Removing difficulties to promote coal import activities from Laos

Recently, coal import activities from Laos to Vietnam, mainly through La Lay International Border Gate, have improved. However, besides the positive signs, there are still some difficulties and problems that require relevant levels, sectors and units to promptly resolve. Quang Tri Newspaper reporters recently interviewed Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade NGUYEN HUU HUNG on this issue.

- First of all, thank you for taking the time to answer the interview. Could you please inform us about the positive signals from coal import activities from Laos to Vietnam through La Lay International Border Gate?

- Quang Tri has a land border adjacent to two provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic: Savannakhet and Salavan with a total length of more than 187 km. There are two international border gates in the area: Lao Bao International Border Gate, La Lay International Border Gate and 4 pairs of secondary border gates. This is an important traffic bridge, connecting Central Vietnam with the provinces of Laos and countries on the East-West Economic Corridor. The large coal reserves in Laos imported through La Lay International Border Gate with a short transportation route are favorable factors to promote coal imports, contributing to supplementing raw materials for production needs, serving the socio-economic development of the country.

Importing coal from Sekong province by enterprises through La Lay International Border Gate is a reasonable choice. With this choice, enterprises will shorten the transportation route; reduce costs; improve production and business efficiency, contributing to the socio-economic development of localities of Vietnam and Laos... In recent times, at La Lay International Border Gate, customs clearance procedures for coal shipments through the gate have been facilitated by the authorities. On average, every day, about 400 - 450 vehicles entering and exiting the country are cleared through La Lay International Border Gate. In 2024, the amount of coal imported into Vietnam through La Lay International Border Gate will reach nearly 1.5 million tons.

Vehicles carrying coal from Laos to Vietnam prepare to complete customs clearance procedures through La Lay International Border Gate - Photo: TL

- To seize the opportunity, what efforts has Quang Tri province made to promote coal imports from Laos, sir?

- In recent times, coal transportation projects from Laos to Vietnam have received attention, direction, and strong and close support from the governments of the two countries and central ministries and branches. This is considered a favorable condition to accelerate the progress of appraisal, approval, and implementation of projects. In the context of increasing demand for coal transportation, investors are more determined to implement and accelerate the progress of projects related to coal import activities. This is an important basis to contribute to improving the efficiency of coal transportation from Laos to Vietnam.

Since 2023, Quang Tri province has received many investment proposals and implemented infrastructure construction projects to transport coal from Laos to Vietnam through La Lay International Border Gate. Provincial leaders have actively and proactively worked with relevant ministries, branches and agencies, proposed to the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for support, unified direction and implementation of investment project approval procedures.

Along with that, relevant levels, sectors and units of the province have worked with many investors such as: Central Capital Investment Company Limited; Nam Tien Company Limited; PTS Vien Dong Company Limited; My Thuy Port Joint Venture Joint Stock Company; Anh Phat Petro Joint Stock Company... to research and propose projects on conveyor belts, specialized ports, coal gathering and transit warehouses, offloading yards, service infrastructure...

Attention has been paid to supporting, guiding, and helping investors survey and determine project investment locations and properly implementing procedures according to regulations. Directly related to the import of coal from Laos to Vietnam through La Lay International Border Gate, there are currently 4 key projects in the area being studied and proposed for investment. In addition, the investment in key projects in the province directly or indirectly related to promoting coal trade with Laos has been paid attention to by provincial leaders, who have actively urged the implementation and implementation.

- Besides the above positive signals, what difficulties and problems are there in importing coal from Laos to Vietnam, mainly through La Lay International Border Gate?

- It is noted that coal import activities from Laos still face some difficulties and obstacles. First, the approval of investment projects in the group of coal transportation projects from Laos to Vietnam is still slow because it has not met some conditions and legal regulations. Another fact is that the project idea was formed after the basic planning was approved. The investment form of the project has no precedent in the province. Therefore, the projects have not been fully updated in the relevant planning and plans.

Another reality is that the infrastructure and working conditions at the border gate on the Lao side have not been fully built, so they have not attracted many import-export and customs clearance activities of enterprises. On the Vietnamese side, although the infrastructure at La Lay International Border Gate has been focused on investment and construction, many items have not been completed and there is a lack of support services. Border trade infrastructure has not been developed, causing significant impacts on the import and export of goods from countries in the region in general and Laos in particular. Another notable point is that the transportation of coal from Laos through La Lay International Border Gate to seaports generates dust and gas, polluting the environment, affecting the health of people in areas such as: La Lay International Border Gate, residential areas along the Ho Chi Minh Highway West Branch, National Highway 9, National Highway 15D, etc. This is something that needs attention and attention to be resolved.

- So, in your opinion, what needs to be done to promote coal imports in the coming time?

- In order for the coal trade cooperation with Laos to take place more smoothly, efficiently and effectively, in my opinion, the Governments of Vietnam and Laos and central ministries and branches need to continue to pay attention and create favorable conditions for related projects to be approved and implemented smoothly and quickly, ensuring full legal basis according to current laws. In particular, the immediate need is to speed up the implementation of the project of the Conveyor Belt for transporting cross-border coal from Laos through La Lay International Border Gate to the warehouse for goods gathering in A Deng village, A Ngo commune, Dakrong district and the My Thuy Port Area project; approve the investment policy of the project to renovate and upgrade National Highway 15D, from the West branch of Ho Chi Minh Road to La Lay International Border Gate; support the implementation and investment in the construction of Dakrong suspension bridge; research and arrange funding to invest in an automatic air environment monitoring station system in Quang Tri...

Ministries, branches and central agencies need to pay attention to supporting the province in calling for and introducing enterprises with capacity and ability to participate in investing in developing infrastructure, seaport systems, warehouses, logistics centers... to serve the local socio-economic development in general and coal import activities in particular.

Develop and coordinate the implementation of information connection programs, support localities in implementing a number of investment promotion activities, develop logistics services and activities related to the transportation, import and export of coal from Laos. Allocate capital to complete the construction of infrastructure in the La Lay International Border Gate area; create conditions to support and accelerate the construction of key projects of the province...

On the side of Quang Tri province, it is necessary to strengthen investment promotion, calling on domestic and foreign investors to come to research, invest, form joint ventures, and associate with the State to invest in infrastructure development projects, especially in the fields of road traffic, seaports... to participate more deeply in the process of infrastructure exploitation, transportation, production, business, especially in processing activities, and increase the value of coal imported from Laos in Quang Tri province.

Thank you!

Tay Long (performed)

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/go-kho-de-thuc-day-hoat-dong-nhap-khau-than-da-tu-lao-192424.htm