(KPL) The 2025 Korea–Laos Net-Zero Partnership Forum was successfully held in Vientiane, drawing over 100 participants from government ministries, international organizations, and private sector companies from both Korea and Laos. The forum marked a significant milestone in advancing bilateral cooperation on green growth, carbon reduction, and sustainable investment, while also commemorating the 30th anniversary of Laos–Korea relations.

Jointly organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the forum was co-chaired by Koo Bon Kyung, President of Southeast Asia and Oceania at KOTRA, and Phouvong Luangxaysana, Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Lao PDR.

In his opening remarks, Koo Bon Kyung reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and underscored Laos’ role as a key partner in the green transition. “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,” he said.

Vice Minister Phouvong echoed the message of cooperation, emphasizing the Lao government’s efforts to implement the Decree on Carbon Credits, prepare its third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), and strengthen climate finance strategies with support from partners like Korea.

The forum featured technical presentations from various Lao ministries—including Natural Resources and Environment, Energy and Mines, Public Works and Transport, and Agriculture and Forestry—highlighting national strategies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction, energy transition, and carbon trading. Representatives from international organizations such as the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and KOTRA provided insights into technical assistance, green investment frameworks, and Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.

Technology showcases by leading Korean green energy companies such as CS Tech Consortium (including NS Telecom, KCP, and Dasco), Enerwin Korea, MOA E&C, Thanks Carbon, and EWC further enriched the forum. Two key Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) were signed: one between CS Tech Consortium and Laos' Electrical Construction and Installation State Enterprise (ECI) for the development of electric bike and battery swapping infrastructure, and another between CS Tech and ASA Power Engineering for solar power projects. These initiatives are expected to become the first Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) between the two countries under the Paris Agreement.

A government-to-government session in the afternoon brought together Laos’ Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and KOTRA HQ to discuss frameworks for achieving 2030 GHG reduction targets.

The event concluded with a business matching session, where 19 major Lao companies—including EDL, EDL-Gen, Phongsubthavy Group, Khounxay Group, ASEAN Group, DDC, and AIF Group—held one-on-one meetings with Korean green technology providers to explore potential partnerships.

In his closing statement, Park Jungwe, Director General of KOTRA Vientiane, emphasized that the forum marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration. “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,” he said.

The forum aimed to raise public awareness of Laos’ climate initiatives and attract greater Korean investment in renewable energy, electric mobility, and sustainable infrastructure development.

KPL