Lao Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) Promotion Agency has initiated a project to enhance the productivity of local manufacturers to meet Halal certification standards for exports.
The project, titled “Development of Demonstration Companies Project for Enhancing Productivity for Halal Certification,” was officially launched by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Malaithong Kommasith, on 12 May.
During the ceremony, Minister Kommasith emphasized that improved productivity strengthens production capacity, enhances competitiveness, and promotes business sustainability while creating jobs and fostering innovation across sectors.
The project has selected three manufacturers with export potential targeting Muslim markets: Veunkham Salt Company, Somxay Coffee Company, and Dao Heuang Group.
In recent years, the Lao government has been making efforts to support potential MSMEs in obtaining certification for international standards, including Halal, to enhance their competitiveness in global markets.
Halal certification is crucial for products targeting Muslim consumers, ensuring compliance with Islamic dietary laws and practices. The certification process involves rigorous standards for cleanliness, sourcing of raw materials, and ethical production practices.
The Lao government’s commitment to Halal certification aligns with broader regional efforts to tap into the growing demand for Halal products.
For instance, during a bilateral meeting in June 2023, Laos expressed interest in forging cooperation with Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) to obtain Halal certification for its products, aiming to develop the Halal industry in Laos.
Laos has taken a new step toward becoming a regional trade hub by leasing land for a new dry port next to the 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge.
On 9 May, the Lao government signed an agreement to lease the land of 383,311 cubic meters to the local private company to build a new storage space.
This storage will be built in a village called Kuayoudom in the Paksan district. It will be right next to a new bridge between Laos’ Bolikhamxay province and Thailand’s Bueng Kan province, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The warehouse, places for trucks to unload, offices, and a shop have been built since 2023, now they are making it much bigger with more space for storing and moving goods.
The port is also located alongside Road No. 13, which has the highway project in the future, and a key route to connect Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to the planned dry port in Laksao, Khamkeut district, as well as to the proposed Vientiane–Vietnam highway project.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Laos-new-dryport-Bolikhamaxay.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-05-27 09:15:152025-05-15 09:16:36Laos Approves New Dry Port Project in Bolikhamxay
Laos has launched a renewed effort to transform its energy sector as part of its broader commitment to tackling climate change.
At a national workshop held in Vientiane on 9 May, officials announced the development of a new greenhouse gas emissions inventory focused on the energy sector, with projections extending to 2035. This inventory will provide policymakers with clearer insights into where emissions are highest and where reductions are most urgently needed.
A group photo from the workshop (photo supplied)
The workshop marked the official start of a project to update Laos’s climate targets under the Paris Agreement.
As part of this effort, Laos also plans to review a lessons-learned report beginning in 2025. The report will take a critical look at past climate actions to identify what has worked, what hasn’t, and how future strategies can be improved.
The country is also committed to drafting an updated energy-sector climate plan, known as NDC 3.0, which will lay out specific goals and actions to cut emissions and boost clean energy.
It will form a key part of Laos’s national climate pledge under the Paris Agreement and be submitted ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November 2025.
The event on 9 May, led by the Department of Energy Efficiency and Promotion (DEEP) under the Ministry of Energy and Mines, marked the official launch of work on Laos’s next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The initiative is supported by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Australian Embassy.
In his opening remarks, Khammanh Sopraseurth, Deputy Director General at DEEP, outlined several key challenges facing the energy sector, including rising electricity demand during the dry season, reliance on imported fossil fuels, and the urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions while supporting economic growth.
The workshop brought together 48 participants from government ministries, NGOs, academic institutions, development partners, and the media to begin shaping the updated plan.
In the months ahead, GGGI and its partners will carry out further research, hold consultations, and conduct technical assessments.
Their aim is to complete the revised energy sector plan by September 2025, in time for inclusion in Laos’s full NDC 3.0 submission to the United Nations the following month.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Laos-to-Launch-New-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions-Inventory-Ahead-of-COP30.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2025-05-26 09:13:262025-05-15 09:14:53Laos to Launch New Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Ahead of COP30
Laos Launches Halal Certification Project to Boost Exports
Lao Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) Promotion Agency has initiated a project to enhance the productivity of local manufacturers to meet Halal certification standards for exports.
The project, titled “Development of Demonstration Companies Project for Enhancing Productivity for Halal Certification,” was officially launched by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Malaithong Kommasith, on 12 May.
The Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) has allocated USD 130,000 to fund this one-year initiative.
During the ceremony, Minister Kommasith emphasized that improved productivity strengthens production capacity, enhances competitiveness, and promotes business sustainability while creating jobs and fostering innovation across sectors.
The project has selected three manufacturers with export potential targeting Muslim markets: Veunkham Salt Company, Somxay Coffee Company, and Dao Heuang Group.
In recent years, the Lao government has been making efforts to support potential MSMEs in obtaining certification for international standards, including Halal, to enhance their competitiveness in global markets.
Halal certification is crucial for products targeting Muslim consumers, ensuring compliance with Islamic dietary laws and practices. The certification process involves rigorous standards for cleanliness, sourcing of raw materials, and ethical production practices.
The Lao government’s commitment to Halal certification aligns with broader regional efforts to tap into the growing demand for Halal products.
For instance, during a bilateral meeting in June 2023, Laos expressed interest in forging cooperation with Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) to obtain Halal certification for its products, aiming to develop the Halal industry in Laos.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/14/laos-launches-halal-certification-project-to-boost-exports/
Laos Approves New Dry Port Project in Bolikhamxay
Laos has taken a new step toward becoming a regional trade hub by leasing land for a new dry port next to the 5th Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge.
On 9 May, the Lao government signed an agreement to lease the land of 383,311 cubic meters to the local private company to build a new storage space.
This storage will be built in a village called Kuayoudom in the Paksan district. It will be right next to a new bridge between Laos’ Bolikhamxay province and Thailand’s Bueng Kan province, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The warehouse, places for trucks to unload, offices, and a shop have been built since 2023, now they are making it much bigger with more space for storing and moving goods.
The port is also located alongside Road No. 13, which has the highway project in the future, and a key route to connect Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to the planned dry port in Laksao, Khamkeut district, as well as to the proposed Vientiane–Vietnam highway project.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/14/laos-approves-new-dry-port-project-in-bolikhamxay/
Laos to Launch New Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Ahead of COP30
Laos has launched a renewed effort to transform its energy sector as part of its broader commitment to tackling climate change.
At a national workshop held in Vientiane on 9 May, officials announced the development of a new greenhouse gas emissions inventory focused on the energy sector, with projections extending to 2035. This inventory will provide policymakers with clearer insights into where emissions are highest and where reductions are most urgently needed.
The workshop marked the official start of a project to update Laos’s climate targets under the Paris Agreement.
As part of this effort, Laos also plans to review a lessons-learned report beginning in 2025. The report will take a critical look at past climate actions to identify what has worked, what hasn’t, and how future strategies can be improved.
The country is also committed to drafting an updated energy-sector climate plan, known as NDC 3.0, which will lay out specific goals and actions to cut emissions and boost clean energy.
It will form a key part of Laos’s national climate pledge under the Paris Agreement and be submitted ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November 2025.
The event on 9 May, led by the Department of Energy Efficiency and Promotion (DEEP) under the Ministry of Energy and Mines, marked the official launch of work on Laos’s next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The initiative is supported by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Australian Embassy.
In his opening remarks, Khammanh Sopraseurth, Deputy Director General at DEEP, outlined several key challenges facing the energy sector, including rising electricity demand during the dry season, reliance on imported fossil fuels, and the urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions while supporting economic growth.
The workshop brought together 48 participants from government ministries, NGOs, academic institutions, development partners, and the media to begin shaping the updated plan.
In the months ahead, GGGI and its partners will carry out further research, hold consultations, and conduct technical assessments.
Their aim is to complete the revised energy sector plan by September 2025, in time for inclusion in Laos’s full NDC 3.0 submission to the United Nations the following month.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2025/05/14/laos-to-launch-new-greenhouse-gas-emissions-inventory-ahead-of-cop30/