On 28 October 2026, Soopakij Chearavanont, Chairman of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), led a delegation to Laos. The delegation met with National Assembly President Sonexay Siphandone and Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, and visited the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone. It also visited Électricité du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T) and held talks with Vientiane Party Secretary Athsaphangthong Siphandone and the city’s leadership.

The visit focused on investment in fertilizer processing and manufacturing, modern agriculture, and advanced processing of agricultural products in Laos. Discussions also covered the development of AI computing centers, supporting power infrastructure, and the conditions required to implement related projects. Participants explored opportunities to capitalize on Laos’ resource strengths, extend industrial value chains, and promote regional investment cooperation.

Key members of the visiting delegation included CP Group Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont; Liu Xingxu, Chairman of China Xinlianxin Group; Fu Min, Senior Adviser to the CP Group Chairman for Investment and Industrial Development; Thamnong Pholthongmak, President of CP Laos Co., Ltd.; and Yuppadee Wangtaweesap, Senior Director of the Office of the CP Group Chairman. Huang Guoping, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone, Lao PDR; Huang Xiuwen, General Manager of Laos Thatluang Investment and Development Co., Ltd.; and Deputy General Manager Fu Jian participated in the reception, site visits, and business exchanges.

Meeting with the National Assembly President on Investment in Key Industries and Policy Support

CP Group Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont leads the delegation in a meeting with H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, President of the National Assembly of Laos.

On the morning of 28 October, CP Group Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont led the delegation in a meeting with National Assembly President Sonexay Siphandone. The two sides discussed Laos’ industrial development policies, investment opportunities in priority sectors, and potential areas of future cooperation.

CP Group Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont leads the delegation in a meeting with H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, President of the National Assembly of Laos.

Soopakij Chearavanont outlined CP Group’s investment and operations in Laos over nearly two decades. He expressed the group’s interest in expanding from its existing crop cultivation and livestock businesses into agricultural product and animal feed processing, AI computing centers, and other investment areas, helping turn local resources into higher value products and promote industrial upgrading and exports.

The delegation poses for a group photo with H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, President of the National Assembly.

Sonexay Siphandone responded positively to the proposed investments and supported further field investigations and feasibility studies. He emphasized that projects should reflect Laos’ resource strengths and development needs, and encouraged local people to participate in industrial supply chains so that business investment and local economic development could benefit each other.

Meeting with the Prime Minister to Advance Discussions on Priority Investment Projects

CP Group Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont leads the delegation in a meeting with H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith, Prime Minister of Laos.

Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont and the delegation subsequently met with Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. Discussions focused on investment in advanced processing of agricultural and mineral resources, modern manufacturing, and AI computing centers, including project implementation requirements, supporting facilities, and investment feasibility.

The delegation poses for a group photo with H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith, Prime Minister of Laos.

The meeting deepened the delegation’s understanding of Laos’ investment environment and policies for priority industries, laying the groundwork for further project research, engagement with the relevant government authorities, and investment feasibility studies.

Visiting Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone to Discuss Project Development and Industrial Growth

Huang Guoping, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone, holds talks with the CP Group Chairman.

That afternoon, Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont and the delegation visited the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone in Laos, where they were received and accompanied by Administrative Committee Chairman Huang Guoping and representatives of Laos Thatluang Investment and Development Co., Ltd. At a project discussion meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the zone’s overall development, industrial planning, investment environment, and future plans. The delegation then toured key construction projects and the Thatluang Lake Golf Resort to learn about construction progress, the layout of facilities, and plans for future operations and development.

Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont visits the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone and golf course.

Thatluang Lake Golf Course

The zone is currently advancing key projects, including the Thatluang Lake Golf Resort and the Thatluang Lake Four-Faced Brahma Shrine. These developments will further improve facilities for commerce, tourism, leisure, and modern services, while enhancing the investment environment to attract international capital and quality industrial resources and support Vientiane’s modernization.

Discussing Power Infrastructure Requirements for the AI Computing Industry

The CP Group Chairman leads the delegation in talks with Lin Rui, Chairman of EDL-T.

Following their visit to the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone, Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont and the delegation visited Électricité du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T) for business talks. Discussions focused on the power supply and supporting infrastructure required for future AI computing centers. The delegation learned more about Laos’ power resources and transmission network, providing a basis for further assessment of the technical requirements, energy security, and investment feasibility of a computing center project.

A group photo of the meeting participants.

AI computing centers require a highly stable and continuous power supply. The exchange with EDL-T helped the delegation further assess its investment proposals from an infrastructure perspective and explore emerging industrial opportunities in the digital economy.

Meeting with Vientiane Party Secretary Athsaphangthong Siphandone to Promote Local Industry and Investment Cooperation

On the same day, Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont and the delegation visited the Vientiane city government, where they were received by Athsaphangthong Siphandone, Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee and President of the City People’s Council, together with the city’s leadership.

CP Group Chairman Soopakij Chearavanont leads the delegation in a meeting with H.E. Athsaphangthong Siphandone, Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee and President of the City People’s Council.

The talks focused on potential investments, including AI computing centers. Athsaphangthong outlined Vientiane’s socioeconomic development, priority industries, and investment environment, and expressed support for businesses conducting project feasibility studies. He suggested that, once the conditions for implementation were in place, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) could be signed to advance practical cooperation.

The delegation poses for a group photo with Vientiane’s leadership.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for CP Group to better understand investment opportunities in Vientiane, conduct research on priority projects, and pursue further cooperation.

Connecting International Businesses and Supporting Regional Investment Cooperation

Huang Guoping, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone, and Huang Xiuwen, General Manager of Thatluang Lake, present a flower basket to H.E. Sonexay Siphandone, President of the National Assembly of Laos.

Huang Guoping, Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone, presents a flower basket to H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith, Prime Minister of Laos.

Huang Xiuwen, General Manager of the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone, and Deputy General Manager Fu Jian pose with H.E. Athsaphangthong Siphandone, Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee and President of the City People’s Council, and H.E. Thanongsay Khoupaythoun, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, Member of the Standing Committee of the Vientiane Party Committee, and Vice President of the City People’s Council.

As the principal organizer of the visit, the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone coordinated the delegation’s itinerary, government and business engagement, commercial arrangements, and reception and accompanying services throughout the visit. Its work ensured that the high-level meetings and site visits proceeded smoothly, demonstrating the zone’s capabilities in international business exchanges, coordination of government and business resources, and comprehensive support services. Going forward, the Thatluang Lake Specific Economic Zone will continue to connect the Lao government with international investors, improve the investment environment and supporting industrial facilities, and deepen international trade and investment cooperation.