Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan wants to expand trade and investment with Laos, with the region’s official media describing current economic ties as “practically absent” during a two-day visit by its head to Vientiane on 4 and 5 November.
Tatarstan’s head Rustam Minnikhanov met Lao Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith on 5 November, with both sides pledging to strengthen relations and expand cooperation in trade, investment, education and culture.
Saleumxay said the visit would help deepen the strategic partnership between Laos and Russia and create more opportunities for direct economic and cultural cooperation with Tatarstan. Both sides also called for stronger links between businesses and institutions.
During the meeting Minnikhanov said trade and economic cooperation between Laos and Tatarstan remained very limited, with low trade volumes. He described Tatarstan as one of Russia’s leading industrial regions and said it was ready to cooperate with Laos across different sectors, according to the region’s official media release.
He also said Tatarstan sees Laos as an important partner for expanding its ties with ASEAN and wants to build a long-term relationship with the country.
Business Cooperation
Minnikhanov also attended a Laos-Tatarstan business roundtable at the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), where he met Lao business representatives. The Tatarstan delegation included companies interested in working with Laos.
“We hope that during this visit, business communities on both sides will identify new areas of cooperation and agree on joint projects,” Minnikhanov said.
He said regular exchanges between business delegations could help increase trade and noted that several Tatarstan-based companies already have experience working in Laos.
Minnikhanov invited Lao companies to explore investment opportunities in Tatarstan, including its Alabuga and Innopolis special economic zones. He also proposed holding a meeting of the Russian-Lao Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in Tatarstan.
The meeting would bring Lao business representatives to the region to meet potential partners and discuss projects. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Santiphab Phomvihane, who co-chairs the commission for Laos, also met Minnikhanov during the visit.
Santiphab welcomed the visit and thanked Tatarstan for hosting Lao delegations in Kazan in previous years. The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investment, energy, transport links, tourism, education, public health and labour, according to the Lao government report.
LNCCI President Oudet Souvannavong encouraged Lao businesses to explore opportunities in Tatarstan. He said he was impressed by the region’s industrial development during his visit and urged local companies to consider cooperation across different sectors.
Two memoranda of cooperation were signed at the roundtable. The Russia-Laos Socio-Economic Development Association signed one with KER-Holding and another with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Neither side provided trade figures or named Lao companies planning projects with Tatarstan.
