UK Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security, Douglas Alexander, and British Ambassador to Laos, Mel Barlow, meet Lao coffee and sauce producers at the Developing Countries Trading Scheme event in Vientiane. - Photo: Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE: Lao food and drink producers, including chilli sauce and coffee manufacturers, are set to export tariff free to the United Kingdom, thanks to a generous trading preferences scheme provided by the UK government.
The UK’s Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security, Douglas Alexander, met representatives from Yoyo Sauce in Vientiane on Thursday (Sept 19).
Yoyo Sauce started in the UK and is now working in partnership with a Lao producer, Mai Savanh Lao.
Their first sauce exports will be shipped to the UK in the coming weeks under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).
Laos benefits from 0 per cent import tariffs from the UK on all products except arms and ammunitions under the trading scheme.
This saves Laos an average of £1.3m in tariffs every year on exports to the UK.
The Developing Countries Trading Scheme is widely recognised as the simplest and most generous preferences scheme of its kind, and Laos is a priority country.
The Minister also met with four Lao coffee producers, namely Sixnature Coffee, Miracle Lao, Comma Coffee, and Abile Coffee.
Miracle Lao and Comma Coffee are among the 10 Lao coffee producers who have benefited from the UK government’s investment partnerships programme to help them export to the UK.
The £200k programme has provided marketing and branding workshops to Lao coffee producers, and enabled them to travel to Manchester to meet UK buyers last year.
The programme will continue to support Lao coffee producers to be export-ready this financial year, according to a press release from the British Embassy.
Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security, Douglas Alexander, said "The UK is committed to putting development and economic growth at the heart of our trade strategy.
"It’s great to meet Lao food and drink producers who are about to export to the UK tariff-free under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme - helping to raise incomes, support jobs, and increase consumer choice."
The British Ambassador to Laos, Mel Barlow, said "The UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme and its generous provisions highlight our commitment to reducing poverty, boosting jobs, and strengthening the £111m UK-Laos trade relationship.
"I look forward to seeing delicious Lao sauce and coffee products on supermarket shelves in the UK."
Trade Commissioner for the Asia-Pacific, Martin Kent, said “Trade is a key driver of economic growth, and the UK is committed to creating opportunities for mutual prosperity with our partners.”
"The Developing Countries Trading Scheme is about to bring tangible benefits to Lao exporters and further the UK-Laos trading relationship.
"Over 70 per cent of imports from Asean countries have already entered the UK duty free in the first year of the scheme." - Vientiane Times/ANN
