Hai Phong, Lao cooperatives explore closer cooperation
Cooperatives and businesses in Hai Phong are exploring partnerships with counterparts in Laos, aiming to build cross-border production and supply chains while expanding trade, investment and technology cooperation.
Cooperatives explore new opportunities
Hai Phong has strengthened its position as a growth hub in northern Vietnam's coastal region, supported by a modern seaport system, an expanding logistics network and a dynamic industrial and agricultural base. Alongside efforts to attract investment and broaden access to international markets, the city sees the cooperative sector as an important driver of local economic development through greater integration and collaboration.
Against this backdrop, closer engagement between members of the Hai Phong Cooperative Alliance and Lao partners is creating new opportunities in trade, investment, technology transfer and sustainable value chains.
Quang Hai Co., Ltd., based in Cat Hai Special Zone, has grown from a traditional fish sauce producer into an established brand over more than three decades. The company now produces more than one million liters of fish sauce annually and has 13 products certified under Vietnam's OCOP program, including 12 four-star products and one five-star product.
Beyond the domestic market, its products have gradually entered overseas markets, including Europe. Director Bui Duc Vinh said the company was honored to be selected for a site visit by a delegation from the Lao Embassy in Vietnam and the Hai Phong Cooperative Alliance.
Agricultural cooperatives in Hai Phong also see significant opportunities for cooperation with Laos. Pham Van Quyen, director of Nam Viet Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Cooperative in Chan Hung Commune, said the cooperative is developing high-tech, clean agriculture and hopes to expand cooperation in agricultural production, processing and exports.
Laos has abundant agricultural land, while farmland in Hai Phong is gradually shrinking as urbanization and industrial development continue. That presents opportunities for cooperatives and businesses from both sides to work together on developing raw material areas and investing in production. At the same time, Laos, as a landlocked country, offers potential demand for Vietnamese seafood products, particularly processed specialties from Hai Phong.
Building stronger Vietnam–Laos cooperative links
The longstanding friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Laos provide a solid foundation for expanding economic cooperation.
Hai Phong offers strengths in manufacturing, food processing, logistics, seaport services and exports, while Laos has advantages in natural resources, agriculture and distinctive local products. These complementary strengths could support cooperation ranging from production and technology transfer to marketing and distribution, helping increase the value of products from both sides.
Following a fact-finding visit to Hai Phong, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh said she was impressed by the city's cooperative models and believed there was considerable room to deepen cooperation. She expressed hope that Hai Phong's cooperatives and businesses would expand investment in Laos, particularly in raw material development, agricultural processing and trade promotion.
She said the Lao Embassy in Vietnam would continue serving as a bridge by helping Hai Phong businesses and cooperatives better understand the Lao market, connect with potential partners and expand investment.
Hai Phong is home to nearly 800 cooperatives and more than 900 cooperative groups operating across a wide range of sectors. Supported by international seaports, logistics infrastructure and experience in high-tech agriculture, the city is gradually building a modern cooperative ecosystem linked to digital transformation and international integration.
Ngo Ngoc Khanh, Chairman of the Hai Phong Cooperative Alliance, said both sides would continue discussions following the visit to develop practical cooperation programs, enabling Hai Phong's OCOP products, agricultural produce and seafood specialties to enter the Lao market, while facilitating the introduction of Lao products into Hai Phong.
The alliance will continue acting as a bridge between its member cooperatives and Lao localities by supporting high-tech agricultural know-how, sharing digital transformation experience, and organizing regular study visits and business networking activities. It expects to send one or two delegations of Hai Phong cooperatives to Laos later this year to explore cooperation opportunities, while also welcoming Lao cooperatives and businesses to Hai Phong for exchanges and study visits.
Hai Phong News