
An English summary of the report is below. To read the original report in Chinese, visit The Initium.
如需阅读中文原版报道,请访问TheInitium.
The Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos is covered in dense fog almost all year round. With a warm and humid climate, the plateau is scattered with lush mountain forests and cascading waterfalls. Known as the coffee capital of Laos, it is famous for producing high-quality coffee. But in the near future, when people mention the Bolaven Plateau, they may think of another agricultural product with a strong smell: the tropical fruit durian.
July is the rainy season in Laos. After heavy rains, the dirt roads on the plateau are covered with water puddles. Even if the car is snaking forward at low speed, it is difficult to avoid endless bumps.
Tao Jian, a 54-year-old Chinese durian investor, has long been accustomed to such poor road conditions. Early in the morning, he drove a four-wheel drive into the thick fog of the Bolaven Plateau. He would spend a whole day inspecting his durian empire consisting of 12 plantations.
On the roadside of one of the plantations, Tao Jian bumped into us, as we were just passing by to take a look at the durian trees.
"Most people do not like (others) checking out their plantations. I think you are Chinese, so feel free to look at it," Tao Jian said, his eyes revealing the shrewdness and vigilance of a businessman.
Six years ago, Tao Jian established the durian planting company Golden Fruit. He was one of the first Chinese businessmen to invest in large-scale durian planting in Laos. "We should be considered the largest among Chinese investors (durian planting in Laos) now."
The durian branches in this garden are lush and leafy, and have grown to about 2 meters high. They are arranged neatly, and the forest can't be seen to the end at a glance.
Although Laos has climatic conditions suitable for growing durian, such high-cost, large-scale durian planting areas have only gradually appeared in the past decade.
In recent years, the durian industry has sprung up in Laos. According to Lao official media reports, members of the Lao Agricultural and Commercial Association alone have built 170 durian planting bases, and 10,000 trees have begun to bear fruit. Usually, it takes five or six years for a durian tree to start bearing fruit. The association estimates that there will be 270,000 fruit-bearing durian trees across the country in five years.
Initium Media’s research found that Chinese businessmen are the main force behind Laos’ “durian planting craze” in recent years. They fancy the large amounts of undeveloped tropical rainforest, low land and labor costs in Laos, and the many dividends brought by China's "One Belt, One Road" policy.
They hope to make a sweet fortune from selling Lao durians to China, where demand is strong. However, the durian industry has just taken root in Laos, and its prospects are still unclear.
Whether the Chinese investors’ “durian dream” is a dream or a nightmare, whether it is a blessing or a curse for the Laotians, only time will tell.