#37: German – Laos Bilateral Relations On the Rise: Opportunities For Businesses - AHK Vietnam | Podcast - Nhac.vn

Laos, the heart of Southeast Asia the country that developed drastically to become a land link from a landlocked, has been undergoing economic reforms and institutional development for the past three decades. The country is surrounded by Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. The economic outlook for Laos is positive, with a projected growth rate of 3.9 percent in 2023 and an average of 4.3 percent in the medium term, driven by the recovery of the service sector and export activities.

Laos's geography also shapes its foreign relations as it has strong connections with its neighbors for trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, and tourism. Laos is part of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), which aims to promote cooperation and integration among Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. With the foreign policy of neutrality and non-alignment, it has maintained friendly relations and participated in regional and international organizations. The country is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Laos also has diplomatic relations with over 140 countries and maintains embassies in 30 countries.

Germany and Laos established diplomatic relations in 1958. Germany supports Laos in various areas, such as capacity development, healthcare, education, and the environment. Laos is an important partner for Germany in the ASEAN region and an active participant in multilateral forums such as the United Nations. The two countries maintain regular political dialogue and cultural exchanges. In this podcast episode, together with Mrs. Annette Knobloch, Madam Ambassador of the German Embassy in Vientiane, we will open a deep dive discussion on the bilateral relations between Germany and Laos. Let's hear the podcast to understand what opportunities await German companies in this thriving partnership.

Especially, in the next episode #38, we will further deepen into the opportunities, challenges, and many more aspects of doing business in Laos through the discussion with experts and entrepreneurs who have been working in Laos for a long time. Please stay tuned for the upcoming informative and inspiring conversation!

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AHK Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos is glad to assist you with advice and guidance on your interest in doing business in the CLMV subregion. 

For further services regarding Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, please kindly visit us at: https://bit.ly/regionCLM or contact our Project Team directly: regionCLM@vietnam.ahk.de