Implementation plan for Memorandum of understanding on development and connection of border trade infrastructure between Vietnam - Laos

Implementation plan for Memorandum of understanding on development and connection of border trade infrastructure between Vietnam - Laos

The Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam issued Decision 1247/QD-TTg on October 23, 2024, regarding the Implementation plan for Memorandum of understanding on development and connection of border trade infrastructure between Vietnam - Laos.

Implementation plan for Memorandum of understanding on development and connection of border trade infrastructure between Vietnam - Laos

The content of the Plan and the implementation schedule is regulated as follows:

(1) General Schedule for Implementing the Memorandum of Understanding

- The Plan for implementing the Memorandum of Understanding will be carried out after the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam signs and issues it until the Memorandum of Understanding expires; continuing implementation if the Memorandum of Understanding is extended.

+ Implementing agency: Ministry of Industry and Trade taking the lead, in cooperation with ministries, sectors, and border provinces.

+ Implementation period: Within 3 years, continue if the Memorandum of Understanding is extended.

- After the Plan is approved by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam, ministries and central authorities and border provinces will develop implementation plans for ministries, central authorities, and local authorities and submit them to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for comprehensive tracking.

+ Implementing agency: Ministry of Industry and Trade taking the lead, in cooperation with ministries, sectors, and border provinces.

+ Implementation period: Quarter IV of 2024.

(2) Organize Propaganda and Dissemination of the Memorandum of Understanding Content

- Organize propaganda and dissemination of the Memorandum of Understanding content, relevant laws of Vietnam and Laos to individuals, organizations, and traders of Vietnam and Laos via mass media, publications, and special sections related to the development of border trade infrastructure; conferences, seminars, talks, training related to the content of the Memorandum of Understanding.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam taking the lead; cooperating agencies include ministries, sectors, border provinces; central and local press and television agencies and communication agencies.

- Implementation period: Annually.

(3) Build and Develop Vietnam - Laos Border Trade Infrastructure

- Research to propose policies for developing border trade infrastructure suitable with the potential of the Vietnam - Laos border provinces.

Implementing agency: Ministry of Industry and Trade taking the lead, in cooperation with ministries, sectors, and border provinces.

Implementation period: 2025 - 2027.

- Support traders in bringing goods into distribution chains in the form of border trade.

- Promote the development of forms of border trade infrastructure in the border provinces of Vietnam - Laos.

- Review border trade infrastructure types that need upgrading, renovation, and the prioritized investment list in border trade infrastructure. The lead agency negotiates with the Lao side on the prioritized border trade infrastructure construction list suitable with the planning of each border locality in different stages; choose at least 01 type of border trade infrastructure prioritized for investment to report to the Government of Vietnam for decision.

Implementing agency: Ministry of Industry and Trade taking the lead, in cooperation with ministries, sectors, and border provinces for items b, d; Border provinces take the lead for item c.

Implementation period: Annually.

(4) Promote Trade and Investment in Developing Border Trade Infrastructure

- Both parties exchange and agree to enhance activities for organizing and promoting investment in building border trade infrastructure in the border area between the two countries, Vietnam and Laos, at least once a year.

- Promote activities encouraging Vietnamese and Lao traders to participate in investing in building border trade infrastructure according to current regulations.

- Establish an information connection mechanism between traders and border residents operating in the border area; connect Vietnamese traders with Lao traders.

Implementing agency: Ministry of Industry and Trade taking the lead, cooperating with the Lao Ministry of Industry and Trade and ministries, sectors, and border provinces of Vietnam.

Implementation period: Annually.

(5) Information Sharing and Training

Enhance the exchange of information, training, and human resource development for state management agencies; develop a team of traders investing and doing business in the border area; the Ministry of Industry and Trade Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade Laos are the focal agencies for both sides to cooperate with ministries, central authorities, and border provinces of both sides to implement the Memorandum of Understanding.

Implementing agency: Ministry of Industry and Trade taking the lead, cooperating with the Lao Ministry of Industry and Trade and ministries, sectors, and border provinces of Vietnam.

Implementation period: Annually.

(6) Content for Amendment, Supplementation, Repeal or Enactment of Legal Documents to Implement the Memorandum of Understanding

- Regulations in the Memorandum of Understanding can be directly applied entirely, so there is no issue of enacting new legal documents or amending, supplementing, or repealing existing legal documents to implement the Memorandum of Understanding.

- Ministries and central authorities, based on functions and duties, organize implementation or can submit to competent authorities to enact legal documents or issue other documents to implement the Memorandum of Understanding.

More details can be found in Decision 1247/QD-TTg issued on October 23, 2024.

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