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Cold storage set to boost food exports
Vientiane Cold Storage Sole Company Limited (VCSSCL) and the Deluxe Food Group (DFG) aim to promote food safety procedures in Laos in a bid to boost agricultural exports.
Company owner Mr. Sam Chanpradith, who was born in Laos but has lived in Canada since 1978, says the firm provides cold storage facilities that meet international standards.
The facilities allow them to collect seafood from overseas and import products that can safely be consumed in Laos. Consumers could be assured of food safety standards that would benefit their health, Mr. Sam said.
At present, most seafood consumed in Laos is imported from neighbouring countries and is expensive. VCSSCL can offer consumers these products at lower prices as they are imported into Laos directly.
Mr. Sam explained that Lao foods such as fish, vegetables and meat cannot be exported because of a lack of cold storage that meets international standards.
The company is the second Lao firm to receive Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification, after the Lao Brewery Company. The accepted world cold storage level is -18C.
The company had food experts from Thailand, Japan and Canada check the food processes to see if they met the necessary standards for export to Asia, Europe and North America.
This would allow Lao food products such as tilapia and organic vegetables to become an industry that is accepted on a world level.
Mr. Sam expects the company to boost Lao exports by 70 percent this year, which will help drive economic growth.
He plans to hold training courses for local people on organic vegetable and tilapia farming, using methods that ensure the products can be exported.
The company also plans to help solve food processing problems and help the Lao people to obtain access to higher standard food products.
vientiane times
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