Mr Enrique Manalo delivers a speech at the Lao Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Secretary: Renewable energy, trade, agriculture ‘a boon’ for Laos-Philippines cooperation

A number of opportunities in trade, renewable energy, agriculture and services remain to be tapped to broaden cooperation between Laos and the Philippines, and both sides are mulling the launch of direct flights, a top Filipino diplomat has said.
The Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Mr Enrique Manalo, outlined these opportunities while talking to the Lao media in Vientiane on Friday. He spoke after co-chairing the second meeting of the Laos-Philippines Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) with his Lao counterpart, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, on Thursday.
Citing the outcomes of the talks, he said both sides recognised the need to take advantage of opportunities in different areas to increase economic cooperation.
“Especially in areas such as trade and agriculture and also in terms of even the possibility of services,” he said, adding that both sides also discussed the possibility of starting direct flights connecting the two members of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
Renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, he said, is a new potential area of focus as Filipino investors have already engaged in this field.
A Filipino company, ACEN Renewables, has taken a significant stake in the Monsoon Wind Power Project, which is the first wind power project in Laos and the first cross-border renewable energy project in Asia.
“This investment supports Laos’ Green Growth Strategy and Smooth Transition Strategy,” the Secretary said while delivering a speech at the Lao Institute of Foreign Affairs before giving an interview to the Lao media.
“I also foresee that the forthcoming years will witness stronger bilateral cooperation in agriculture for inclusive growth and food security,” he said.
In light of the opportunities in various fields, both sides will work to figure out cooperation projects.
“We need to do all of these things to really increase our cooperation as we prepare for the third JCBC in Manila,” said the Secretary, who visited Laos for the first time since taking the post in July 2022.
The next JCBC is expected to be held in 2025, when both nations mark the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
In 2022, two-way trade between the two countries topped US$10 million, and it rose further to more than US$29 million over the first six months of this year.
Companies from the Philippines have invested US$325,439 in four projects in Laos, putting the country in 47th place among all foreign investors in Laos.
The two sides also have people-to-people exchanges, with about 2,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Laos. A large numbers have been teaching in schools and making important contributions to human resources of the host country.
Many Lao citizens have completed academic programmes in the Philippines in the fields of science and technology, education, agriculture and English.
To boost more exchanges between the people and tourist arrivals, the top Lao and Filipino diplomats discussed the possibility of starting direct flights connecting Vientiane and Manila.
The Secretary expected to see more high-level and other visits by officials of both sides and further talks in future to realise cooperation agreements.
“The 22 agreements reached between our two governments from 1987 to 2019 frame a relationship aimed at making our societies more humane, more prosperous and more resilient,” Mr Manalo told the audience at the Lao Institute of Foreign Affairs.
In the regional context, he said the Philippines looks forward to Laos’ chairing Asean in 2024, and it will support Lao leadership of the 10-member regional bloc and jointly contribute to the strengthening of the Asean community for collective benefits.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
 (Latest Update August 7, 2023)