VIENTIANE: The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Vientiane, in collaboration with the Huaphan provincial authority and the Huaphan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organised the “Indonesia-Laos Agritech Partnership: Elevating Huaphan Coffee” programme from June 22-24 in Xamneua district, Huaphan province.
The programme is part of Indonesia’s economic diplomacy efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector, enhancing the capacity of coffee farmers and businesses in Huaphan, and promoting the development of a sustainable coffee value chain through the adoption of good agricultural practices, digital technologies, stronger institutional frameworks, and improved access to international markets.
The programme brought together more than 70 participants, including representatives from government agencies, coffee associations, research institutions, cooperatives, coffee businesses, farmer groups, and agricultural technology providers from Indonesia and Laos.
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to the Lao PDR, Mr Achmad Dahlan, highlighted the significant opportunities for Indonesia and Laos in strengthening cooperation in value-added areas of agriculture, particularly coffee.
“Indonesia is not only present as a trading partner, but also as a development partner, ready to share experiences and best practices in building a sustainable, inclusive, and market-oriented coffee industry. Through this programme, we hope to foster long-term collaboration that delivers tangible benefits for farmers, cooperatives, and coffee entrepreneurs in Huaphan,” he said.
As one of Laos’ highland Arabica coffee-producing regions, Huaphan possesses considerable potential for the production of specialty coffee with distinctive flavour characteristics.
However, development of the sector requires further strengthening of cultivation and post-harvest capacities, the adoption of traceability systems, and expanded access to high-value markets.
The programme was designed to address these needs through a comprehensive approach covering the entire coffee value chain.
Over the course of three days, participants received training and shared knowledge on various aspects of the coffee value chain, including Good Agricultural Practices, harvesting management, coffee processing and fermentation, quality control, cooperative systems, digital traceability, market requirements, and value-added strategies through packaging, branding, and storytelling.
The Indonesian delegation represented a multi-stakeholder collaboration comprising government institutions, business associations, research organisations, agricultural technology companies, and coffee industry players, including the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (ICCRI), the Indonesian Coffee Exporters Association (AEKI), the Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI), and PT Koltiva.
Meanwhile, the Lao delegation consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Huaphan provincial authority, the Lao Coffee Board, the Huaphan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, coffee enterprises, and coffee farmer groups from Huaphan.
In addition to classroom sessions, participants visited coffee plantations, post-harvest facilities, and coffee collection points to gain first-hand experience of cultivation practices, processing methods, quality control procedures, and buyer-perspective simulations within the international coffee supply chain.
The programme also served as a platform for exploring potential cooperation between Indonesian and Lao businesses in trade, investment, capacity development, and the utilisation of digital technologies to support a more transparent, sustainable, and competitive coffee supply chain.
Through direct engagement among businesses, associations, and government representatives from both countries, the initiative is expected to generate concrete partnership opportunities and mutual economic benefits.
Through the Indonesia-Laos Agritech Partnership programme, Indonesia and Laos reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation, enhancing the competitiveness of the coffee sector, and promoting inclusive and sustainable agricultural value chains that help to improve farmers’ livelihoods.
The initiative also reflects Indonesia’s continued commitment to serving as a strategic partner in advancing sustainable agricultural development, human resource capacity building, and economic links across Asean. - Vientiane Times/ANN
