Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

PM urges Borikhamxay to boost food production, cut imports

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has urged the leadership of Borikhamxay province to increase food production for domestic use and export, and to reduce reliance on imports.
He called on provincial leaders to accelerate the production of crops and other products to further reduce dependency on imported goods, leveraging the provincial potentials.
During his working visit to Borikhamxay on June 20, the Prime Minister outlined priority tasks for provincial leaders, including the need to improve defence and security, address social issues, and improve the livelihoods of local communities.
He advised authorities to focus on land allocation, job creation, and housing to raise living standards.
In the first six months of this year, farmers in the province harvested over 6,000 tonnes of rice from 1,524 hectares, completing 77 percent of the rice production plan.
The province exported 55,000 tonnes of rubber worth nearly US$86 million, and over 200,000 tonnes of cassava valued at nearly US$32 million, according to local authorities.
The province recorded 5 percent economic growth in the first six months of 2025, with average annual income now estimated at US$1,950 per person.
Revenue collection has exceeded 1.684 trillion kip, equivalent to 77 percent of the target figure for 2025, while expenditure amounted to 45 percent of the target, the Governor of Borikhamxay province, Dr  Sonethanou Thammavong, reported.
Ninety-seven percent of families are no longer classified as poor, 94 percent of villages have been removed from the poverty list, and 80 percent of villages have met development criteria.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of accurate data collection, especially population records and information about local potential, challenges, and resource limits. In terms of infrastructure, he called for better planning and construction of roads to improve connectivity.
He also advised authorities to better manage online media platforms by countering false information and running consistent public awareness campaigns.
He also urged provincial departments to enforce regulations on state-owned vehicles, address the problem of illegally imported vehicles, and collect more revenue from taxes and other fees.
Provincial expenditure should follow plans and focus on cost-effective activities, he said.
The Prime Minister’s guidelines align with the government’s economic development plan, which focuses on building a self-reliant economy and transitioning from a consumer society to a production-oriented one, increasing exports, and reducing imports.
In the first five months of 2025, Laos’ goods exports were valued at US$5.313 billion, equivalent to 53.70 percent of the plan for the year. This marks a 29.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Notably, the value of agricultural exports totalled US$977 million, reaching 65 percent of the target figure for 2025.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update June 23, 2025)