Noodle making group eyes market expansion
Noodle making group eyes market expansion
A group of noodle makers in Khamaophoumeo village in Khong district, Champassak province, are seeking to expand their market in the southern provinces after they united as a cooperative group to generate more income and distribute it more evenly amongst their members.
Chief of the group Ms Pheng Chansaveng last week told Vientiane Times that formerly the noodles were produced and sold by each individual family who had sufficient capacity.
“I myself have a long experience of over 30 years in making noodles so that is one reason why we want to expand into more markets within the province and our neighbouring provinces, even neighbouring countries,” she said.
The reason why they formed as a group was to increase their production output and ensure more people can derive income from the business. Their noodles are made from rice using techniques that have existed for a long time resulting in strong consumer confidence.
Head of Champassak province's Project Coordination Office for the Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Productivity Enhan cement Project (SNRMPEP), Mr Bounheng Amphavanh, told Vientiane Times yesterday that the noodle makers, by forming into a group, will benefit from gaining a bigger market share.
“Some noodle makers didn't have fixed markets for selling their products but after they formed into a group, they can access more markets more easily,” he said.
The SNRMPEP is funded by a grant from the Asian Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, with additional funding from the Lao government.
Early this year the group received an initial supply of 18 tonnes of rice from the project for making their noodles which they can sell for 8,000 kip per kg.
“They currently have markets in Savannakhet, Saravan, Xekong, Attapeu and Champassak provinces and Vientiane markets as well,” Mr Bounheng said.
He stressed that the noodles are produced without using any chemicals and they are already well-known to local customers and in neighbouring countries, especially Cambodia.
“They are now trying to increase their penetration into markets in Stung Treng province of Cambodia but are not ready to think of the c ompetition to be faced when it comes to the formation of the Asean Economic Community next year,” Mr Bounheng said.
To present the noodles from Khamaophoumeo village as a unique and special product, Mr Bounheng said he has asked SNRMPEP's National Project Coordination Office in Vientiane to design a logo before submitting to the provincial Commerce and Industry Depart ment for further approval.
“We also asked for funds to estab lish a drying house for the group so it can maintain its production capacity during the wet season,” Mr Bounheng added.
vientiane times
