Minister of Agriculture and Environment Linkham Duangsavanh

The three-day event, held from May 22–24, was attended by Minister of Agriculture and Environment Linkham Duangsavanh, French Ambassador to Laos Bénédicte Deschamps, European Union Ambassador to Laos Mark Gallagher, along with representatives from development organisations, businesses and farming communities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Linkham Duangsavanh described the Lao Coffee and Tea Festival as an important annual platform for promoting the country’s coffee and tea industries, expanding exports and strengthening international cooperation in trade and investment.

French Ambassador to Laos Bénédicte Deschamps

He said the festival has been organised every year to showcase achievements in coffee and tea production while supporting economic development and tourism promotion in Laos.

“This festival also contributes to the tourism sector by attracting increasing numbers of visitors to Laos during the country’s tourism year activities,” he said.

European Union Ambassador to Laos Mark Gallagher

The minister noted that this year’s event was organised by the Department of Agriculture and the Green CUP Project in cooperation with development partners and coffee and tea producers from across the country.

He expressed hope that the festival would provide opportunities for business networking, knowledge exchange and wider promotion of Lao products to regional and international markets.

Activities during the festival include academic and business forums, Lao tea tasting competitions, coffee and tea brewing demonstrations, exhibitions on production techniques, and discussions on improving quality standards to increase access to global markets.

The opening ceremony held on Friday at Pakson Mall in Vientiane

French Ambassador Bénédicte Deschamps highlighted the long-standing cooperation behind the development of Laos’ coffee and tea sectors, saying the festival reflects more than three decades of collaboration among producers, researchers, government agencies, development partners and the private sector.

She said the event has inspired several annual activities, including the Lao Green Coffee Competition, the Lao AeroPress Championship, the Bolaven Coffee and Tea Festival, the Young Barista Competition and International Tea Day celebrations.

“Together, these celebrations highlight the dynamic coffee and tea culture flourishing in Laos, as well as the savoir-faire of Lao producers and their sustainable, high-quality and distinctive products,” she said.

According to the ambassador, Laos exported more than 43,000 tonnes of coffee to 23 countries in 2025, generating over US$27 million in revenue, representing a 19 percent increase compared to 2024.

She also noted growing opportunities for Lao tea in Europe. Since 2023, exports of Lao organic tea to France and Germany have reached 20 to 25 tonnes annually, demonstrating that Lao producers are increasingly meeting international quality and sustainability standards.

Deschamps also welcomed tea experts Carine Baudry from France and Anna Lampe from Germany, who are assisting Lao tea producers in developing sensory profiles for European buyers ahead of the Paris Tea Festival in June, where teas from Bokeo, Phongsaly and Xiengkhouang provinces will be showcased alongside products from 15 countries.

EU Ambassador Mark Gallagher praised the contributions of tea farmers, women processors, cooperatives and young entrepreneurs working to expand Lao tea into international markets.

He noted that northern provinces such as Phongsaly, Bokeo and Xiengkhouang are home to ancient tea trees and unique traditions that produce high-quality green, wild forest and fermented teas increasingly recognised abroad.

“The European Union is proud to stand alongside Lao PDR as a long-term development partner in the tea sector,” he said.

Through the Green CUP Project, the European Union and France continue supporting sustainable and inclusive tea value chains by helping Lao producers improve quality standards, strengthen cooperatives, protect biodiversity and create better market opportunities for rural communities.

KPL