Lao PDR celebrated the Coffee International Day

On 1st October 2016 Lao PDR celebrated Coffee International Day for the first time and the rich history of coffee in Laos. DFAT took part in the day’s events of roasting, tasting and good practice discussions with other development agencies, service providers, café owners (Maison Coffee, Slurt Coffee, Doi Chang, Amazon), NGOs and coffee producers. Coffee production is an export-oriented, transformational commodity for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Laos. It provides an entry point to the ASEAN Economic Community and wider international markets, opportunities for the 20,000 smallholder coffee growers in Laos. The consistent belief shared by many participants in Coffee International Day is the great potential for Lao PDR coffee producers to have a better future through value adding to and supplying quality parchment and green bean coffee for niche markets in ASEAN and beyond. These market-oriented changes offer direct opportunities for women, ethnic minorities and youth. Children got behind this theme during Coffee Day in Laos - drawing posters to promote Laos coffee while others enjoyed tasting the different roasts and varieties from the Bolaven Plateau.