Chinese entrepreneur invests $28M in Laos durian project

A Chinese entrepreneur, Xiao Yuanxing, has established a joint venture named Lao Red Loong Durian to develop a large-scale durian plantation in Vientiane Province, Laos. The project involves leasing 1,235 acres (approximately 500 hectares) of land with an initial investment of roughly $28 million USD.

The venture has already completed an initial testing phase on 148.2 acres, planting over 7,000 Musang King durian trees. The decision to invest in Laos is driven by significant improvements in regional transportation infrastructure, specifically the new railway and highway systems connecting Laos and China. These networks are expected to reduce logistics costs and transit times for perishable agricultural goods entering the Chinese market.