Vientiane (Laos), October 5: Laos has exported its first 50 tons of rice to the European Union, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Tuesday.
The first shipment of the Thadokkham-8 (TDK8) rice variety is being sold to Belgium by Champahom Trading Import-Export Sole Co., Ltd., and the sale is part of a project to promote rice production for commercial purposes under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, supported by a loan from the World Bank, said the report.
The 50 tons of rice being sold to Belgium is valued at 29,000 U.S. dollars. The company encouraged farmers to grow the rice in Pakngum and Xaythany districts of capital Vientiane on a total area of 600 hectares.
Champahom Director Bounhieng Phommisay said the company planned to work with all relevant sectors to encourage farmers to grow more rice and increase their yields so they could export more, as much as 3,000 tons a year.
Bounhieng said the opportunities for Lao producers and businesses would improve significantly after the Laos-China railway becomes operational in December this year.
Source: Xinhua
