Background and Purpose
○ Lao PDR is a mountainous and landlocked country surrounded by Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and China. Its economy has grown continuously, recording 6~7% growth between 2016 and 2019. The share of agriculture in GDP is 15.3% in 2019, and people living in rural areas take two-thirds of the total population, while agricultural workers take 70% of all workforce.

○ The Korean government declared the 'New Southern Policy' in 2017, and Laos, as an ASEAN member, has become a crucial partner in the development and economic cooperation.

○ This research aims to analyze the state of Laos’ agriculture and rural sectors, and review its development strategies, and make policy suggestions to the Korean government for its cooperation in development with Lao PDR.

Research Methodology
○ For the research, we explored international and local literature, statistics, and databases. Amid the COVID-19 situation, undertaking field surveys was impossible. Instead, we gained advice and information from the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI).

○ We interviewed 17 international and local professionals to identify the significance of each phase in Laos’ agricultural value chains. We also used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to analyze the data we collected.

Key Findings
○ As hills and mountains take 70% of the land, Laotians use only 10 percent of land for agricultural cultivation. Rice is planted in as much as 80% of the cultivated land, implying its uttermost importance in Laotians’ diet and food security. Maize, harvested in 12% of the total harvested land, is the second most important crop. Cassava, sugarcane, and coffee are also the main agricultural products.

(For more information, please refer to the report.)