Unitel Logistics – A new development milestone in Vietnam – Laos economic cooperation

According to a VNA reporter in Laos, on the evening of October 15 in the capital Vientiane, Star Telecom Company (Unitel) - a joint venture between Viettel Military Telecommunications Group and Lao Asia Telecom Company of the Lao Ministry of National Defense - officially announced the launch of Unitel Logistics, with an investment capital of about 600 million USD. This is a strategic cooperation project with Viettel Post, the number 1 postal enterprise in Vietnam.

Attending the event were General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense ; Senior Lieutenant General Khamlieng Outhakaysone, Party Central Committee member, Lao Minister of National Defense; Professor, Academician Boviengkham Vongdara, Party Central Committee member, Lao Minister of Technology and Communications; Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam, and many representatives of relevant agencies, departments and sectors of Vietnam and Laos.

Delegates from Vietnam and Laos press the button to launch Unitel Logistics. Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA

Speaking at the event, Lieutenant General Saichay Kommasith, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army, said the event not only marked a strategic milestone in business, but also demonstrated the long-term vision of the Defense Ministries of Laos and Vietnam in building a safe and modern digital infrastructure to serve national defense and security and sustainable socio -economic development.

According to Lieutenant General Saichay Kommasith, the establishment of Unitel Logistics has laid the foundation for Unitel to become an industrial corporation providing multi-services in many fields in Laos, having a strong impact on all economic aspects and social life of Lao people; opening up new growth space beyond telecommunications services, contributing 22% to Unitel's growth in the period 2026-2030. In particular, Unitel Logistics will bring significant benefits to Laos.

Lieutenant General Saichay Kommasith, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army, spoke at the event. Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA

Lieutenant General Saichay Kommasith expressed his belief that the project will become a new symbol of modern, stable and effective cooperation between the Defense Ministries of Laos and Vietnam, and a model for economic and defense cooperation in the digital age.

Unitel Logistics’ infrastructure will be deployed on an unprecedented scale in Laos. The project will build three “Mega Hubs” in Oudomxay province (3ha), Vientiane capital (7.2ha) and Savannakhet province (5ha), and develop six bonded warehouses at strategic border gates with Vietnam, Thailand and China.

In addition, Unitel Logistics will also establish a network of 1,500 transaction points covering 18/18 provinces, double the scale of the current largest competitor, ensuring connection to remote villages. A multimodal transport network will also be built with 306 provincial-provincial roads (maximum delivery N+3), domestic and international air routes, and Laos-China and Laos-Thailand railway connections.

The vehicles that Unitel Logistics will use. Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA

Not only does Unitel Logistics transport goods, it also provides a comprehensive service ecosystem. People and businesses can choose home delivery services, express or economical packages depending on their needs, and access value-added services such as COD collection, goods insurance, smart warehousing and delivery of public administrative documents.

Sharing with VNA reporters in Laos, Mr. Tran Trung Hung, General Director of Star Telecom Corporation (Unitel), said that Unitel's development strategy does not stop at providing telecommunications services but also aims to build and complete technical infrastructure first, then do business.

Mr. Tran Trung Hung emphasized that Unitel's goal is to help Laos build a modern telecommunications and information technology infrastructure system, connecting seamlessly with countries in the region and around the world . On that basis, Unitel will coordinate with partners to improve logistics efficiency, shorten delivery and loading time, thereby creating competitive advantages for businesses investing and doing business in Laos.

According to Mr. Tran Trung Hung, to increase the bilateral trade turnover between Laos and Vietnam to 5 billion USD in the coming years, the logistics factor must be considered a key issue and must be resolved first. The development of logistics infrastructure will create a competitive advantage, help reduce costs and shorten the time of transporting goods between the two countries. At that time, thanks to Unitel's network covering all of Laos, goods can be transported to the hands of end consumers. This will increase the competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises operating in Laos, while helping Lao enterprises expand their access to the Vietnamese market - a country with more than 100 million people.

Cargo drones are considered a modern means of transportation by Unitel Logistics. Photo: Xuan Tu/VNA

Unitel Logistics's big differentiator is its modern technology platform. The application of Big Data allows for demand forecasting, optimizing transportation routes, and saving costs. The warehouse and transportation management system is automated, improving operational efficiency, ensuring transparency and reliability. This is the factor that helps Unitel Logistics make a difference, bringing the Lao logistics industry closer to regional standards.

Mr. Bounmi Malavong, a Lao investor who is deploying services at Vung Ang International Port, said that Unitel's launch of the Logistics transport service will act as a bridge in transporting goods from Laos to countries in the region and internationally. This is also considered an important strength contributing to promoting cooperation and mutual support between Unitel and Vung Ang International Port in the coming time.

The launch of Unitel Logistics marks an important turning point, opening a new era for the Lao logistics industry, where goods circulate faster, costs are lower, connecting remote areas more conveniently, and contributing to tightening the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/unitel-logistics-buoc-ngoat-phat-trien-moi-trong-hop-tac-kinh-te-viet-nam-lao-20251015214258974.htm