Last year, more than 300 Chinese companies expressed interest in investing in the agriculture and forestry sector of Laos, with the investments expected to touch US$1 billion due to the export potential provided by the railway, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Phet Phomphiphak, said.
“We will continue to negotiate with China to ensure that more agricultural produce such as rice, other crops and livestock can access the Chinese market. This year, we expect to negotiate the sale of 20 more agricultural products to China.” Although the export of goods via the railway is seen as convenient and quick, very little agricultural produce is currently transported this way.
“Other Lao products, notably sweetcorn and watermelons, should also be shipped by rail so that crops don’t go rotten because of delays,” he said.