Expanding trade promotion

In the context of increasingly deep economic integration, expanding trade promotion is not only an essential requirement but also a key driving force for the province's economic growth in the new phase.

With its unique geographical location as a gateway for trade between Vietnam and Southwest China, Lao Cai province is gradually asserting its role as an important trade hub in the region. In the context of increasingly deep economic integration, expanding trade promotion is not only an essential requirement but also a key driving force for the province's economic growth in the new phase.

The province focuses on organizing trade fairs, business networking conferences, and agricultural product weeks in other provinces and in China.

Located in the heart of the province's border region, Lao Cai ward has a unique advantage as it directly borders the international border gate area, serving as a crucial link between Lao Cai province (Vietnam) and Hekou county, Yunnan province (China). This not only facilitates the development of border trade but also opens up numerous opportunities to attract investment, develop services, tourism , and logistics.

Over the years, Lao Cai ward has proactively exploited this advantage by promoting trade, especially in the fields of tourism, services, and border trade. Many land plots within the planning area have been directed to attract investment in the construction of restaurants, hotels, shopping centers, and industrial clusters, gradually forming a dynamic and modern economic ecosystem.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nhat, Chairman of the People's Committee of Lao Cai Ward, said: Trade promotion has always been identified by the locality as a key task and is implemented regularly and continuously, with particular emphasis on promoting investment and attracting businesses to develop tourism and border trade associated with the border gate area.

The development orientation for trade promotion in Lao Cai ward is also part of the overall strategy of Lao Cai province. According to the Lao Cai Provincial Trade Promotion Plan for the period 2026-2030, the province aims to maximize its potential and advantages, expand cooperative relationships, improve the efficiency of supply-demand connections, and gradually transform Lao Cai into an important trading center in the region.

Trade promotion activities are being implemented in a coordinated, systematic manner on a larger scale. The province is focusing on organizing trade fairs, business networking conferences, and agricultural product weeks in major provinces and cities; while also strengthening market research activities and supporting businesses in finding domestic and international partners.

In addition, the province's distinctive products, OCOP products, and key agricultural products are being promoted and their brands are being gradually built in the market.

Trade promotion activities are implemented by the province in a comprehensive and systematic manner.

In particular, promoting international trade continues to be identified as a key focus. The province maintains and expands cooperation with Yunnan Province (China), participates in major trade fairs such as the China-South Asia Expo and the Kunming Import and Export Fair; and organizes trade delegations and market research trips to many countries and regions to expand export markets.

A notable aspect of Lao Cai's trade promotion strategy is the emphasis on technology application and digital transformation. Training and workshops on e-commerce, sales skills, and brand building are widely implemented, helping businesses and cooperatives enhance their competitiveness. The development of market data systems and the application of technology in import-export management also contribute to improving the effectiveness of trade promotion activities.

According to the plan, the total budget for trade promotion activities in Lao Cai province during the 2026-2030 period is expected to exceed 223 billion VND, mobilized from various sources to ensure the synchronized implementation of activities ranging from domestic and international promotion and marketing to human resource training…

Building smart border gates plays a crucial role in promoting cross-border trade.

It is evident that, from the specific advantages of Lao Cai ward to the strategic orientation at the provincial level, trade promotion is being implemented in a synchronized, interconnected, and sustainable manner. The close combination of border trade development, market expansion, investment attraction, and technology application will create a solid foundation for Lao Cai to break through and become an important regional trading hub in the future.

In 2025, the province had 42 approved trade promotion activities, of which 31 were implemented, including: 3 propaganda activities and 28 domestic and international promotion activities. Highlights included disseminating information and promoting import-export mechanisms and policies through the Lao Cai - Ha Khau international border gate to domestic import-export units and businesses; supporting provinces such as Phu Tho, Can Tho, and Bac Ninh in connecting their export activities to the Chinese market; and organizing the 2025 Investment and Trade Promotion Program and the 25th Vietnam-China International Trade Fair in Lao Cai. Through the fair, 16 cooperation agreements with a total value of approximately US$330 million were signed, focusing on areas such as agricultural processing, logistics, e-commerce, and import-export support services. These figures reflect the tangible effectiveness of trade promotion and demonstrate the ever-increasing demand for cooperation between Vietnamese and Chinese businesses.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/mo-rong-xuc-tien-thuong-mai-post896519.html