VIENTIANE: Ninety tonnes of fresh mangoes from Laos have been despatched to Chinese markets, which are anticipated to have a total demand for 1,500 tonnes of the fruit.
The ceremony marking the inaugural shipment, held on May 30, was a milestone for Laos’s agricultural sector. Laos celebrated the departure of its first shipment of fresh mangoes, equivalent to three truckloads, to China.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Linkham Douangsavanh, senior economic and commercial counsellors from the Chinese Embassy in Laos, and officials and representatives from both countries.
The historic export marked a significant step in strengthening agricultural cooperation between Laos and China. It followed the 2023 agreement by both governments allowing the export of fresh Lao mangoes to Chinese markets, a deal that opened the door to expanded trade and investment opportunities.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Bounchan Kombounyasith, highlighted the importance of meeting stringent plant health and hygiene standards while preparing the shipment.
“We are prioritising the promotion of high-potential agricultural products that meet international market demands,” he said, adding that such efforts aim to reduce import reliance, conserve foreign currency, and encourage value-added processing for exports.
Zhang Ziyong, who represented Henan Changjiu Agricultural Technology Co Ltd, shared insights on the scale of mango cultivation in Laos.
“Mango farming has seen rapid growth, with a total cultivated area of 2,248 hectares across Laos in 2023. This partnership not only benefits local farmers but also enhances regional trade integration,” he said.
He said exports of mangoes from Laos are anticipated to grow to 1,500 tonnes in the years to come.
To date, Laos and China have officially agreed on 35 plant health and quarantine protocols.
Laos’s agricultural production has been on an upward trend, touching 11.09 million tonnes in 2024, a 14 percent increase over the previous year. Major contributors to this growth include crops such as hard maize, sugarcane, cassava, bananas, watermelons and coffee.
Commercial crop cultivation too has demonstrated impressive results, with an estimated output of 9.71 million tonnes, or 99 per cent of an ambitious 9.75 million tonne target for 2024, according to a report presented at the first Lao Agri Expo last year.
The value of agriculture and forestry exports exceeded US$1,214 million in the first nine months of 2024, surpassing the approved target of US$1,200 million by one per cent.
As the trucks rolled out, carrying the fruits of Lao soil towards new international markets, the moment underscored a broader vision: Laos is emerging as a key player in regional agritrade, leveraging its natural resources to strengthen economic ties and uplift rural livelihoods. – Vientiane Times/ANN