On the morning of February 20, 2025, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam and the delegation visited, worked and surveyed the production and business activities of Cavico Lao Mining Joint Stock Company in Bolikhamxay province.
At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh, General Director, reported that Cavico Lao Mining Joint Stock Company, Vietnam, has an investment capital of 95% of the shares. The company has invested in Laos since 2009 in the field of mineral exploration and exploitation such as gold, silver, cobalt, nickel, iron, etc. on an area of 69km2 in Bolikham district, Bolikhamxay province. On August 9, 2021, the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment signed a contract with the Company on ore mining. The company has researched and developed on its own and has achieved important results such as technology such as nickel hydrometallurgy, gold separation, and ore concentrate production. From 2022-2024, the Company has officially put into trial operation the nickel hydroxide plant, the nickel metal electrolysis plant and two iron ore concentrate plants.
The company’s products are currently exported to countries such as Korea, Vietnam… to serve as raw materials for manufacturing sectors such as semiconductors and high technology. In 2024, the Company exported 18 tons of electrolytic nickel with 98% Ni content to the Korean market, 60,000 tons of iron ore concentrate to Vietnam.
To date, the Company has fulfilled its financial obligations, contributing nearly 5 million USD to the Lao state budget. In addition, the Company also actively participates in local social security activities, creating jobs for nearly 400 Lao officials and employees in and outside the region with full social insurance and health insurance.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh said that the Company is currently facing a number of difficulties and obstacles such as: site clearance affecting the progress of factory construction, geological and mining activities; power transmission system serving the factory; import of chemicals for production.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam thanked the Company’s leaders and staff for taking the time to receive the delegation. The Ambassador said that the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, founded by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, and nurtured by generations of leaders, is currently developing very well. With that spirit, Vietnamese enterprises in general and Cavico Company in particular need to make every effort in production and business to contribute to the socio-economic development of Laos.
The Ambassador highly appreciated the Company’s performance in 16 years of production and business activities in Laos; it has made continuous efforts, gradually overcoming difficulties and obstacles to achieve the results it has today. Currently, the Lao Government has adjusted its policy on encouraging deep processing in mineral exploitation. Therefore, the Company needs to continue researching and investing to be able to produce and create refined and deep products to gain competitive advantages. The Ambassador suggested that the Company continue to promote its advantages, overcome difficulties to operate effectively, contributing to the socio-economic development of Laos. In addition, the Company needs to pay attention to protecting the environment and ecology, creating jobs, and doing a good job of social security for local people. The Ambassador also noted that the Company should do a good job of communication and mass mobilization so that the Company’s activities are known by many people and receive widespread support from the people./.
