On the morning of May 27, 2025, at the Office of the Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), a working delegation of the Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem), led by Mr. Phung Quang Hiep – Member of the Executive Committee of the Government Party Committee, Party Secretary, and Chairman of the Members’ Council of the Group, and Mr. Nguyen Huu Tu – Deputy Party Secretary, Member of the Members’ Council, and General Director of the Group, held a meeting and reported to Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith and representatives of relevant ministries on the progress of the Potash rock salt mining and processing project in Khammouan Province.
At the meeting, Mr. Phung Quang Hiep, on behalf of Vinachem, presented an overall report on the implementation of the project, including land clearance, infrastructure preparation, equipment reception, personnel arrangements, and additional capital mobilization for project execution. At the same time, the Group proposed that the Lao Government give attention and direct relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate in resolving remaining procedural obstacles, thereby creating favorable conditions to accelerate progress and ensure implementation in accordance with the approved plan. Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith acknowledged and highly appreciated the role of the Potash rock salt project as one of the key cooperation projects between the two countries. The successful implementation of the project will not only bring economic efficiency but also carry special political and diplomatic significance, contributing to further strengthening the great friendship between the two nations. The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that the Lao Government attaches great importance to the project and will continue to create the most favorable conditions for Vinachem to implement it effectively. Based on the Group’s report and proposals, the Deputy Prime Minister issued specific instructions and assigned the Laos–Vietnam Cooperation Committee, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Laos to actively coordinate and support the resolution of matters within their authority.
Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith also expressed his expectation that the Vietnam National Chemical Group, with the highest level of political determination, would implement the project effectively and in a manner commensurate with the attention and direction of the senior leaders of both Vietnam and Laos. Within the framework of the meeting, the Chairman of the Members’ Council of Vinachem reaffirmed the position of “focusing on action, not retreat,” and “no refusal, no hesitation.” This commitment clearly demonstrates the Group’s proactive and resolute spirit in organizing the project implementation on schedule, ensuring quality and efficiency, and meeting the expectations and close guidance of the senior leadership of both countries.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Vietnam National Chemical Group sincerely thanked the Lao Government for its close attention and guidance regarding the project, as well as the timely and specific directions of Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith to accelerate implementation progress. The Group committed to mobilizing maximum resources, fully promoting a high sense of responsibility and political determination to successfully implement the Potash rock salt project – an especially important political task of the Group in the new period. Immediately after the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister, the delegation reported on the project’s progress to the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Laos. Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam expressed his support and affirmed that the Embassy would continue to accompany and support Vinachem in promoting investment cooperation in Laos in general and the Potash rock salt project in particular.
