Laos–Spain relations

There has never been an embassy of Spain resident in Laos, nor of Laos in Spain. However, in recent years official contacts have increased taking advantage of meetings in international forums such as UN or ASEM. Thus, Minister García-Margallo attended the ASEM Summit held in November 2012 in Vientiane. In July 2014, Minister García-Margallo met with the Deputy Minister of AAEE of Laos in Brussels, during the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. Relations between Laos and Spain are framed in the context of Laos' relations with the EU. The EU is one of Laos' main donors and one of its main trading partners.[3]

Commercial exchanges are very scarce in both directions and there is no Spanish company installed in Laos. The most important thing is the growing number of Spanish tourists in Laos. According to the Ministry of Tourism of Laos, in 2014 5,000 Spanish tourists were received, which meant an increase of 10% over the previous year. Tourism is the second source of income of the Laotian economy after mining. According to the Spanish Registry of Foreign Investment, there have been no Spanish investment operations in Laos or Laotian investment in Spain.[4]

The bulk of Spanish cooperation is articulated through the EU. Laos is a low-income country that is not among the priorities of Spanish cooperation. Cooperation activities are limited to small-scale projects by local entities and Autonomous Communities.[5]