The Nambeng Coffee Cooperative (NCC) and Bolaven Story Coffee have claimed top honors at the Lao Green Coffee Competition 2025, held from 15 to 22 May on the Bolaven Plateau in Pakse district, Champasak Province.
NCC secured first place in the Arabica category with a score of 87.68, while Bolaven Story Coffee led the Robusta category with a score of 85.98.
Organized by the Lao Coffee Association, the competition featured two main categories, Arabica and Robusta. Participants could submit coffees processed through a variety of methods, including semi-washed/washed, sweet process, natural process, and experimental fermentations.
This year, around 80 samples were submitted: 68 Arabica and 12 Robusta. The judging panel included experts from Laos and neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, and the United States.
NCC President Phouthone Sinthapaseuth
“Winning this competition is a proud moment for our cooperative and our village,” said NCC President Phouthone Sinthapaseuth. “We hope this recognition will open more opportunities for us, connecting with new buyers, expanding into international markets, and inspiring other farmers in our community.”
When asked how the cooperative first became involved in the Lao Green Coffee Competition, Phouthone explained that it all began in 2022, when a colleague from the Lao Coffee Lovers group and the Lao Coffee Association encouraged them to take part. Initially uncertain whether their coffee met the required standards, he was hesitant.
However, with support and guidance, he gained the confidence to give it a try. Since then, the competition has become a valuable learning experience for the team, helping them deepen their understanding of specialty coffee standards and continuously improve their processing methods year after year.
Producing competition-grade coffee hasn’t come easy. Phouthone highlighted the biggest challenge as maintaining consistency and quality across the production chain, from harvest to drying, especially when working with the Yellow Caturra Natural variety, which requires meticulous care.
According to Phouthone, climate change has only added to the challenges. Weather patterns have become increasingly unpredictable, with irregular rainfall and rising temperatures disrupting flowering and harvest cycles.
These shifts have introduced new risks to maintaining the quality of their coffee.
“After this, we realize there still needs to be improvement in processing techniques, better fermentation control, and enhancing our team’s skills. We also want to look for ways to adapt our farming methods to cope with climate change, like testing new shade tree systems and adjusting harvest schedules,” he said.
Phouthone encouraged other coffee producers to take part in future competitions, emphasizing the value of expert feedback, networking opportunities, and the shared goal of raising the global profile of Lao coffee.
“Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Even if you don’t win, you’ll gain valuable feedback from professional judges, which can help you improve your techniques. It’s also a way to build connections with other farmers and buyers, and together, we can raise the standard of Lao coffee for the world market,” he said.
Using Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) standards, the judges scored coffee on fragrance, aroma, flavor, sweetness, acidity, body, and aftertaste, using a 100-point scale, Sengkham Inthiratwongsy, one of the event organizers and judges, explained.
Scores below 80 indicated regular quality, 80–89.99 were considered specialty, and scores of 90 or above were classified as premium coffee.
Samples were submitted between 15 and 16 May. Judges and technical staff received calibration training on 17 and 18 May, followed by initial evaluations on 19–20 May and final assessments with public cuppings on 21–22 May.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lao-Green-Coffee-Competition.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-06-13 05:42:002025-06-05 17:44:02Lao Coffee Cooperatives Take Top Honors at Bolaven Plateau Competition
Timor-Leste will be accepted as the 11th full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced.
According to Malaysia’s national news agency, Anwar said ASEAN leaders had reached a consensus to support Timor-Leste in completing the necessary steps for full membership in the regional bloc.
The decision, he stated, is for Timor-Leste to be officially admitted by the ASEAN Summit in October, pending the completion of one or two key reforms, particularly in the economic sphere. Anwar made the announcement during a press conference at the conclusion of the 46th ASEAN Summit on 27 May.
Timor-Leste first applied for ASEAN membership in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022, allowing participation in high-level meetings. Full membership, however, has been under deliberation at the leadership level in recent summits.
Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão, attended the May Summit in Malaysia.
During the summit, Malaysian PM Anwar noted that ASEAN leaders have tasked ministers and senior officials with finalizing procedural steps for Timor-Leste’s admission by the upcoming 47th ASEAN Summit in October. They have also been directed to expedite negotiations on key economic agreements.
The statement indicated that they had tasked the ASEAN Coordinating Council, with the support of all relevant ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and the ASEAN Secretariat, to extend the necessary support to facilitate Timor-Leste’s integration into the ASEAN community.
Starting 1 June, Japanese travelers will be able to stay in Laos without a visa for up to 30 days, doubling the previous limit of 15 days, as announced by Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith during his visit to Japan on 29 May.
The extension was formalized during a meeting between President Thongloun and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Japan. The occasion reinforced Laos’s decision to strengthen ties through expanded travel privileges.
Laos has offered visa-free entry to Japanese citizens since 1 January 2007, allowing ordinary passport holders to visit for up to 15 days without a visa. For longer stays, travelers were previously required to obtain a visa in advance.
Additionally, Japanese citizens holding official or diplomatic passports have enjoyed a longer visa exemption period of up to 90 days, under a bilateral agreement that came into effect on 1 April 2015.
Japan was not among the countries granted special visa exemptions under the “Visit Laos Year 2024” campaign, which included Thailand, China, Taiwan, and several European nations. Those temporary exemptions concluded on 1 January 2025.
Beyond tourism, the two leaders expressed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in energy and decarbonization under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative. A summit on this initiative was held last year in Laos.
President Thongloun and Prime Minister Ishiba also reaffirmed their intention to strengthen governance in Laos, recognizing Japan’s long-standing support for the drafting and implementation of the Lao Civil Code and other legal frameworks.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Laos-Extends-Visa-Free-Stay-for-Japanese-Tourists-to-30-Days.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-06-11 05:36:002025-06-05 17:38:12Laos Extends Visa-Free Stay for Japanese Tourists to 30 Days
Lao Coffee Cooperatives Take Top Honors at Bolaven Plateau Competition
The Nambeng Coffee Cooperative (NCC) and Bolaven Story Coffee have claimed top honors at the Lao Green Coffee Competition 2025, held from 15 to 22 May on the Bolaven Plateau in Pakse district, Champasak Province.
NCC secured first place in the Arabica category with a score of 87.68, while Bolaven Story Coffee led the Robusta category with a score of 85.98.
Organized by the Lao Coffee Association, the competition featured two main categories, Arabica and Robusta. Participants could submit coffees processed through a variety of methods, including semi-washed/washed, sweet process, natural process, and experimental fermentations.
This year, around 80 samples were submitted: 68 Arabica and 12 Robusta. The judging panel included experts from Laos and neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, and the United States.
“Winning this competition is a proud moment for our cooperative and our village,” said NCC President Phouthone Sinthapaseuth. “We hope this recognition will open more opportunities for us, connecting with new buyers, expanding into international markets, and inspiring other farmers in our community.”
When asked how the cooperative first became involved in the Lao Green Coffee Competition, Phouthone explained that it all began in 2022, when a colleague from the Lao Coffee Lovers group and the Lao Coffee Association encouraged them to take part. Initially uncertain whether their coffee met the required standards, he was hesitant.
However, with support and guidance, he gained the confidence to give it a try. Since then, the competition has become a valuable learning experience for the team, helping them deepen their understanding of specialty coffee standards and continuously improve their processing methods year after year.
Producing competition-grade coffee hasn’t come easy. Phouthone highlighted the biggest challenge as maintaining consistency and quality across the production chain, from harvest to drying, especially when working with the Yellow Caturra Natural variety, which requires meticulous care.
According to Phouthone, climate change has only added to the challenges. Weather patterns have become increasingly unpredictable, with irregular rainfall and rising temperatures disrupting flowering and harvest cycles.
These shifts have introduced new risks to maintaining the quality of their coffee.
“After this, we realize there still needs to be improvement in processing techniques, better fermentation control, and enhancing our team’s skills. We also want to look for ways to adapt our farming methods to cope with climate change, like testing new shade tree systems and adjusting harvest schedules,” he said.
Phouthone encouraged other coffee producers to take part in future competitions, emphasizing the value of expert feedback, networking opportunities, and the shared goal of raising the global profile of Lao coffee.
“Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Even if you don’t win, you’ll gain valuable feedback from professional judges, which can help you improve your techniques. It’s also a way to build connections with other farmers and buyers, and together, we can raise the standard of Lao coffee for the world market,” he said.
Using Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) standards, the judges scored coffee on fragrance, aroma, flavor, sweetness, acidity, body, and aftertaste, using a 100-point scale, Sengkham Inthiratwongsy, one of the event organizers and judges, explained.
Scores below 80 indicated regular quality, 80–89.99 were considered specialty, and scores of 90 or above were classified as premium coffee.
Samples were submitted between 15 and 16 May. Judges and technical staff received calibration training on 17 and 18 May, followed by initial evaluations on 19–20 May and final assessments with public cuppings on 21–22 May.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/06/03/lao-coffee-cooperatives-take-top-honors-at-bolaven-plateau-competition/
Timor-Leste to Become ASEAN’s 11th Member, Says Malaysian PM
Timor-Leste will be accepted as the 11th full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced.
According to Malaysia’s national news agency, Anwar said ASEAN leaders had reached a consensus to support Timor-Leste in completing the necessary steps for full membership in the regional bloc.
The decision, he stated, is for Timor-Leste to be officially admitted by the ASEAN Summit in October, pending the completion of one or two key reforms, particularly in the economic sphere. Anwar made the announcement during a press conference at the conclusion of the 46th ASEAN Summit on 27 May.
Timor-Leste first applied for ASEAN membership in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022, allowing participation in high-level meetings. Full membership, however, has been under deliberation at the leadership level in recent summits.
Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão, attended the May Summit in Malaysia.
During the summit, Malaysian PM Anwar noted that ASEAN leaders have tasked ministers and senior officials with finalizing procedural steps for Timor-Leste’s admission by the upcoming 47th ASEAN Summit in October. They have also been directed to expedite negotiations on key economic agreements.
The statement indicated that they had tasked the ASEAN Coordinating Council, with the support of all relevant ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and the ASEAN Secretariat, to extend the necessary support to facilitate Timor-Leste’s integration into the ASEAN community.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/31/timor-leste-to-become-aseans-11th-member-says-malaysian-pm/
Laos Extends Visa-Free Stay for Japanese Tourists to 30 Days
Starting 1 June, Japanese travelers will be able to stay in Laos without a visa for up to 30 days, doubling the previous limit of 15 days, as announced by Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith during his visit to Japan on 29 May.
The extension was formalized during a meeting between President Thongloun and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Japan. The occasion reinforced Laos’s decision to strengthen ties through expanded travel privileges.
Laos has offered visa-free entry to Japanese citizens since 1 January 2007, allowing ordinary passport holders to visit for up to 15 days without a visa. For longer stays, travelers were previously required to obtain a visa in advance.
Additionally, Japanese citizens holding official or diplomatic passports have enjoyed a longer visa exemption period of up to 90 days, under a bilateral agreement that came into effect on 1 April 2015.
Japan was not among the countries granted special visa exemptions under the “Visit Laos Year 2024” campaign, which included Thailand, China, Taiwan, and several European nations. Those temporary exemptions concluded on 1 January 2025.
Beyond tourism, the two leaders expressed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in energy and decarbonization under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative. A summit on this initiative was held last year in Laos.
President Thongloun and Prime Minister Ishiba also reaffirmed their intention to strengthen governance in Laos, recognizing Japan’s long-standing support for the drafting and implementation of the Lao Civil Code and other legal frameworks.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/30/laos-extends-visa-free-stay-for-japanese-tourists-to-30-days/