The event was attended by Brigadier General Aen Ounanongnouk, Deputy Minister of Public Security; Brigadier General Soukphachan Silapheth, Deputy Governor of Bokeo Province; Mr. Khueanphet Vongchan, Deputy Governor of Bokeo Province and Deputy Head of the GTSEZ Management and Administration Committee; as well as diplomats, international organizations, and relevant sectors.

On this occasion, Mr. Khamsuang Vilaiphone, Acting Head of the GTSEZ Management and Administration Authority, explained that the zone is located in Tonpheung District at the tri-border area of Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. It was originally established as the ASEAN-Golden Triangle Comprehensive Economic and Tourism Development Zone through an agreement between the Lao government and foreign investors. Covering 827 hectares, the project initially held a 50-year concession period. Following the 2009 Investment Promotion Law, investor proposals, and government approval, the zone was upgraded to a Special Economic Zone.

A Prime Ministerial decree extended the concession period to 99 years and authorized 13 main areas of development and investment, including domestic and foreign trade, industry and handicrafts, tourism, cultural activities, information technology, international transport, finance and insurance, infrastructure development, agriculture, education and research, healthcare, entertainment and casinos, and other government-promoted activities.

The GTSEZ is now home to around 65,000 residents of more than 30 nationalities, including investors, small and medium-sized business operators, and workers. Lao nationals make up about 35 percent of the population, Myanmar nationals about 40 percent, Chinese about 15 percent, and other nationalities around 10 percent. The zone attracts an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 tourist visits annually. Since its establishment in 2009, the GTSEZ has contributed a total of 828 billion kip to the state budget, excluding revenues collected from the Golden Triangle International Checkpoint and other central and provincial tax obligations. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, the zone contributed 98 billion kip.

Mr. Gao Long, Vice President of the GTSEZ Administrative Board, also delivered a report on the zone’s progress. He noted that over the past 18 years, the Dok Ngiew Kham Group, as developer, has pursued its mission despite various challenges. Looking ahead, the group remains committed to complying with Lao laws and policies while promoting further development in industry, healthcare, agriculture, cultural tourism, and light industry. He emphasized innovation, efficiency, and cooperation as guiding principles for sustainable growth, adding that the zone aims to contribute not only to economic development but also to peace and shared prosperity.

KPL