Dr Micah Ingalls, Team Leader, Mekong Region Land Governance Project delivers keynote speech at the 3rd National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Responsible Agricultural Investment in the Lao PDR. Seated at table are Ms Aurelie Righetti Deputy Director of Cooperation of SDC, Ms Thavychanh Tiengthepvongsa Deputy Director General of Investment Promotion Department and Dr Phanxay Ingxay Deputy Director General of Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperatives.

Asean Chairmanship spurs dialogue on responsible agricultural investment

Small-scale agriculture plays a pivotal role in driving Laos’ rural economy, with vast untapped potential for growth.
Realising this potential requires proper investment and protecting agricultural land resources and the communities that rely on them.
The third National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Responsible Agricultural Investment was held at the Lao Plaza Hotel in Vientiane from September 28-29, addressing these critical issues and advocating for necessary policy reforms.
The inception of this event is in line with the adoption of the Asean Guidelines on Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry in 2019, aimed at bolstering agribusiness’s social and environmental performance.
As Laos prepares to assume the chairmanship of Asean in 2024, the organisers believe that the Lao government has a unique opportunity to push for a greener and more responsible approach to agricultural investments.
The dialogue drew participants from key ministries, development organisations, and representatives from investors and producers’ groups, facilitating discussions to identify practical opportunities and challenges for responsible agricultural investment in Laos.
This approach emphasises engaging investors and smallholder producers in agricultural and forestry value chains, ultimately fostering a more holistic, equitable, and mutually beneficial approach to agricultural development.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Director of SDC, Aurelie Righetti, underscored the significance of this context while reaffirming SDC’s commitment to supporting reforms in the sector, stating “Laos will have the opportunity to show leadership in the implementation of responsible agricultural investment, showcasing achievements and helping to pave the way for meaningful commitment to responsible investments. This is an opportunity that should be grasped.”

The dialogue also addressed pressing concerns regarding agricultural investment in Laos, including increasing investment in export-oriented crops like cassava and rubber and the surge in land conflicts stemming from lax law enforcement.
In his keynote address, Mekong Region Land Governance Project Team Leader, Dr Micah Ingalls, emphasised the importance of good governance and the rule of law.
“Attracting high-quality, responsible agriculture investors requires enabling conditions of good and transparent governance, accountability, and the rule of law,” he said.
“Without a level playing field, responsible investors cannot succeed and will not come. We cannot achieve our goals without bringing to heel irresponsible corporate actors and enforcing the rule-of-law at all levels, without favour or partiality.”
Mrs Cécile LeRoy, Programme Manager at the European Union’s Delegation to Laos, emphasised the EU’s commitment to sustainability and inclusivity in its development cooperation.
She highlighted the upcoming EU-financed project TICAF, a Team Europe Partnership with Laos, aiming to increase sustainable trade, investment, and connectivity in the agriculture and forestry sectors.
Mrs LeRoy also highlighted the importance of responsible agricultural investment in fostering mutually beneficial partnerships between the public and private sector and communities, taking care of the environment to ensure sustainability.
The event was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Department of Agricultural Extension and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Investment Promotion Department.
GIZ, EU, and BMZ are co-sponsors of this annual event, while the Mekong Region Land Governance Project, Transformative Land Investments, and GIZ Promoting Responsible Governance of Investments in Land are responsible for its coordination.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update October 3, 2023)