Lao Tea Alliance gathers in Luang Prabang to explore synergies, cooperation, market access

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, together with the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union Delegation to Laos, organised the 3rd Lao Tea Alliance workshop in Luang Prabang on October 2.
The Lao Tea Alliance was established in 2022 with the support of the Mekong tea project, funded by AFD, when over 80 tea stakeholders convened to share knowledge, create synergies, and build stronger connections within the tea sector.
This year’s workshop, supported by the Green CUP project, gathered more than 120 participants, including Lao tea growers, representatives from Myanmar, the Tea Association, the ASEAN Tea Organisation, and the Chinese Cultural Centre in Laos.
Discussions centred on market access, exploring both the challenges and opportunities for Lao tea in regional and international markets, and highlighting the need for stronger cooperation, improved quality, and better branding to enhance competitiveness.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Bounsu Soudmaly, stressed the project’s importance for the Lao tea sector, noting that “while Lao tea production is relatively high—estimated at over 18,000 tonnes of dried tea in 2024—official exports remain limited compared to capacity”.
“Laos must strengthen standards, production systems, inspection, and coordination to remain competitive. I believe this workshop is a key step to review production, share ideas, and set the direction for a future national tea strategy,” he said.
Ms Phengkhouane Manivong, representing the French Development Agency, said “The AFD has been supporting the Lao tea sector since 2019 through the Mekong Tea Project, under which the Lao Tea Alliance was initiated. AFD is delighted to see this initiative not only continue but also expand to include a broader range of tea stakeholders, including Myanmar, ASEAN, and China.”
Mr Inpone Senekhamty, representing the EU, said “To ensure the Lao tea meets market demands, particularly in Western countries including EU members, I believe we should focus on the following priorities: 1. Develop Lao tea in ways that are closely connected to nature—environmentally friendly, non-deforestation, and supportive of the livelihoods of ethnic communities; 2. Align Lao tea with international certification standards, such as Fair Trade and EU Organic certification; 3. Improve packaging and labelling to highlight the story of its origins, for example, tea grown by ethnic farmers in remote mountain areas; and 4. Ensure consistency in production, processing, quality, and standards.”
Meeting participants explored opportunities to further develop the European, Chinese and ASEAN tea markets, while also addressing the challenges that Lao tea growers face in meeting international production requirements.
Participants from the Nyot Ou Tea Cooperative in Phongsaly and the province’s Office of Industry and Commerce shared key insights on the successful export of tea.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen cooperation within the Lao tea sector, improve quality and compliance with international standards, and expand market access through collective action.
These outcomes reaffirm the Tea Alliance’s role as a vital platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership-building to drive the sustainable growth of Lao tea.
About the Green CUP Project: The Enhanced Green Economy Through a Quality, Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Value Chain (Green CUP) Project is one of Team Europe interventions co-funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union Delegation to Laos under the #TeamEurope approach, supporting more than 3,000 households across Laos to build inclusive, climate-resilient coffee and tea value chains.
EU Global Gateway: This is a new EU strategy that was initiated in 2021. It stands for sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet. It helps tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change to improving health systems and boosting the competitiveness and security of global supply chains.

By Advertorial Desk
(Latest Update October 8, 2025)