BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 14.
A joint business council or working group is proposed to be
established between Laos and Azerbaijan to strengthen ties between
business circles of the two countries, Executive Vice President of
the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI),
Thanongsinh Kanlagna, said at the Azerbaijan-Laos Business Forum
held in Baku on Wednesday, Trend’s correspondent reports from the event.


According to him, there is great potential for expanding
cooperation between Azerbaijan and Laos in the fields of trade and
logistics, energy, investment, tourism, and digital
transformation.


During his speech, he thanked the Azerbaijani side for
organizing the forum and expressed his pleasure at being in
Baku.


According to Kanlagna, although Azerbaijan and Laos are
geographically distant from one another, both countries play a
significant role in strengthening inter-regional ties.


"Azerbaijan connects the Caspian Sea, Central Asia, and Europe
via the Middle Corridor, while Laos aims to become a regional
transit hub. Today, we ask a simple question: how can these two
'bridges' be better linked for the benefit of our countries,
neighboring states, and the regions as a whole?" he noted.


The chamber executive highlighted trade and logistics as the
primary areas for cooperation. According to him, Laos offers access
to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market, which
comprises a population of over 680 million, while Azerbaijan holds
a strategic position providing access to markets in the Caucasus,
Türkiye, Central Asia, and Europe. He noted that trade and
logistics companies from both countries could establish alternative
routes to deliver Laos's coffee, rice, and other agricultural
products, as well as Azerbaijan's food, petrochemical, and
industrial goods, to new markets.


Kanlagna also identified energy and the green transition as
promising areas for cooperation. According to him, Azerbaijan
possesses extensive experience in the energy sector and is
investing in renewable energy projects. Meanwhile, Laos aims to
play a key role in Southeast Asia's energy supply by leveraging its
hydropower potential, while also developing its solar and wind
energy sectors.


He emphasized that opportunities exist for cooperation in these
areas regarding the exchange of technology and investment, the
improvement of energy management, and efficient energy distribution
and consumption.


The executive vice president of the LNCCI also highlighted the
importance of leveraging the opportunities offered by special
economic zones within the framework of investment cooperation. He
noted that there are over 20 special economic zones operating in
Laos that encourage investment in manufacturing, agricultural
processing, high-tech industry, and the service sector.







"I invite representatives of Azerbaijan's investment community
to explore the opportunities available in Laos's special economic
zones. At the same time, we encourage investors from Laos to take
advantage of the opportunities offered by Azerbaijan's special
economic zones and to benefit from the country's experience in
investment promotion," he stated.


Kanlagna also identified tourism, digital transformation, and
human capital as key areas for cooperation. According to him, the
rich cultures, traditions of hospitality, and tourism potential of
both countries create favorable conditions for implementing joint
initiatives in this sector. He pointed out the importance of
expanding cooperation in areas such as tourism promotion, digital
trade, e-government services, and the development of small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as fostering connections,
particularly among young entrepreneurs.


The chamber executive also said that the Lao National Chamber of
Commerce and Industry is ready to support the establishment of ties
and the development of business partnerships between the private
sectors of the two countries.


According to him, the chamber covers Laos's 17 provinces and the
capital, Vientiane, uniting over 5,000 registered companies.
Training and service centers dedicated to supporting SMEs operate
in five of the country's key provinces.


Kanlagna added that, in cooperation with the Lao Ministry of
Industry and Commerce, the chamber supports the sustainable
development of local enterprises, the expansion of export
opportunities, and integration into regional supply chains through
the Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Fund.


He mentioned that the effectiveness of business forums should be
measured by the concrete results achieved. To this end, Kanlagna
put forward three proposals: the establishment of a joint business
council or working group to ensure ongoing cooperation between the
chambers, the continuation of work on agreements regarding
investment promotion and protection, as well as the avoidance of
double taxation, and the organization of reciprocal business
delegation visits.


"We propose organizing reciprocal visits to foster business
ties. This process could begin next year with a visit by an
Azerbaijani business delegation to Vientiane. We would be pleased
to welcome you," he emphasized.