#37: German – Laos Bilateral Relations On the Rise: Opportunities For Businesses

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