Head of the National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, Dr Anouphab Tounalom (10th from right), Lao and Vietnamese officials, policymakers, economists and researchers attend a seminar in Vientiane on Wednesday.

Vietnam advises on strategies to build a self-reliant economy

Lao and Vietnamese policymakers, economists and researchers have shared research findings and practical strategies for building an independent, self-reliant economy in Laos, highlighting factors that will support Laos’ graduation from Least Developed Country status and foster long-term sustainable growth.
The topic took centre stage at a seminar held in Vientiane on Wednesday titled “Self-Reliant Economy: Initiatives of the Lao PDR and Experience Lessons of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”.
Hosted by the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences, the seminar brought together Party leaders, government officials, academics and researchers to share their experiences and explore strategies for strengthening economic resilience amid an increasingly uncertain global environment.
Attendees included the Head of the National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, Dr Anouphab Tounalom; Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Assoc. Prof. Dr Doan Minh Huan; President of the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences (LASES), Dr Leeber Leebouapao; President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), Prof. Dr Le Van Loi; and representatives of ministries, research institutions and development agencies.
Discussions focused on how Laos can enhance economic resilience by improving productivity, fostering innovation, developing skilled human resources and making greater use of science, technology and digital transformation to modernise production and improve competitiveness.
Experts from Vietnam shared lessons learnt from nearly four decades of Doi Moi (Renewal), the reform policy launched in 1986 that transformed the country’s economy by moving away from central planning and self-isolation after reunification in 1975.
The reform process centred on institutional reform, market-oriented development, investment in human capital, and gradual integration into the global economy while maintaining national economic resilience.
A Vietnamese expert observed that an independent economy does not mean isolation from the global economy. Rather, it means strengthening domestic capacity while remaining actively engaged in international cooperation, regional integration and global markets.
A Lao researcher highlighted the main factors needed to support the country’s sustainable economic growth, including promoting artificial intelligence (AI), technological innovation, SME capacity building, strengthening scientific capacity, and expanding cooperation with international development partners.
Delegates also explored the relationship between self-reliance and international integration, observing that stronger domestic capabilities provide a firmer foundation for attracting quality investment, expanding trade and responding to external economic shocks.
For Laos, the discussions were particularly significant as the government pursues its long-term development strategy centred on building an independent, resilient and green economy, with the goal of graduating from Least Developed Country status and laying the foundations for transition to an upper-middle-income country by 2035.
The seminar also supported the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party’s Politburo Resolution No. 4 on building an independent and self-reliant economy by translating strategic policies into practical action through research and evidence-based policymaking.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update August 6, 2026)