Mr. Nguyen Van May, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said: The Department advises the Provincial People's Committee to direct departments, agencies, and units to uphold their leadership and responsibility in directing and organizing the implementation of the Party's guidelines and the State's policies on economic diplomacy, especially advising on policy development and providing consulting and support to businesses, and assisting people in accessing international markets and the environment of international economic integration.

A delegation from the Propaganda Department of Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces (Lao People's Democratic Republic) visited the production process at the Doveco Son La Fruit and Vegetable Processing Center.

The Provincial People's Committee directs the implementation of tasks to promote investment, trade, and tourism, aiming to publicize the potential, strengths, needs, and preferential policies to attract investment to domestic and foreign organizations and individuals. Notable examples include participating in trade and tourism fairs; proactively welcoming, introducing, providing information, and supporting foreign investors who come to explore investment opportunities in the province.

International economic cooperation and integration have been effectively implemented. The Provincial People's Committee has directed the Department of Industry and Trade to coordinate with agencies and units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and provinces in the northern border region (Lang Son, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, etc.) to update regulations and standards of import markets; monitor the circulation and customs clearance of agricultural products, and promptly inform businesses and cooperatives to proactively produce according to market demand, ensuring compliance with regulations and standards of import markets.

Within the framework of the event commemorating the 130th anniversary of the founding of Son La province (October 10, 1895 - October 10, 2025), the province invited businesses and traders from Xaysomboun province and eight northern provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to participate in booths at the "Trade Promotion Fair for Agricultural Products and OCOP Products in the Northwest Region - Son La 2025". Mr. Thinakone Bun Pa Sot, Deputy Director of the OCOP Product Development Center of Hua Phan province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, said: Participating in the Fair, Hua Phan province brought many characteristic agricultural products such as rice, coffee, dried meat, and brocade and handicraft products. Participating in the fair helps promote the image and enhance the value of the province's characteristic products, while also opening up opportunities for linkages with Son La businesses to promote the consumption of agricultural products in the future.

The booth of Hua Phan province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, at the Northwest Region Agricultural Products and OCOP Products Trade Promotion Fair - Son La 2025.

In addition, Son La focuses on expanding its product markets through official exports to China, South Korea, Japan, the EU, etc. Agencies and units proactively organize product promotion and investment promotion activities, such as: organizing exhibitions, presentations, and promotion of tourism and agricultural products at the Forum “International Trade in the Era of Growth: Sustainable Tourism and Export Potential of Son La Agricultural Products”; creating promotional clips introducing the potential, advantages, investment attraction projects, and key agricultural products of the province (in English, Chinese, and Russian) for the Son La provincial delegation on a business trip to the Russian Federation; sending a request to the Vietnam Post Corporation for support in connecting and selling Son La province's products, goods, and agricultural products on e-commerce platforms and through the system of 63 provincial and city post offices and 17 central post offices; In coordination with the Vietnam Post Corporation, a livestream was organized to promote the Plum Harvesting Festival in Phieng Khoai commune, attracting over 20,000 views and 4,400 live viewers... By 2025, the value of goods participating in exports from the province is expected to reach 225 million USD, an increase of 13.4%, of which the value of agricultural products participating in exports will reach 218 million USD, an increase of 14.5% compared to 2024.

Mr. Pham Van Doanh, Director of Thu Dan Tea Co., Ltd., Binh Thuan commune, informed: The company collaborates and exchanges information with tea businesses and cooperatives in the area to form a product chain, helping tea farmers and tea processing businesses in the area have a specific direction, bringing Son La's products to domestic and international markets. On average, the company produces over 300 tons of dried tea annually, distributed evenly each month, for sale domestically and to the Taiwanese market.

Workers at Thu Dan Tea Company Limited in Binh Thuan commune are packaging tea for export.

To accelerate the review of international agreements signed with foreign partners, in 2025, the province will allow the signing of an international agreement between the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Son La province and the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hua Phan province (Lao People's Democratic Republic) on forest management, protection, and fire prevention and control in the Son La - Hua Phan border area in 2026; one project using ODA capital and preferential loans has been completed: the Son La City Drainage and Wastewater Treatment System Project; two projects are currently under investment preparation: the Son La City Urban Infrastructure Improvement Project to Respond to Climate Change, using ODA capital funded by AFD; and the Son La Province Rural Development Project adapting to natural disasters, using ODA capital from JICA. Regarding FDI projects, there are 8 projects currently operating in the province, with a registered capital of 161 million USD. In 2025, one project proposal was approved: "Dream Plastic Mai Son Factory" by Dream International Limited - South Korea, for the production and processing of children's toys, with a total registered investment capital of 7 million USD.

The booth of Xay Nha Bu Ly province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, at the Northwest Region Agricultural Products and OCOP Products Trade Promotion Fair - Son La 2025.

Recognizing economic diplomacy as a central focus of its foreign policy, playing a driving role in development and integration, Son La province continues to promote market research, expand international cooperation, and mobilize maximum resources from outside the province in combination with internal resources to develop the economy; linking economic diplomacy with cultural diplomacy and ensuring national defense and security; and improving the effectiveness of coordination among departments, localities, and businesses in economic diplomacy.

Nguyen Thu