Lao and Korean officials and entrepreneurs gather for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the forum in Vientiane.

Korea-Laos forum drives sustainable agricultural growth

More than 100 representatives of government agencies, international organisations, development partners and private-sector companies from the Republic of Korea and Laos gathered in Vientiane for the second K-Green Agro Partnering Forum.
The two-day event was meant to advance bilateral cooperation in sustainable agriculture, agribusiness investment and green growth.
The forum was supported by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), and the first day was jointly chaired by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Laos and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). It was co-chaired by the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

The forum provided a valuable platform for strengthening partnerships and exploring new opportunities for agricultural trade and investment.
The morning of the first day featured a high-level policy forum, followed by a business matching session in the afternoon. The event facilitated more than 51 business consultations between 12 Korean companies and more than 25 Lao partners.
Several cooperation agreements and follow-up discussions, valued at about US$14 million, were initiated, demonstrating the commercial potential of Korean smart agriculture technologies in the Lao market.
On the second day, participants travelled to Vientiane province for a seminar co-chaired by the Chairman of the Vientiane Provincial Administration Committee, Dr Syviengxay Oraboune. Discussions focused on local agricultural development priorities, investment opportunities and practical collaboration, and were followed by visits to local farms.
In his opening remarks, the Minister-Counsellor of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Mr Donggyu Lee, highlighted the expanding partnership between the two nations. He reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to support the modernisation of the Lao agricultural sector through technology transfer, investment and knowledge-sharing.
Dr Chanthakhone Boualaphanh, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment who represented the Government of Laos, emphasised the importance of this cooperation in strengthening bilateral relations.
She noted that Laos has significant potential to expand the export of high-value agricultural products and encouraged closer collaboration with Korean partners to improve productivity, quality standards and market access.
The FAO Representative to Laos, Ms Kyung-Mee Kim, underscored the role of innovation, data-driven planning and public-private partnerships in transforming the agricultural sector. She noted that Korean expertise in smart agriculture offers practical solutions to address productivity and climate-related challenges faced by Lao farmers.
A key focus of this year’s forum was the growing potential for Lao chilli exports to the Korean market.
Presentations highlighted favourable market opportunities and the need to improve production standards, traceability systems and supply chain efficiency to meet international requirements.
Participants noted that infrastructure developments, including the Laos-Vietnam Railway, logistics parks, and dry ports, will enhance connectivity and reduce transportation costs for agricultural exports.
The business matching session allowed Korean companies specialising in smart farming, equipment and monitoring systems to engage with Lao agribusiness counterparts to explore commercial partnerships.
The event highlighted progress in cooperation between the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) and the Korean firm Whybiz.
Building on an MoU signed last year, both parties discussed plans under a Letter of Agreement (LoA) for a pilot project on AI-driven livestock and agricultural transformation. The project includes RFID-based livestock registration, a management platform and an AI-based estrus detection system.
A highlight of the session was the signing of two new MoUs. The first, between Yesodam Co Ltd and Twelve Integrated Agricultural Development and Lao Product Company, will lead to the establishment of a pilot project to export Lao-grown chilli peppers and lettuce to Korea.
The second, between Phytoresearch Co Ltd and WBTS Trading Sole Co Ltd, is focused on tissue culture technology.
In his concluding remarks, the Director General of KOTRA Vientiane, Mr Jungwe Park, reaffirmed his organisation’s commitment to long-term partnerships.
“This event was more than a showcase of technology. It served as a meaningful platform for Korea and Laos to share a common vision for the future of agriculture and identify practical cooperation opportunities,” he said. “KOTRA will continue supporting partnerships among governments, research institutions and businesses to generate tangible outcomes in the smart agriculture sector.”

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update June 25, 2026)