Minister of Industry and Commerce, Malaythong Kommasith (right), presents the Lao Business Leader Award 2025 to Mr Khamphay Somxana, marking the 35th anniversary of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

A legacy in the mountains: how one businessman answered the Party’s call to transform Xaysomboun

As the Lao People’s Democratic Republic marks its 50th anniversary on December 2, stories of dedication, sacrifice, and nation-building are surfacing across the country.
Among them stands the remarkable journey of President of Khamphay Xana Group Company Limited, Mr Khamphay Somxana, an entrepreneur who rose from poverty and hardship to become one of Laos’ most influential business leaders.
Today, in the remote mountains of Xaysomboun, one of the country’s poorest provinces, he is shaping a legacy that reflects both personal perseverance and the continued guidance of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the state.

Mr Khamphay Somxana (centre) and his team explore Phoubia, Laos’ highest peak at 2,820 metres.	Mr Khamphay Somxana (right) congratulates villagers on receiving calves.

A surprising decision rooted in gratitude
Few expected Mr Khamphay to invest in Xaysomboun, a province long deterred by limited infrastructure, harsh terrain, and remote conditions. Yet his decision was driven by a deep desire to give back to the nation and uplift the poor—a commitment rooted in his own childhood.
Born into poverty and forced to leave school after four years of primary education, he built his life through hard work and the support of the Party and state. For him, giving back was not an obligation—it was a calling.
“I came from nothing but grew up with the Party and state,” he said. “I was determined to try my best, so I volunteered to go there.”
His turning point came in late 2018, when then Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (now Party Secretary General and President) urged national business leaders at a meeting in Vientiane to support Xaysomboun, a young and struggling province. The message resonated with him.
While many businesspeople remained hesitant, he made his decision: he would go where help was needed most.

Building hope from the ground up
When he first arrived in Xaysomboun in late 2018, he brought no grand promises, just poultry, pigs, and a plan to help struggling families. From that humble beginning rose the Integrated Agricultural and Forestry Development Project, one of the most ambitious livelihood programmes in the province.
In a few years, the project distributed 1,040 breeding cows to 385 families in 13 villages, with farmers later returning 765 cows after receiving calves, ensuring sustainability.
A 56-hectare Viengthong Farm now operates to showcase villagers in animal husbandry. At Huay Hok, the company developed a 352-hectare concession, including 170 hectares of grassland, and roads have been constructed within the project area.
Between 2019 and 2024, Mr Khamphay invested 9.95 billion kip (US$474,000)—a substantial commitment for a private company working in one of Laos’ most challenging regions.
His plans for 2025-2030 are even more ambitious: expanding grass plantations, cultivating 100 hectares of fruit and industrial trees, creating a conservation area, setting up agricultural product markets, and establishing a tourism-linked model farming area.

Phoubia: from quiet peak to future landmark
If the agricultural project supports immediate livelihoods, his second major undertaking looks toward economic transformation: the Phoubia Mountain Ecotourism Project.
Phoubia, the “roof of Laos” at 2,820 metres, was long known for its remoteness and limited access. That began to change after the government granted his company an initial 50-year concession to develop the site as a national-level ecotourism landmark.
Despite weather-related delays and logistical challenges, construction is advancing. A 51-unit resort is planned along the mountain slope, while road access to the peak is nearing completion. The company is preparing areas for restaurants, camping zones, and supporting facilities, alongside planned investments exceeding US$40 million.
The master plan envisions hiking trails, zip lining, mountain climbing, homestays, an amusement park, a five-star hotel, and even cable cars. To ensure that benefits reach local residents, he intends to link tourism with community-based farming, enabling ethnic communities to supply organic produce and participate in tourism services.

Policy that opens doors
The Party and state’s policy direction has been central to Xaysomboun’s transformation. Targeted incentives, including special provisions under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 414, have encouraged more investment in formerly hardship zones. What began with a few committed individuals is gradually becoming a greater collective movement for provincial development.

A legacy for the mountains
Today, as road networks expand, farms flourish, and the Phoubia project prepares to welcome visitors next year, Xaysomboun is changing. The province that once symbolised hardship now stands as a testament to what can happen when policy vision meets human determination.
Standing beneath the shadow of Phoubia, Mr Khamphay, 70, reflects on his journey with quiet optimism, saying “Give me five years more—the projects will be almost perfect by 2030.”
He said that although his group of 12 companies has received multiple government awards, “my greatest achievement is simply being able to give back.”
As Laos celebrates 50 years of statehood, his legacy shines as a powerful example of how one individual, guided by Party policy and driven by love for his country, can help transform the entire province.
As the nation reflects on five decades of progress and unity, the Khamphay family and their team add their own voice of gratitude and hope:
“On this historic 50th anniversary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, we, the executives and staff of the Khamphay Group, extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Party, the Government, and the Lao people.
We are deeply grateful for the guidance and support that have enabled businesses like ours to grow and contribute to national development.
With renewed commitment, we pledge to continue working with integrity, innovation, and responsibility to help build a more prosperous future for our country.
Long live the Lao PDR, and may the coming decades bring even greater unity, progress, and wellbeing for all.”

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update December 1, 2025)