With its special position, Lao Cai is not only important to Vietnam and China but also a bridge between ASEAN, China and Europe. This is demonstrated by the figures: in 2001, the total import-export value through Lao Cai - Ha Khau International Border Gate reached nearly 210 million USD; in 2007 it increased to 723 million USD; the average growth rate in the period 2001 - 2007 was nearly 20%/year.
By 2019, import-export turnover through Lao Cai border gates reached 3.8 billion USD - the highest level before the Covid-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, import-export activities recovered strongly. In 2024, the total import-export value reached 3.625 billion USD, an increase of 68% compared to 2023. Lao Cai became the second largest gateway in the country for agricultural product clearance, with key products such as durian, watermelon, mango... The number of enterprises participating in import-export reached 792 units; budget revenue through border gates reached 1,331.6 billion VND (an increase of 41.2% over the previous year). By 2025, the province expects import-export turnover to reach 3.12 billion USD (1.24 billion USD in the first 7 months of the year), GRDP growth of over 10%.
Currently, Lao Cai Border Gate Economic Zone has a pair of international road border gates Lao Cai - Ha Khau (via Ho Kieu II Bridge), Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. II) and Lao Cai - Ha Khau International Railway Border Gate (via Ho Kieu Bridge). Border gate infrastructure has made important progress; digital transformation has been promoted with the operation of the Digital Border Gate Platform, contributing to the publicity and transparency of processes and procedures, reducing customs clearance time and costs. Accordingly, Lao Cai Border Gate Economic Zone is identified as a key driving economic zone among the 8 national key border gate economic zones. This is the nucleus for developing Lao Cai into a trade connection center between ASEAN and the Southwest region of China.
After nearly 35 years of establishment and development, Lao Cai Border Gate Economic Zone has achieved many achievements, contributing to making Lao Cai an important "bridge" in economic trade between Vietnam, countries in the ASEAN region and the vast Southwest region of China. Particularly for Lao Cai, the border gate economy plays a key role in promoting the socio-economic development of the province. Clearly identifying the important role of the border gate economy, in the development orientation for the period 2026 - 2030, the Provincial Party Committee determined to build the Border Gate Economic Zone into a multi-sector economic zone, a breakthrough, a development pole, a center of trade, logistics, finance, tourism and industrial production of Lao Cai and the provinces in the midland and mountainous regions of the North.
Mr. Vuong Trinh Quoc - Head of the Lao Cai Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, said: In line with Decision No. 1620/QD-TTg dated December 20, 2024 of the Prime Minister promulgating the Plan to implement the construction of Lao Cai to become a Center for connecting economic trade between Vietnam and ASEAN countries with the Southwest region - China, in the coming time, the Board will proactively advise the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and Provincial People's Committee on strategies and solutions to build Lao Cai Border Gate Economic Zone to become a trading center of the ASEAN region and the Southwest region - China with a focus on the Free Trade Zone and the Cross-Border Economic Cooperation Zone.
According to the planning of border gates on the Vietnam - China land border for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister, Lao Cai province will open and upgrade two pairs of border gates: Muong Khuong (Lao Cai) - Kieu Dau (Yunnan), Ban Vuoc (Bat Xat) - Pa Sa (China) into international border gates; open 6 customs clearance routes - specialized roads for transporting goods between Lao Cai and Yunnan, including: Ban Quan - Son Yeu, Na Loc - Ma Hoang Pao, Lo Co Chin - Lao Kha, Hoa Chu Phung - Seo Pa Chu, Lung Po - Lung Po Chai and Y Ty - Ma Ngan Chai customs clearance route. Along with that, investment in building technical infrastructure and smart border gates will help improve customs clearance capacity and reduce logistics costs through border gates. In particular, the province is aiming to form Kim Thanh Dry Port, Ban Vuoc International Dry Port, and modern logistics centers on the border; this will not only help optimize the supply chain but also facilitate the circulation of goods across the border.
One of the important tasks in Lao Cai's border economic development strategy in 2025 and the following years is to invest in building smart border gates associated with bonded warehouses and yards, gathering and storage locations for high-tech import and export goods; e-commerce bonded warehouse complexes and international postal warehouses to improve customs clearance capacity, reduce customs clearance time, and improve logistics efficiency for businesses.
With a scale of nearly 16,000 hectares, Lao Cai Border Gate Economic Zone is oriented to develop according to the spatial model of 3 dynamic economic zones associated with pairs of international border gates (Zone I - Lao Cai International Border Gate; Zone II - Ban Vuoc International Border Gate; Zone III - Muong Khuong International Border Gate), each zone has a separate mission and function, complementing each other to create a harmonious and sustainable development.
In addition to the zoning, the planning also clearly identifies key projects such as: Lao Cai International Transit Station, Ban Vuoc Border Economic Cooperation Zone and International Border Gate, and the Project to exploit the potential of Y Ty and Lung Po border tourism to create a foundation for comprehensive development.
With a special geographical location, well-planned, scientific and strategic vision when building a Border Gate Economic Zone to take advantage of new opportunities from the shift of global supply chains and regional economic cooperation trends, Lao Cai confidently affirms its role as a Center for economic trade connection between Vietnam and ASEAN countries with the Southwest region - China. The development of Lao Cai Border Gate Economic Zone not only brings economic benefits to the province but also contributes to enhancing Vietnam's position on the international trade map.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/kinh-te-cua-khau-dong-luc-de-lao-cai-phat-trien-nhanh-va-ben-vung-post882312.html
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