Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Laos, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Vientiane Office successfully hosted the “2025 South Korea Food Ingredients Trade Delegation Visit” in Vientiane from October 23rd to 25th, 2025. This event marks another important milestone in deepening cooperation between South Korea and Laos in the agricultural and food sector.
This delegation visit integrated two main components: business-to-business (B2B) negotiations and business-to-consumer (B2C) public outreach. On the first day of the event, South Korean suppliers and Lao distributors gathered for an efficient business matchmaking meeting. Following this was the grand “2025 Korea Food City Festival,” aimed at showcasing the rich and diverse cuisine and culture of South Korea to the Lao people.
This delegation's visit, co-hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of South Korea, aimed to capitalize on the rapid expansion of the Lao food, beverage, and franchise market, as well as the growing demand for Korean cuisine in the local market. The goal was to introduce high-quality Korean food ingredients to the Lao market and create opportunities for direct interaction with local consumers.
Eight South Korean agricultural and food companies, including GreenGoods Co., Ltd., Rock & Roll Food Co., Ltd., Mirmaro Food System Inc., Shinhwa Interglobal Co., Ltd., I Tag You Co., Ltd., Jung Ang Tafla Co., Ltd., Tium Global Inc., and PR Biz Co., Ltd., participated in the promotional event. They brought a range of high-quality products, including sauces, beverages, organic eggs, ginseng drinks, stir-fried rice cakes, and Korean beef. The event officially commenced on October 23rd at the Crowne Plaza Vientiane Hotel, encompassing business exchange seminars and export consultations.
Representatives from the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce's Domestic Trade Department, LK Group, and Lanxang Media Sole Co., Ltd. shared their unique insights on Lao economic development trends, logistics, and retail distribution at the seminar.
Following this, eight South Korean export companies held a total of 49 one-on-one B2B meetings with 22 companies from Lao food and beverage, hospitality, and retail sectors, including SVL Trading, Kokkok Mart, Sokxay Mart, and Lao Derm Group, laying a solid foundation for future trade cooperation.
A highlight of the visit was the signing of a joint venture agreement between South Korea's Mirmaro Food System Inc. (IDO) and Lao's SVL Trading Import-Export Sole Co., Ltd. This agreement aims to establish sauce processing and franchising operations in Laos by strengthening localized production and technological exchange, thereby better serving the local market.
From October 24th to 25th, the event moved to Parkson Department Store in Vientiane, hosting a grand K-Food Town food festival that attracted over 7,300 visitors. The festival featured 30 booths showcasing Korean brands, franchised stores, and local Korean restaurants, along with a variety of exciting cooking demonstrations, product presentations, and Korean cultural performances, allowing the Lao people to experience the charm of Korean food culture firsthand.
Mr. Jeong Young-soo, the Korean Ambassador to Laos, Mr. Park Jung-woo, President of the Vientiane Branch of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and representatives of Korean food distributors in Laos attended the event.
In his address, Ambassador Jeong Young-soo stated, “On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Laos and South Korea, the success of this event fully demonstrates the strong friendship and economic partnership between the two countries. This is an important step in strengthening bilateral trade and promoting Korean food culture in the Lao market.”
At the closing ceremony, the Lao government presented “Best Sales Awards” to companies that excelled in sales and public engagement, with Korean beef and tteokbokki products receiving the honor. The food festival generated over US$6,300 in sales.
President Park Jung-woo stated, “In recent years, Laos’ food service industry has developed rapidly, with franchised restaurants, shopping malls, and modern retail stores emerging continuously. The growing interest of the Lao people in Korean food culture provides an excellent opportunity for deepening cooperation between the two countries, especially in the agricultural and food sector.” This trade delegation’s visit not only yielded fruitful business results but also reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to building a sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership in the agricultural and food sector. Through various activities such as business matching, consumer interaction, and joint ventures, the event successfully showcased the superior quality and diverse characteristics of Korean food, laying a solid foundation for continued and in-depth cooperation between South Korea and Laos.
