The Office of the International Horticultural Expo, Department of Agriculture Invites Lao PDR to Participate in the Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026

On September 17, 2025, a delegation from the Office of the International Horticultural Expo, Department of Agriculture, led by Ms. Wilaiwan Thawitsri, Director of the Academic Division; Ms. Parichat Pojansilp, Senior Agricultural Expert; Mr. Phaitoon Bupphada, Agricultural Officer; and Ms. Prangtip Masodee, Entomologist, together with Ms. Piyanuch Naka, Advisor on Industrial Horticulture, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Khamphan Anlavan, Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Thailand, and Mr. Tulakham Phomsangsavan, Economic and Commercial Counselor, at the Embassy of Lao PDR in Bangkok. The visit aimed to officially invite Lao PDR to participate in the Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026.

Lao PDR is a member of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program, which consists of six countries: Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China (Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region). Established in 1992 with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the GMS program was created to strengthen economic cooperation and foster regional development.

The Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo 2026 will take place from November 1, 2026, to March 14, 2027 (a total of 134 days) at Nong Dae Public Park, Kudsa Subdistrict, Mueang District, Udon Thani Province, under the theme:

“Diversity of Life: Connecting People, Water and Plants for Sustainable Living.”

The Expo has four key objectives:

1. Showcase the potential of horticulture, wetland plants, medicinal plants, and promote knowledge exchange at both national and international levels;
2. Distribute income and stimulate economic growth through agriculture, tourism, hospitality, and related services;
3. Promote innovation, technology, and biodiversity research to establish Udon Thani as a new economic hub in the GMS;
4. Develop Udon Thani into a center of agricultural innovation in the GMS, improving income and quality of life under the BCG Model (Bio Economy, Circular Economy, Green Economy).

As of now, six countries have confirmed their participation in the Outdoor Gardens: Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Colombia, South Korea, and Türkiye. In addition, five countries have confirmed their participation in the Indoor Gardens: Pakistan, Colombia, Yemen, Somalia, and Madagascar. Four more countries — the United States, Bangladesh, Djibouti, and Montenegro — have expressed interest but have yet to submit their garden designs.

The participation of Lao PDR will mark another important step in enhancing the diversity of international showcases at the Expo, while reinforcing the strong collaboration among GMS member countries in advancing agriculture and promoting sustainable development in the region.