Import-export value via Lao Cai int’l border gate surges neatly 42 pct in H1

The import-export value via the Lao Cai international border gate in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai reached 2.08 billion USD in the first half of 2021, up 41.98 percent year-on-year.

Exports surged 42.12 percent to around 895 million USD in the period, while imports were valued at nearly 317 million USD, down 3.76 percent compared to the same period last year.

Temporary import for re-export, bonded warehouses, border-gate transfer, and transit activities implemented by Lao Cai’s enterprises at other border gates reached over 867 million, up 71.61 percent year-on-year.

According to Hoang Chi Hien, Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the import and export of goods via Lao Cai are mainly carried out through international road and railway border gates.

Local authorities have developed an action plan to realise its export-import target in 2021, with a vision to 2025, which set out specific requirements, goals, orientations, main tasks and solutions on infrastructure construction, production development, economic restructuring, investment, and trade and tourism promotion.

They have also paid attention to developing services to support import-export activities, improving the investment and business environment and the capacity of custom clearance for goods, and strengthening coordination with the Chinese side to implement cooperation agreements on trade, investment and border management.

Nguyen Ngoc Khai, head of the management board of the Lao Cai Economic Zone said in order to facilitate cross-border import-export activities through the Lao Cai – Hekou international border gate amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, relevant agencies of Lao Cai have regularly kept in touch with those of China’s Yunnan province to promptly solve arising difficulties.

The Vietnamese and Chinese provinces have regularly hold online talks or through external affairs channels to report arising issues related to disease management, and propose coordination measures in order to remove difficulties and promote import-export through the Lao Cai ‑ Hekou international border gate.

Lao Cai and Yunnan provinces held an online conference between the Secretaries of the Party Committees of Vietnam’s Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien provinces and the Secretary of Yunnan Provincial Party Committee in late May to promote friendly exchange, and seek opportunities for investment and business cooperation in all fields of investment, trade and tourism.

They also proposed solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles in the cooperation process and agreed on cooperation contents in the coming time./.