A triangular technical cooperation program between Korea, Laos, and Vietnam, supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA, President: Jang Won-sam), is garnering attention for its successful implementation. The program aims to promote the sustainable development of the livestock sector and boost the income of farmers in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Korea Development Strategy Institute (KDS, President: Shin Ki-deok), is part of the "Rural Development Project in Northern and Central Laos" (2021-2025, USD 12.5 million). As part of this effort, officials from Xieng Khouang Province, a livestock-specialized region in Laos, have participated in technical training in Vietnam. This training was conducted in collaboration with Konkuk University (KU, President: Won Jong-pil), which is also running the "Capacity Building Project for Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA)" (2021-2030, USD 12.7 million).
Xieng Khouang Province, a highland region located at an altitude of 1,000 meters, offers an environment highly suitable for cattle farming. It also serves as a hub for exporting cattle to neighboring Vietnam and China. Given the similar soil and climate conditions in Laos and Vietnam, this collaboration with Vietnam—where livestock technology is more advanced—enables the establishment of a sustainable, cost-effective cooperation system.
The training program, designed by VNUA with technical support from Konkuk University, covers a range of essential topics, including cattle management, artificial insemination techniques, disease prevention and treatment, castration, cattle slaughter, and facility management. Livestock officials from Xieng Khouang Province participated in the program, gaining valuable knowledge and experience.
Speaking on the impact of the program, Saykham Douangmanivong, Deputy Director of the Xieng Khouang Provincial Livestock Technology Center, said, “This training program was made possible thanks to the active cooperation of KOICA and KDS. I hope this program lays the foundation for future livestock technology exchanges between Laos and Vietnam, contributing to the advancement of livestock technologies in Xieng Khouang Province.”
Bui Huy Doanh, Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science at VNUA, added, “Through this training, we witnessed Laos's strong commitment to advancing its livestock technology. We look forward to maintaining cooperative relations with Xieng Khouang and achieving significant progress in mutual livestock technology exchanges.”
Following the program, livestock officials from Xieng Khouang plan to enhance public livestock services by applying the cattle management and artificial insemination techniques learned in the training to local demonstration farms.
Through these triangular technical cooperation activities, KDS and Konkuk University aim to increase the value of Laos’s livestock industry by establishing a sustainable, mutually beneficial profit model that leverages the comparative advantages of the livestock sectors in both Laos and Vietnam. Yoon Hae-jin, Deputy Director of KDS, and Professor Kim Soo-ki of Konkuk University, who serve as project managers for the Laos and Vietnam projects respectively, highlighted the importance of cooperation between partner countries in the same field to generate development synergies. They also expressed their gratitude to KOICA for its encouragement and active support of the triangular cooperation.
The "Rural Development Project in Northern and Central Laos" is a four-year initiative working with the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and three provinces (Vientiane, Bolikhamxay, and Xieng Khouang). The project focuses on strengthening the self-sustainable operations of government agricultural training centers, enhancing regional agricultural technical services, developing model villages, and building the capacity of government officials and famers.
