Over 120 participants gathered to explore Lao PDR’s updated incentives and green economy potential
Date: July 10, 2025
Venue: OBIC Hall, Osaka
Organizers: ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC), Ministry of Planning and Investment (Lao PDR), JETRO Vientiane
Co-Organizer: Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Participants: Over 120 attendees, including Lao and Japanese businesses, government representatives, and related stakeholders
Executive Summary
On July 10, 2025, the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Lao PDR), JETRO Vientiane, and Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized the Lao Investment Forum in Osaka on the occasion of the Lao National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. The event welcomed over 120 participants from government agencies, the private sector, and investment-related organizations from both Lao PDR and Japan.
The forum highlighted Lao PDR’s latest investment policy reforms and introduced updated incentives under the revised Investment Promotion Law (2024). It also featured insights from Japanese businesses operating in Lao PDR and emphasized the country’s growing potential as a green investment destination in the Mekong region.
Objectives and Goals
- Promote understanding of the updated Lao investment climate and incentive packages
- Foster direct dialogue between Lao government and Japanese investors
- Encourage sustainable and green investment in priority sectors
- Facilitate business matching and cooperation
Activities and Highlights
- Opening Remarks were delivered by senior representatives of the Lao PDR and the Japanese government, and the ASEAN-Japan Centre, reaffirming the long-standing ASEAN-Japan partnership and Lao PDR’s regional investment role.
- Investment Environment Presentation covered macroeconomic trends, sector-specific opportunities, and new facilitative measures introduced under the 2024 Investment Promotion Law.
- Panel Discussion featured Japanese companies with on-the-ground experience in Lao PDR. They shared practical insights into entry procedures, building local partnerships, and operating in renewable energy, manufacturing, and agriculture.
- Networking Session provided space for Lao delegates and Japanese participants to explore business opportunities and follow up on potential collaborations.
“Through this forum, we hope Japanese businesses will deepen their understanding of Laos, expand their networks, and identify meaningful investment opportunities. Laos’ clean energy potential and its positioning as a hub for decarbonized growth in the Mekong region present promising areas for Japan–Laos cooperation,”
— Mr. Kazushige Nobutani, Director-General, Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, METI Kansai
Key Messages and Outcomes
- Lao PDR’s Positioning as a Green Investment Destination
- Emphasis on hydropower, organic agriculture, eco-industrial parks, and carbon credit initiatives
- Lao Government reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability, regional integration, and foreign investor protection
- Updated Investment Incentives
- Delegates presented streamlined procedures and incentive packages under the 2024 revision of the Investment Promotion Law
- Sectors of priority: renewable energy, clean manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, logistics, and tourism
- Business Experiences
- Japanese companies shared practical perspectives on doing business in Lao PDR
- Lao PDR was highlighted as a cost-effective entry point into the Mekong region, with increasing market access via regional frameworks (ACMECS, RCEP, etc.)
Way Forward and Engagement
The AJC will continue to work with Lao and Japanese stakeholders to support follow-up actions, including targeted business missions, capacity building, and promotion of green supply chains.
Interested companies or partners are encouraged to contact the AJC for further materials, introductions, or site visit arrangements.
https://investlaos.gov.la/
Additional Resources
Lao Investment Forum 2025 (Link)
- The Investment Promotion Law 2024 (Japanese)
- Forum’s materials
- Lao Investment Promotion Documents
