Lao coffee brand wins global award

Lao Mountain Coffee’s Peaberry blend has topped in the World Coffee Challenge Competition’s Continental Awards for Asia.
Vientiane (VNA) – Lao Mountain Coffee’s Peaberryblend has topped in the World Coffee Challenge Competition’s Continental Awardsfor Asia.

As reported by the Vientiane Times, Peaberry, theaward-winning coffee, is an organically cultivated rare one, constituting only5-10% of the global coffee market.

The World Coffee Challenge Competition took place inOurense, Spain, from September 29-30, gathering growers from more than34 countries with the aim of promoting high quality products.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,coffee is Laos’ third largest agricultural export and is sold to 26 countriesin Asia, Europe, and North America.

The Lao government is promoting coffee production in 11provinces to supply the growing need for high-quality products in the local andforeign markets.

As of 2018, the local coffee was grown on 95,400ha, mostly on the Bolaven Plateau, and the total yield was recorded at 154,135 tonnes,compared to 77,540 tonnes in 2015.

Last year, 56% of Lao coffee (green bean) exports tointernational markets went to Vietnam, 13% to Japan, 12% to Thailand, 3% toCambodia, and 2% to Germany./.
VNA

See more

Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo, right, speaks during a meeting in Incheon on December 20. (Photo: Yonhap)

RoK pins high hope on FTA with Philippines

The Republic of Korea (RoK)'s Minister of of Trade, Industry and Energy Cheong In-kyo on December 26 said that the RoK-Philippines free trade agreement (FTA), set to take effect next week, will help the country further bolster its trade portfolio and contribute to maintaining a stable supply chain.

Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono (L), meets with UK Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Dominic Jermey, in Jakarta on December 23. (Photo: https://en.antaranews.com/)

Indonesia, UK boost cooperation in sustainable fisheries development

Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono and UK Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Dominic Jermey have discussed measures to strengthen cooperation in blue economy development to support marine and fisheries sustainability in their recent meeting.

Walkathon campaign raises over 1.2 billion VND in over a month. (Photo: VNA)

Walkathon campaign raises over 1.2 billion VND in over a month

The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS)’s miles-for-charity campaign has raised over 1.2 billion VND (47,188 USD), converted from the total kilometers run by more than 137,000 participants on the online sports platform vRace, since it was launched on November 23.

Illustrative image (Photo: https://www.nationthailand.com/)

Foreign investment into Thailand up 118% in 11 months

A total of 884 foreign companies were approved to invest in Thailand in the first 11 months of 2024 under the Foreign Business Act of 1999, with a total investment of over 213.96 billion THB (6.26 billion USD), representing a year-on-year surge of 118%, the Department of Business Development reported on December 24.

A session of the United Nations General Assembly (Photo: VNA)

UNGA adopts "Hanoi convention" against cybercrime

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 24 adopted the UN Convention against Cybercrime, a landmark global treaty aimed at strengthening international cooperation to combat cybercrime and protecting societies from digital threats.

Thailand plans to cut armed forces. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)

Thailand plans to cut armed forces

Thailand’s Defence Council on December 23 approved a white paper that outlines a plan to downsize the armed forces and reduce spending on weapons.