(KPL) On Aug 26, Minister of Industry and Commerce Khampheang Xaysompheng, and Governor of Champassak Province Vilayvong Boutdakham witnessed the signing ceremony of an agreement on the construction of a cassava factory in Bachiang Chaleunsouk, Champassak Province between AIDC Co., Ltd and the Champassak Provincial Department of Commerce and Industry.

The US$70 million cassava factory to be built on an area of ​​250 ha will be the largest cassava flour factory in Laos.

Farmers in many provinces including Xayabury, Champassak, Saravan, Xekong, Attapeu, Savannakhet, Khammuan, Borikhamxay, and Vientiane are converting their low-yield farmlands into large cassava plantations to export the produce to ASEAN and Chinese markets.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Champassak province, I am very proud to be present at the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement for the construction of a cassava flour factory in Bachiang Chaleunsuk today and I appreciate the achievements of relevant authorities at all levels and all parties involved in researching and developing programmes to promote cassava processing for export markets,” said Minister Khampheng.  

Laos’ cassava export in the past five years (2016-2020) reached US$585 million with Thailand ranking the largest export market for cassava from Laos sharing US$183 million followed by Vietnam US$21 million and China US$6 million.

Yet cassava exports are expected to continue to rise over years to come, especially after the Laos-China railway is opened to traffic by the end of this year.

KPL