Photo: Delegates attending the Trade, Investment and Tourism Cooperation Forum to promote the East-West Economic Corridor and CLV Development Triangle

The forum, chaired by the Consul General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Pakse, Mr Nguyen Van Trung, is considered to have practical significance, effectiveness, and the largest scale ever in the East-West Economic Corridor and CLV Development Triangle, with the participation of 5 provinces of Laos (Champasak, Salavan, Sekong, Attapeu and Savannakhet), Ubon Ratchathani province - Thailand, Strung-teng province and Rattanakiri province - Cambodia, and 5 provinces of Kon Tum, Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Quang Binh – Viet Nam.

At the Forum, localities of Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia shared updated information about their potentials, strengths, preferential policies to attract investment, and proposed cooperation activities between the parties in trade and tourism; discussed and agreed on directions and proposed solutions to improve cooperation efficiency, to create favourable conditions for promoting tourism, trade and investment activities on the East-West Economic Corridor and CLV Development Triangle.

Speaking at the Forum, Mr Nguyen Tu Cong Hoang asserted that Binh Dinh had a strategic location, located in the center of the North - South and East - West axis; had a convenient transportation infrastructure system, including roadway, railway, seaway and airway, in which the road connecting the East - West axis has been increasingly upgraded; is the closest and most convenient gateway to the East Sea of the Central Highlands provinces of Vietnam, the provinces of Southern Laos, Northeast Cambodia and Thailand (via Highway 19 to Quy Nhon International Seaport), considered the Eastern door of the Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam Development Triangle Area. The Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) includes sub-corridors and inter-corridors connecting main towns and cities in the south of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), formed by 3 connecting routes of Southern Thailand through Cambodia with Viet Nam, including Binh Dinh in the Bangkok - Seam Riep - Stung Treng - Rathanakini - Pleiku - Quy Nhon branch (Northern sub-corridor), with the role of a gateway to the East Sea through Quy Nhon international seaport, Binh Dinh province. Quy Nhon international seaport is currently operating very effectively, ranked 3rd in Viet Nam, capable of handling ships up to 50,000DWT in/out normally and ships of 70,000 DWT (reduced load), meeting the market demand with the amount of goods through the port expected to reach 15 million tons by 2025.

For its part, Binh Dinh province pledged to support and do its best so that the East-West Cooperation Axis and the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle would soon be formed and contribute to the socio-economic development in the region in general and relevant localities of the East-West Cooperation Axis and the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle in particular.

Photo: PPC Vice Chairman Nguyen Tu Cong Hoang speaks at the Forum

Also on this occasion, an Exhibition was held for Vietnamese, Laos, Thai and Cambodian businesses with about 150 booths to display and promote outstanding local products and services, cultural and tourism spaces and introduce Investment cooperation opportunities.