VIENTIANE: The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the European Union (EU) are looking ahead with a renewed commitment to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, forestry governance, and green development.
Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Dr Linkham Douangsavanh, recently welcomed Mark Gallagher, Ambassador of the European Union to the Lao PDR, and his delegation for a courtesy visit and discussions on expanding cooperation.
The meeting focused on advancing collaboration in priority sectors, including agricultural value chains, forest protection, environmental management, and green growth.
The two sides exchanged views on ongoing programmes and explored opportunities to further enhance partnership frameworks that deliver tangible benefits for rural communities and the national economy.
Over the past decades, the EU has played a significant role in supporting Laos’ agricultural commercialisation and rural development.
Through the TICAF programme, cooperation has targeted the improvement of value chains for coffee, tea, timber, and wood products—enhancing quality standards, increasing value addition, and opening access to European markets.
The initiative is funded by the French Government and implemented by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in Laos.
In the forestry sector, the EU-backed Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programme — supported by the German Government and implemented by GIZ — has strengthened forest governance and promoted sustainable forest management, contributing to long-term environmental protection and responsible trade practices.
Dr Linkham encouraged the European Union to continue strengthening cooperation in priority sectors.
He emphasised the importance of improving product quality, protecting forests, sharing lessons learned, and promoting mutual support.
These areas remain key priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, contributing to the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of forests for long-term benefits. - Vientiane Times/ANN
