(KPL) In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the 4th Bolaven Plateau Coffee–Tea and Agricultural Products Festival 2025 was officially launched on Thursday, 4 December, at the Sitthone Kommadam Monument in Pakxong District. The festival showcased the Bolaven Plateau’s unique products to domestic and international audiences, highlighted agricultural progress in the country, and promoted domestic collaboration.

Organised by the Pakxong District Government, with support from the Champasak Provincial Government and the Lao Coffee Association (LCA), the festival brought together producers, cooperatives, businesses, and international organisations. It aimed to strengthen market linkages, promote local production, and celebrate the Bolaven Plateau’s identity as one of Lao PDR’s most important agricultural and tourism destinations.

The Bolaven Plateau spans four southern provinces—Champasak, Salavan, Sekong, and Attapeu—and is known for its cool climate, fertile volcanic soil, and high-elevation landscapes. Pakxong District in Champasak Province, situated around 1,200 metres above sea level, is widely renowned for its waterfalls, lush coffee plantations, diverse ethnic communities, and scenic routes linking these attractions, making it both a centre of agricultural production and a popular highland tourism destination.

Last year, Pakxong District welcomed over 400,000 visitors, generating more than 14 billion Lao Kip in revenue—a significant increase from the previous year. Building on this momentum, the festival continues to elevate Pakxong’s profile as a key contributor to southern Laos’ economic development.

More than 72 exhibitors—including small farmers, producer groups, cooperatives, exporters, and international companies—participated in the event. They showcased a wide range of high-quality products such as coffee, tea, fresh agricultural goods, handicrafts, and value-added products, highlighting the Bolaven Plateau’s unique strengths and its growing presence in regional and global markets.

The four-day festival featured exhibitions, cultural performances and competitions, free coffee tastings and cupping sessions, as well as expert-led seminars on topics such as quality improvement and best practices for coffee tree maintenance. The event also included the Paksong Drip Battle, an exciting brewing competition showcasing barista skills and promoting specialty coffee from the Bolaven Plateau. Visitors from other provinces joined guided field trips to coffee farms and processing facilities, along with community events celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage and agricultural traditions.

The opening ceremony was attended by  Mr. Alounxay Sounnalath, Governor of Champasak Province; Mrs. Bounkham Vorachit, Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR, Mr. Bouasone Bouphavanh, former Prime Minister of the Lao PDR; Mr. Souksavanh Vilayvong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; and Mr. Bounlith Thepbounsouang, Mayor of Pakxong District. They were joined by central government leaders, representatives from neighbouring provinces, farmers, producers, international organisations, and journalists.

The event was supported by Dao Heuang Group, Somxay Coffee, Phetsavang Coffee, Joint Development Bank, Amazon Café, Phetlounglod Import-Export Company, Country Coffee, among other

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