Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion

Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.Commercial cooperation of Laos with countries in the Great Mekong subregion.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY SAYMANOLINH SINBANDHIT COMMERCIAL COOPERATION OF LAOS WITH COUNTRIES IN THE GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION PHD DISSERTATION IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION HANOI, 2023 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY SAYMANOLINH SINBANDHIT COMMERCIAL COOPERATION OF LAOS WITH COUNTRIES IN THE GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION Specialization: Business Administration Code: 9340101 PHD DISSERTATION Supervisor: Assoc Prof Dr Bui Huy Nhuong HANOI, 2023 DECLARATION I have read and understood the University’s policy on plagiarism I hereby declare on my honor that this PhD dissertation is my own work and does not violate the guidelines on good academic practices PhD Candidate SAYMANOLINH SINBANDHIT i TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION i TABLE OF CONTENTS ii ABBREVIATIONS v LIST OF TABLE vi LIST OF FIGURES .vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale 1.2 Research objectives 1.2.1 General objectives 1.2.2 Specific objectives 1.3 Research scope 1.3.1 Research subjects 1.3.2 The research scope of the thesis 1.4 Research Methodology .4 1.4.1 Research Design 1.4.2 Data Collection 1.4.3 Ethical Considerations 1.5 Scientific contributions 1.5.1 Theoretical Contribution 1.5.2 Empirical Contribution 1.6 Structure of the thesis CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ON COMMERCIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES 2.1 Conceptualisation 2.1.1 Concepts of trade and international trade 2.1.2 Concepts of commercial cooperation 10 2.2 Different perspectives of commercial cooperation 12 2.2.1 National level 12 2.2.2 Company level 15 2.3 Components of commercial cooperation among nations 17 2.3.1 Trade agreements 17 2.3.2 Foreign direct investment (FDI) 19 2.3.3 Technology transfer 21 ii 2.3.4 Dispute resolution mechanisms 23 2.4 Theoretical frameworks of commercial cooperation among nations 24 2.4.1 Classical Trade Theories 24 2.4.2 Modern Trade Theories 27 2.4.3 International Political Economy Theories 30 2.5 Relevant studies on commercial cooperation between Laos and other countries 33 2.5.1 Studies on trade cooperation of Laos with countries in the Mekong subregion 33 2.5.2 Studies on trade cooperation between Laos and countries in the Mekong sub-region 36 2.6 Research gaps 40 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 42 3.1 Research Design 42 3.1.1 Qualitative approach 43 3.1.2 Quantitative approach 46 3.2 Data Sources and Collection methods 48 3.2.1 Primary Data 48 3.2.2 Secondary Data 49 3.3 Data analysis .52 3.3.1 Qualitative Data Analysis 52 3.3.2 Quantitative Data Analysis 52 3.3.3 Triangulation 54 3.4 Ethical consideration 54 3.4.1 Informed Consent 54 3.4.2 Confidentiality and Anonymity 55 3.4.3 Accuracy and Honesty 55 3.4.4 Respect for Cultural Differences 55 3.4.5 Ethical Approval 55 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH FINDINGS COMMERCIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN LAOS AND THE COUNTRIES OF THE GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION 57 4.1 The general context of region and local 57 4.2 Lao’s context .59 4.3 Factors affecting Laos' trade cooperation with the Mekong sub-region 61 4.3.1 Natural conditions and population of Laos 61 iii 4.3.2 Politics, culture, society 63 4.3.3 National defence - security - foreign affairs 65 4.3.4 About Economies 66 4.4 Overview of economic and trade cooperation relations between Laos and sub-regional countries before 2015 68 4.4.1 Participation in Ayeyarwady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Organisation 68 4.4.2 Participate in the construction of the CLV development triangle area 71 4.4.3 Greater Mekong Subregion Program 72 4.4.4 The importance of economic corridors for Lao PDR 76 4.4.5 Laos projects by sector in GMS 80 4.5 General situation of commercial cooperation between Laos and GMS countries 85 4.5.1 Analysis of commerce data 85 4.5.2 In-depth interview analysis 92 4.6 Laos trade cooperation with some countries in the GMS region 94 4.6.1 Laos-Vietnam Trade Cooperation 94 4.6.2 Laos-Thailand trade cooperation 103 4.6.3 Laos-China trade cooperation 108 4.6.4 Laos – Cambodia trade cooperation 123 CHAPTER 5: RECOMMENDATION FOR LAOS TO STRENGTHEN COMMERCIAL COOPERATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION 137 5.1 The importance of Laos' commercial cooperation with the countries of the Mekong sub-region 137 5.2 Discussion of Laos' Participation in the Subregion (GMS) 140 5.2.1 Achievement 140 5.2.2 Challenges 144 5.3 Orientation of national economic development and trade cooperation of Laos 147 5.4 Some recommendations 150 LIST OF WORKS RELATED TO THE DISSERTATION THAT THE PHD CANDIDATE HAS PUBLISHED 153 REFERENCES 154 iv ABBREVIATIONS ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations ADB Asian Development Bank CLV Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam FDI Foreign Direct Investment GMS Greater Mekong Subregion GDP Gross Domestic Product UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law SDG Sustainable Development Goal MNC Multinational company R&D Research and Development NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement AFTA ASEAN Free Trade Area CPTPP Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership IPR Intellectual property rights WTO World Trade Organisation DSU Dispute Settlement Understanding H-O Heckscher-Ohlin NTT New Trade Theory FTA Free Trade Agreement OECD Organisation Development SEZ Special Economic Zone for v Economic Cooperation and LIST OF TABLE Table 4.1: Area, population and common border of Laos with sub-regional countries 62 Table 4.2: Laos' export turnover to GMS countries 86 Table 4.3: Structure of export commodities of Laos in 2021 89 Table 4.4: Main import/export markets of Vietnam and Laos, 2019 96 Table 4.5: Export and import turnover and trade balance of Vietnam - Laos .97 Table 4.6: Some major export/import products of Vietnam to/from Laos in 2020 97 Table 4.7: Imports of Laos, 2013 and 2017 107 Table 4.8: Exports of Laos, 2013 and 2017 107 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 4.1: Pareto chart of Laos’s 2021 export turnover to world destinations 86 Figure 4.2: Laos' export turnover to GMS countries .87 Figure 4.3: Structure of export commodities of Laos in 2021 (in %) 90 Figure 4.4: Radar chart of Laos’s export turnover in GMS countries 91 vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale Cooperation for development is the current trend of the world, as well as the needs of countries No country wants to prosper in the context of globalisation and regionalisation but is "closed" Economies (regardless of level) must come into contact to exchange, learn from experiences and support each other This is the most crucial relationship not only for less developed countries with limited foreign relations but also for developed countries, which have many global relationships In the literature, the positive correlation between trade agreements and economic growth appears as a consistent theme Frankel & Romer (1999) provides robust econometric evidence of trade's positive impact on a country's income Nevertheless, Rodrik (2018) counter-argues that the benefits of trade liberalisation are not evenly distributed, which can exacerbate income inequalities One of the most fascinating angles in literature is the association between commercial cooperation and peace Oneil (2009) proposes that countries with strong trade ties are less likely to engage in conflicts, a theory known as "capitalist peace" However, this claim is contested by Barbieri (2002), who indicates cases where commercial interdependence has led to conflicts Therefore, developing cooperative relations, especially economic and trade cooperation, between countries and international organisations has become a concern of all humanity and has become an inevitable trend The Greater Mekong Subregion Cooperation (GMS) was established in 1992 as an initiative of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) This trans-national region of Southeast Asia comprises six countries sharing the Mekong River: Cambodia, China (specifically Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam The region, home to approximately 326 million people as of 2020, is characterised by its significant biodiversity, cultural diversity, and rapid economic growth The GMS is geographically diverse, encompassing mountainous terrains, fertile floodplains, extensive forests, and numerous water bodies The region is named after the Mekong River, an international river that is the world's twelfth longest This river is central to the livelihoods of millions in the region and is critical for agriculture, particularly rice cultivation The GMS is one of the world's most biologically diverse regions, with several unique ecosystems It is home to many plant and animal species, including many that are endangered or endemic to the region However, this biodiversity is threatened by habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change By the time AFTA is fully implemented, most products will face zero tariffs, and the majority will face less than 5% tariffs Over 80% of tariff lines currently have a lower than 5% tax rate With the implementation of AFTA, the proportion of tariff lines subject to tariffs above 5% will be negligible and include the most sensitive products 5.4 Some recommendations In order to take advantage of development opportunities and overcome difficulties and challenges, especially the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lao enterprises need to improve their initiative to exploit import sources The Lao government creates conditions to support and facilitate enterprises of sub-regional countries to participate in the Laos investment and business process With pairs of international border gates and sub-border gates, economic exchange activities, travel, import and export of goods and labour between Laos and other countries Recommendations for the GMS Program and the Economic Corridor: - Coordination between GMS and Lao PDR programs, ministries and MPI, and central and provincial governments Concentration refers to consolidating resources and efforts, maximizing the benefits derived from GMS projects, resources that need to be focused on additional projects and policies, and specific GMS M&E systems - Integrate the GMS program in the planning process of Lao PDR more strategically and effectively The next NSEDP will be significantly strengthened if it can include an analysis of the role of the GMS program in Lao PDR and how the government can maximize the benefits of regional outreach at the national level Evaluation of GMS projects and inclusion in the national planning system based on results-based planning will better ensure the maximum benefits from GMS projects - Develop a long-term vision and strategy on the role of economic corridors in developing Lao PDR Making GMS corridors work better for Lao PDR requires focused and coordinated action by the Lao government with the support of development partners As the "transit country" at the heart of the GMS, Lao PDR should use the Economic Corridors Forum (ECF) to discuss national or domestic interest issues As a discussion forum focusing on knowledge sharing, the ECF is a suitable vehicle for Lao PDR to cooperate with other member states - To make corridor planning and investment more effective, special teams with specific work schedules and tenures for programs, projects or economic corridor development issues These special teams will be tasked with developing and 150 coordinating strategic action plans for developing economic corridors and responsible for coordinating and monitoring implementation Each GMS corridor running through Lao PDR must be considered on its merits; each has its strengths and weaknesses, and development efforts must recognize this The new GMS Economic Corridor system, approved in December 2016 (ADB 2016d), should have a country-centred corridor nomenclature to clarify their economic and social impacts geographically, increasing benefits through economic corridor development in Lao PDR - Combine inland ports in order of transportation agreement Establishing "inland ports" to provide logistics services is a recent development and makes the most of Lao PDR's strategic location and existing and planned transport corridors - GMS Program and Economic Corridor: Strengthening existing monitoring and evaluation systems (Frielink and Bando, 2018) The routes are set concerning the GMS of Laos Based on observations from the field survey and information gathered in meetings with relevant central and local governments, the GMS Secretariat has made recommendations to Laos, GMS countries and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to consider proposals to promote and accelerate the development of GMS economic corridors, ensure that Lao PDR not only contributes to but also benefits from the development: Upgrading roads on Laos, establishing an electronic road toll/toll collection system (ETC), improving the upgrading of cross-border stations for important roads connecting in the subregion 1: East-West Economic Corridor; North-South Economic Corridor-1;3 North-South Economic Corridor-2: North-South Economic Corridor-7: North-South Economic Corridor-8: Southern Economic Corridor-4 In addition, the Lao government needs to expand Wattay International Airport in the capital, Vientiane, to increase the transport capacity to about 2-3 million passengers annually The construction of a larger international terminal is essential and will significantly benefit the economy and Laos' tourism industry Along with expanding and upgrading Wattay Airport's international terminal, Laos needs to plan to build a new international airport Lao PDR has many advantages in exporting energy and an excellent potential for tourism exploitation However, next year, after the GMS regional transport system is completed, Lao PDR will be one of the sub-regional countries to achieve many benefits in tourism and export 151 The key recommendations is to establish an SME cooperation network across the countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion This network would facilitate greater information sharing between SMEs regarding opportunities, regulations, market trends, and best practices It could also enable joint marketing efforts where SMEs collaborate to promote their products and services to consumers across the GMS Additionally, the network would make it easier for SMEs to source raw materials, components, and inputs from other countries as well as collaborate on vocational training programs An online digital platform could be developed to connect SMEs virtually and allow them to network, communicate, and identify areas for cooperation Another important recommendation is to launch targeted trade promotion programs that help SMEs in Laos to export their products to other promising markets within the GMS such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia These programs could involve outbound trade missions where SMEs visit partner countries to meet buyers and distributors Additionally, business matching services could facilitate potential commercial relationships Trade fairs and vendor exhibitions could also be organized to showcase products from Laos Support should also be provided to help SMEs understand and navigate customs procedures as well as regulatory compliance requirements in the export destination markets Further recommendations center around improving access to financing for SMEs seeking to expand their operations across borders within the GMS Financing and credit guarantee schemes tailored specifically for cross-border SME growth should be developed This will help address the lack of capital that currently limits SME regionalization and internationalization Partner organizations involved in SME promotion in other GMS countries could also assist in facilitating finances Continued partnership and cooperation among the GMS countries is needed to fully realize the potential for SME commercial opportunities in the region The recommendations aim to lower barriers and costs while supporting cross-country collaboration, trade, and investment linkages between small businesses 152 LIST OF WORKS RELATED TO THE DISSERTATION THAT THE PHD CANDIDATE HAS PUBLISHED Nguyen Hoang Duong, Saymanolinh Sinbadhit, Kongta Khamket, Sakhone Phommalath (2022), ‘A literature review on sustainable logistics for ECommerce’, International conference proceedings: Digital transformation in international supply chain, pp.69-92, Labor publishing house Saymanolinh Sinbadhit, Khamphoui Sibounheuang, Nguyen Thi Chi (2023), ‘Commercial cooperation in Laos PDR: Some issues and challenges’, The 17th Ifeama international conference proceeding in Vietnam: Knowledge transformation and Innovation in Global Society: From the perspectives in a transforming Asia, pp.1299-1317, National Economics University Publishing House Nguyen Phuong Lan, Dang Dinh Dao, Mai Tung Man, Saymanolinh Sinbadhit (2023), ‘Legalizing logistics real estate in Vietnam to promote import-Export in the new context’, International Conference Proceedings: Developing 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