CFC and Lao PDR Strengthen Collaboration on High-Value Commodities
Brussels, 23 October 2025 – During a courtesy visit to Brussels, the Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, met with H.E. Mr. Kingphokeo Phommahaxay, Ambassador of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to the European Union and the Benelux countries.
Ambassador Belal emphasized the urgent need to increase incomes for smallholder communities, who are often trapped in deep poverty despite producing essential and high-value commodities. He called on Lao PDR to support the CFC’s “Humanizing the Value Chain” (HVC) initiative, designed to ensure fairer wealth distribution and prioritize the well-being of producers throughout global supply chains.
Ambassador Phommahaxay warmly welcomed the discussion and reaffirmed Laos’ full support for the CFC and the HVC initiative. He highlighted the country’s ambition to expand collaboration with the CFC, particularly for high-value commodities such as Laos’ premium coffee, sold at USD 1,000 per kilo, and expressed interest in leveraging CFC support to increase smallholder incomes and promote sustainable production practices.
The Ambassador also indicated Lao PDR’s strong desire to participate in the “Absolute Sixteen” (A16) program, seeking guidance on how to benefit from dedicated support for countries facing compounded development challenges. Both sides agreed that enhanced CFC engagement in Laos could empower smallholders, strengthen SMEs, and catalyze high-quality projects for submission to the CFC’s Executive Board.
Ambassador Belal encouraged Ambassador Phommahaxay to disseminate information on the CFC’s call for proposals, ensuring that qualified Laotian SMEs and enterprises are aware of funding opportunities and can participate fully in the Fund’s programs.
The meeting concluded with mutual assurances of continued support and a commitment to pursue the agreed-upon actions in the coming days, reinforcing a shared vision of sustainable, equitable, and high-value commodity development in Laos.
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[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
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