VIENTIANE, Laos – Coffee sector stakeholders in the Laos are meeting in Vientiane this week to agree on a way forward through the new five-year coffee sector export roadmap. Discussions among public and private sector representatives and development partners at the consultation are to cover challenges and opportunities along the value chain and in international markets.
Consultative work on the roadmap is being led by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s Department of Trade Promotion, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and with the support of the International Trade Centre (ITC). Prior to the consultation, representatives from ITC and coffee experts have visited farms and processing facilities, and met with public and private sector stakeholders in the Bolaven Plateau, which produces most of the coffee from Laos.
The development of the roadmap is part of the four-year national Lao component of the Enhanced ASEAN Regional Integration Support by the European Union (ARISE) Plus programme. Funded by the European Union and implemented by ITC, the ARISE Plus-Lao PDR project helps the integration of the Laotian enterprises into global value chains by providing targeted support to both the public and private sectors.
According to ITC estimates, the country’s coffee could expand its export growth potential by $62 million, serving regional and global markets.
A draft roadmap will be produced that incorporates the perspectives of stakeholders in outlining a path to improved competitiveness for the coffee sector in Laos
Emphasizing inclusive and sustainable growth, it will highlight opportunities and actions to foster production and exports of organic coffee from Lao PDR. The roadmap will also identify target export markets with high potential and concrete steps for Lao exporters to seize and sustain opportunities in these markets.
The draft will be further refined over the coming months, including through a follow-up consultation with sector stakeholders.
In addition to its work in the coffee sector, ITC is providing support to the Laotian government to develop a roadmap for the country’s wood processing sector.
About ARISE Plus Lao PDR
ARISE Plus Lao PDR is a four-year national component of the regional ARISE Plus programme. Funded by the European Union, the programme with a total budget of $5.4 million. The overall objective is to promote inclusive economic growth, increased climate change resilience, mitigation of vulnerability (especially due to the dependence on a limited number of sectors and markets) and job creation in Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic. The specific objectives are to improve the business environment in targeted sectors with a focus on regional economic integration (ASEAN), and to increase trade and participation in global value chains in targeted sectors.
About ITC
The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, visit www.intracen.org.
