LAOS (30 May)
Laos has a stable economy and the country’s GDP is expected to grow more than 6 percent in 2003.
Aggregate 2002 paddy production, estimated at 2.41 million tonnes, 3.3 percent above the previous year due to the good weather. Total 2002 cereal production is estimated at 1.56 million tonnes on milled rice basis, virtually covers the country’s food consumption requirement. Planting of the 2003 main rainfed paddy crop is underway and the rice output this year is forecast at 2.5 million tonnes, reflecting the recovery in rice area.