17-05-2025
South Korea, Laos join forces to promote green growth, investment cooperation
VIENTIANE: The Republic of Korea and Laos are strengthening their partnership to advance green growth and sustainable investment through enhanced bilateral cooperation, as highlighted at the 2025 Korea–Laos Net-Zero Partnership Forum held in Vientiane on Tuesday (May 13).
The event brought together over 100 participants from government ministries, international organisations, and private sector companies from both countries.
Lao and Korean officials join development partners for a group photo at the 2025 Korea–Laos Net-Zero Partnership Forum in Vientiane on May 13.
It was jointly organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), in celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Laos.
The forum aimed to deepen collaboration on carbon emission reduction and to promote green investment initiatives that contribute to both countries' sustainable development goals.
Co-chaired by the President of Southeast Asia and Oceania at KOTRA, Koo Bon Kyung, and Laos' Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Laos, Phouvong Luangxaysana, the event welcomed several distinguished guests, including Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Laos, Lee Dong Gyu, and Country Representative of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Dagmar Zwebe.
Koo Bon Kyung reaffirmed Korea's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and underscored Laos' importance as a strategic partner in green energy development.
He said 'This forum provides a timely opportunity for our governments, businesses, and development partners to share strategies, align policies, and identify concrete projects that can turn climate ambition into climate action.'
Phouvong echoed this sentiment, reiterating the Lao government's commitment to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
'We are actively implementing the Decree on Carbon Credits, preparing NDC 3.0, and enhancing climate finance strategies, with strong support from international partners such as Korea,' he said.
Key presentations from Lao ministries—including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry—highlighted national strategies on carbon credit markets, greenhouse gas reduction, and energy transition.
International partners such as GGGI, KOICA, and KOTRA shared updates on technical assistance, Article 6 carbon trading mechanisms, and frameworks to drive green investment.
The forum also featured a technology showcase by leading Korean green energy companies. These included the CS Tech Consortium (comprising NS Telecom, KCP, and Dasco), Enerwin Korea, MOA E&C, Thanks Carbon, and EWC, who introduced their innovations in renewable energy and carbon reduction technologies.
Two significant Memorandums of Agreement were signed during the event.
The first was between CS Tech Consortium and Electrical Construction and Installation State Enterprise (ECI) for the development of e-bike and battery-swapping infrastructure.
The second was with ASA Power Engineering for solar power development projects.
These initiatives are expected to become the first Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes between the Republic of Korea and Laos under the Paris Agreement framework.
A government-to-government session was also conducted between the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and representatives from Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, KOTRA Headquarters.
Discussions focused on establishing a collaborative framework to meet 2030 GHG emission reduction targets.
The event concluded with a business matching session that facilitated direct consultations between 19 major Lao companies—including EDL, EDL-Gen, Phongsubthavy Group, Khounxay Group, ASEAN Group, DDC, and the AIF Group—and Korean green technology providers.
In his closing remarks, Director General of KOTRA Vientiane, Park Jungwe, said 'This is not a one-time event. It is a long-term initiative. KOTRA will continue to support project identification, investor engagement, and capacity-building to ensure Korea and Laos achieve meaningful progress together on the net-zero transition.'
The forum served not only as a platform to promote investment cooperation, but also to raise public awareness about Laos' climate change commitments and the growing opportunities for Korean companies to invest in renewable energy, electric mobility, and sustainable infrastructure in Laos. - Vientiane Times/ANN
