What is ODOP?

The rural society of Laos has been said to embrace potentially marketable products, but the product unfortunately have yet to realize their market values due to quality problems or limited market access, among other contraints.

Against this backgound, Government of Laos has requested Japan to assist its efforts to launch the so-called One District One Product Movement (ODOP) to promote local small businesses an thereby improve the livelihood of local residents.

JICA has responded positively to this request, and fielded two preparation missions in 2008. Based on the recommendations of these missions which emphasized the need to create an ODOP promotion mechanism in the public sector and the need to strengthen the capacity of human resources taking part in the mechanism, JICA has officially agreed with the Lao Government to start a technical assistance project for this purpose, with a Record of Discussion signed between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) and JICA.

Moving this agreement one step forward, JICA has contracted with IC Net Limited for the implementation fo the technical assistance project, officially named the “One District One Product Pilot Projects in Savannakhet and Saravane provinces” (hereinafter the “Project”).

ODOP pilot project profile

■ Project Title: One District One Product (ODOP) Pilot Project in Champasak, Attpeu, Xekong, Saranvah, and Savannakhet

■ Project Duration　ODOP1: January 2009 - February 2012 (3 years)

■ Project Duration　ODOP2: April 2012 - December 2015 (3years and half)

■ Funding Agency: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

■ Implementing institutions at Lao side:

Economic Research Institute for Trade (ERIT),

Department of Production and Trade Promotion (DPTP),

Department of Industry and Commerce (DIC) in 5Province

■ Implementing Institution at Japanese side: IC Net Limited