncertainty.

The Government's inflation target remains within reach despite mounting headwinds. Several forecasts suggest inflation can stay below 4.5% this year if international oil prices continue to retreat. Extending domestic fuel tax incentives through year-end, along with stable electricity prices, healthcare fees and exchange rates, would offer additional relief.

According to a recent report by BIDV Securities (BSC), these projects span residential and urban developments, airports, expressways, high-speed rail, industrial facilities and other strategic infrastructure.

Around the world, investors are increasingly choosing locations based not only on costs and logistics, but also on renewable energy, carbon performance, circular economy solutions and ESG standards, experts said.

Developed under a strategic cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese and Japanese governments, the nearly 1,000-hectare industrial park is expected to become the city's first eco-industrial park under the country's new regulatory framework.

A key target is that by 2030, all concentrated agricultural, forestry and fisheries production areas will have access to essential services, including product traceability, quarantine, testing, quality certification, processing and market development. The move reflects growing international demand for stricter food safety, quality and traceability standards, which have become increasingly important for agricultural exports.

Despite the encouraging performance, Vietnam's exports remain heavily dependent on a limited number of major markets and product groups, while the domestic value added of many export products remains relatively low because of their reliance on imported raw materials and components.

The debut affirms the city’s push to overhaul investment promotion towards a more modern, transparent and technology-led model that uses digital tools and artificial intelligence to deliver sharper support for investors.

Demand for Korean food in Vietnam has continued to grow rapidly alongside the popularity of the Korean Wave, or Hallyu, making the country a strategic market in the RoK's plan to expand agricultural and food exports to ASEAN, the RoK's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said.

Authorities detected and handled 67,937 violations in the first half of the year, up 36.66% year-on-year. Budget revenue from enforcement reached nearly 9.65 trillion VND (nearly 367 million USD), an increase of 49.36%, while investigation was launched into 1,676 criminal cases involving 2,789 suspects.

The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 25,202 VND/USD on July 6, down 1 VND from the last working day of the previous week.

Participation in the Montreal Declaration also provides a foundation for Vietnam to explore deeper engagement with the IEA's multilateral energy efficiency initiatives, offering opportunities to access data, policy experience, technical tools and public-private partnership models in energy conservation.

Releasing the country's socio-economic data for the second quarter and the first half of the year on July 3, NSO Director Nguyen Thi Huong said Vietnam sustained positive growth across most industries and sectors despite a challenging international economic environment.

According to the Department of Finance, as of May 31, the city had nearly 21,000 active FDI projects worth over 143.3 billion USD, remaining Vietnam’s leading FDI destination. In the first half of 2026, FDI reached over 6.8 billion USD.

Experts agreed that integrating nutrient management, biotechnology, mechanisation and digital technologies will enhance productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition towards greener, more sustainable rice production.