What should be done to make Lao-made products more popular?

The Made in Laos 2022 fair is taking place at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane, bringing together a wide range of products made across the country. The fair’s objectives are to promote domestic products, especially One District, One Product (ODOP) goods, provide an opportunity for businesses to network, and boost economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic. Vientiane Times visited the fair and asked some exhibitors for their ideas on ways to better promote Lao products.

A vendor sells sinh to shoppers at the fair.

Ms Manichan Soukanya, an exhibitor from Oudomxay province: I am very happy to represent my province at this event. Our group is exhibiting cotton textiles and many people have visited our stall and bought things. I think this fair is very worthwhile and it would be good to hold such events more often, so that Lao goods are given a bigger platform. It’s something that generates income for exhibitors and their staff. I’d like the government to advertise more Lao products in the media, and on social media. The government should also reduce taxes for producers and provide more funding support for local people who want to make products.
 
Ms Latda Souliphone, an exhibitor from the ECL project: Our project supports people in six villages of Oudomxay, Luang Namtha and Phongsaly provinces to make their own products. They can now make ethnic goods, textiles, household items, clothing and decorative items. The project has also shown people how they can modernise their products so they are more appealing to buyers. This fair is very useful because it enables people to exhibit their wares to a large audience. I think that greater promotion of Lao products would generate more income for local people, and events like this should take place more often. In addition, the government should do more to help people promote their products, such as more advertising and campaigning among the public to encourage greater use of Lao-made goods. The government should also give advice to people across the country about ways to preserve crafts and inspire them to continue making local products.
 
Ms Viengkhone Khotpathoum, an exhibitor from Luang Prabang province: There are many things that people in my province can make but this time we’re exhibiting textiles and handicrafts. I think the government should encourage people to use more Lao-made products. In addition, more support should be given to local people wanting to create products, with assistance provided in each village, as villagers don’t have enough money to start their own business. If they had funding support they would be able to make more goods for sale and would have a regular job. Lao people, especially women, are able to make many kinds of things, so we should help each other by fostering this ability, promoting our products, and encouraging people to use the things we make.
 
Ms Chanthala Souvankham, an exhibitor from Vientiane: I am very happy to be here again after the fair was cancelled two years in a row because of the Covid pandemic. Many people, including foreigners living in Laos, have visited our stall and bought our products. This fair is a very good way to promote goods made in Laos as it enables foreigners to learn about all the many good things made by Lao people. It’s also a very good way to give people work and an income. In my opinion, there should be more events like this. There should also be more markets, because when people make things they need outlets to sell them. The government should help to boost production and ensure that more goods are exported. And, of course, the government should reduce the import of products that we can make here in Laos.
 
Mr Kham-ouy Bualapha, an exhibitor from Vientiane province: My family has been making beverages from mulberries for more than 20 years. We make wine, tea, and herbal drinks. We are very pleased to exhibit our drinks here, but the amount charged to rent a stall is exorbitant. As a producer and an exhibitor, I’d like the government to regulate the fees charged and possibly lower the price for a stall or even offer space free of charge. If it were cheaper, or space was provided free, there would be more people exhibiting their goods here. I’d like the government to consider this, because my province has many ODOP producers and we need more space to exhibit our goods. I think stalls should be allocated based on the number of ODOP producers in each province. And more funding should be available to support ODOP products. We also need more markets and would like the government to help with this as well. Of course, it would also be good if fairs like this were held regularly, as it would give us more work and boost our incomes.

By Visith Teppalath
(Latest Update February 25, 2022)