To facilitate commerce and open up new markets for Laotian exports, Vietnam and Laos are planning to negotiate a comprehensive cooperation agreement in the sector of canal transport in the near future. Port in Vietnam

The primary goal of the agreement is to carry over and continue the work of the five-year plan (2016-2020) agreement between Vietnam's Ministry of Transport and Laos' Ministry of Public Works and Transport in the area of waterway transport for the years 2022 through 2027. To further promote cooperation between the two countries and ensure the full and effective implementation of the objectives in the Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation strategy in the field of transportation between the two sides, the two sides have agreed to develop and sign an agreement on comprehensive cooperation in the field of waterway transport. Also, the Vietnamese government supports efforts to improve the business climate in Laos so that its products and services may enter larger markets like Japan, the United States, Canada, Australia, etc., and its business partnerships can be diversified. For Lao exports, access to any Vietnamese port is a boon.

The implementation of the cooperation agreement: The two nations' Directors of Waterway Departments have been given the green light to sign the cooperation agreement on their respective ministries' behalf (in this case, the Transportation Ministry of the United States and the Public Works and Transport Ministry of Laos). Previously, on the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and co-chaired the 45th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee to be held in Laos in January 2023.

Scope of the cooperation agreement: After completing their respective internal procedures, the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has requested that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department of Laws & International Treaties) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning & Investment (Department of External Economic Relations) consider including the signing of this agreement in the upcoming ceremony where cooperation documents between the two countries will be ratified. The Director of the Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration may also be present when the aforesaid agreement is signed by the representative of the Ministry of Transport and Laos.The scope of the agreement reads as follows: "The two sides agree to comprehensively cooperate in the field of waterway transport, including exchange of expertise, knowledge, human resource training, improvement of the legal system, policies, standards, regulations, registration, registration, management and operation of ports, wharves, logistics, and other related contents; facilitate the transport of goods imported and exported from Laos through the system." ports along Vietnam's coasts and interior waterways. Vung Ang, Tien Sa, and Cua Lo are only few of the Vietnamese seaports on the key axis linking Vietnam and Laos that will be prioritized for investment and development in the near future. Put to use; Facilitate the Trade of Laos.
 

Components of the All-inclusive Cooperation Agreement and Their Purposes

The five important sections of the agreement are as follows:

First, Vietnam helps Laos improve its waterway transport legislative framework, processes, and policies, as well as its technical laws and standards.

Second, as part of the terms of the contract, Vietnam will provide human resource training in waterway transport to Laotian workers. This will include both advanced long-term courses and shorter, more manageable training programs. work.

Third, the parties work together to set up programs for the sharing of information, knowledge, and experience in the fields of port transportation, management, operation, vehicle registration and waterway transport, information technology, and insurance. conservation of natural resources, enhanced logistics, and other water transport-related topics.

Fourth, both Parties put in place measures to ensure that their respective boat operators' licenses and degrees are recognized by the other.

Fifth, to import and export commodities from Laos, the Vietnamese government must, therefore, arrange for studies to be conducted, recommendations to be made, and plans to be put into action.

Forms of cooperation: Supporting capacity building in waterway management, business, and exploitation; exchanging research teams, sending technical experts, and training short-term and long-term technical and managerial staff at the proposal of each Party; and any other cooperative activities as agreed upon by the Parties. The Parties promote cooperation through contact, direct consultation, providing information, transferring technical documents; exchanging research teams, sending technical experts, and training short-term and long-term technical and managerial staff. Every year, the two parties will meet in alternating fashion to go over the agreement's execution, identify any issues as they arise, and discuss any necessary changes or additions.

The hub for completing the collaboration pact: The Vietnam Waterways Administration and the Laos Ministry of Transport and Communications

Necessary costs: The Parties shall equally discuss with one another and reach an agreement on the expenses associated with certain cooperation initiatives.