How to maximize the Benefits for Lao Agriculture from Regional Infrastructure Connectivity : A Case Study of Laos-China Railway

This study investigates the link between agriculture and infrastructure development in order to provide policy options to maximize the opportunities for Lao agriculture sector in the context of Laos-China railway. Primary data collection from field surveys in provinces along the corridor of the railway was mainly used for the analysis, supplemented by secondary data. The research findings show that there is a gap in trade policy and information sharing while the production capacity of Lao agriculture is still weak. However, there are opportunities for Lao agriculture to benefit from the railway, provided that attentions are paid on four key areas such as (1) building production and trade capacity, (2) strengthening and improving regional cooperation, (3) identifying potential agriculture export commodities, and (4) improving infrastructure connectivity from production sites to the Laos-China railway