VIENTIANE — The Lao Government and Việt Phương Group (VPG) from Việt Nam on Tuesday signed a contract for exploiting and processing bauxite ore and building an alumina factory in Laos’ Sekong province.

With total investment of about US$650 million, this will be Việt Nam’s biggest investment project in Laos’ mining sector.

The project is located in the Dakcheung district of Sekong and will cover nearly 100 sq.km of land. It is part of a roadmap implementing an agreement on economic, cultural and scientific-technical cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao governments. It not only matches the socio-economic development plans and the expansion of relevant infrastructure in relating localities but will also help ensure security-defence in areas with bauxite mines, particularly in Sekong province and the Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam Development Triangle Area.

At the signing ceremony, VPG General Director Phương Minh Huệ thanked the authorities of Laos and Sekong for supporting her firm over the last 10 years to carry out the agreement on bauxite exploration inked with the Lao Government.

She said the successful implementation of this project will contribute to the development of the Lao economy and help increase the proportion of industry in the local economy, as well as industrialising and modernising the country.

She also called for more support from the Lao Party, Government and people for project implementation and pledged that with its capability and experience, VPG is determined to carry out this project successfully so as to help implement the two countries’ socio-economic development cooperation programme and reinforce their special friendship.

When operational, the project is set to create thousands of jobs for local residents and contribute millions of dollars to the local budget each year, Huệ added. — VNS